THE car Michael Schumacher drove for his first-ever Formula One outing can be yours for just £1.25million.
The stunning Jordan 191, previously voted among the most attractive F1 cars ever, is up for sale.
Schumacher was a 21-year-old in 1991 and signed to Mercedes’ junior driver programme when he received the call to replace Bertrand Gachot.
The Frenchman missed the Belgian Grand Prix due to a court hearing over a taxi driver assault which would see him serve two months in prison.
Meanwhile, talks between the newly-formed Jordan team and Mercedes allowed Schumacher to race and he impressed in a Silverstone test before his first-ever ride around the intimidating circuit at Spa.
The 191, up for sale on Speedmaster, had been driven by team-mate Andrea de Cesaris earlier that season but the Italian shunned it ahead of the race.
Schumacher hopped in and produced impressive practice and qualifying stints to earn seventh place on the grid.
This particular car, which had already finished seventh at the previous GP in Hungary, was then taken back by De Cesaris for the race and looked good for a podium finish before an oil pressure failure.
Meanwhile, Schumacher’s debut ended on lap one as a clutch issue hit the spare car.
The German had done enough to convince the F1 paddock of his abilities and Flavio Briatore’s ambitious Benetton team swooped, signing him immediately and delivering two world championships as a legendary career unfolded.
The 191 on sale today then became the spare car as IndyCar hero Alex Zanardi and Roberto Moreno later raced for Jordan that season.
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Racing drivers turned collectors Jean Blaton and Didier Sirugue later took turns owning the car, which has been refreshed with the original chassis housing a new engine to keep it in working condition.
Since having seven-time champ Schumacher behind the wheel, it has turned out for a number of Goodwood Festivals of Speed, the Boss GP Series and the 2021 Masters Historic Race Weekend at Donington.
The lucky buyer will also take home the original F1 steering wheel in a special frame, a Schumacher-signed model and certificate of authenticity.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
