A McLaren-Mercedes F1 car that featured in the 2006 Formula One season is heading to auction for £2.2 million.
The 2006 McLaren-Mercedes MP4-21 Formula 1 was raced by Columbian driver Juan Pablo Montoya.
The 48-year-old recorded seven victories during his time in the F1, whilst competing in this particular car for the first three races of the 2006 season.
READ MORE: Roger Federer’s old, modest-looking Mercedes for sale for £194,000
Since its racing days the motor has gone through a full restoration, conducted by McLaren Racing Heritage.
The car is equipped with a Mercedes-Benz FO108S 2.4-liter naturally aspirated V-8 engine.
This particular engine was originally rated to produce a hair-raising 750 horsepower at an electrifying 19,000 rpm.
The vehicle was designed under the technical directorship of Adrian Newey, during his final season with the McLaren-Mercedes team.
This was the first ever McLaren to be powered by a Mercedes engine, signifying the car as a part of modern racing history.
It made its F1 debut in January 2006 during testing at Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The car’s short lived racing stint ended during the Australian Grand Prix where driver Juan Pablo Montoya was forced to retire the car on lap 46.
This was due to an electrical problem that was caused after the driver ran wide over a curb, as reported by Luxury Auto News.
Four races later the fixed McLaren-Mercedes MP4-21 returned to the track as a T-car at the Monaco Grand Prix.
The vehicle is now heading to auction during an event hosted by RM Sotheby’s in California, USA, on the 15 to 17 August 2024.
The auctioneers described the car as: “A rare offering by any measure, 21A-03 represents a wonderful opportunity to purchase a restored, usable McLaren-Mercedes team car—from the final year of Adrian Newey’s technical directorship and driven in period by Juan Pablo Montoya in his final year of Formula One competition—with boundless potential, and unlimited thrills, in store for its next caretaker.”
READ MORE: Rare 260mph Bugatti – one of only 20 made – set to sell for £3.2million
Subscribe today for the freshest car news delivered to your inbox
