Model F310 B, which was also driven by Eddie Irvine, will be offered by RM Sotheby's at a luxury event in Paris
An iconic piece of Formula 1 history is about to change hands. RM Sotheby’s has put up for auction chassis 179 of the Ferrari F310 B, the model used in the 1997 season. The car, which was driven by Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine, has an estimated value of between €5.5 million and €7.5 million (approximately R$34 million to R$46 million at current prices).
The great differential of this lot is its originality. According to the auction house, the car preserves the original 3.0-liter V10 engine, gearbox and bodywork of the time. The vehicle has the “Red Book”, the highest certification of Ferrari Classiche issued in 2007, and comes with a complete track kit for the buyer, including spare BBS wheels, tire heaters and pit equipment.
SEE ALSO:
Chassis 179 had a brief but intense life on the tracks. It debuted at the 1997 Belgian Grand Prix, where Michael Schumacher used it during qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps – although the German opted for an old chassis for the race due to uncertain weather conditions. Subsequently, the car was driven by Eddie Irvine at the Italian (Monza) and Austrian (A1 Ring) GPs.
The model bears the signature of John Barnard, being the renowned engineer’s last project for the Scuderia. The 1997 season was marked by the fierce dispute between Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve, which culminated in the German’s disqualification from the championship after the incident in the final round in Jerez.
After being retired from racing, the F310 B was sold by Ferrari to a private collector in 1999. Since 2014, the vehicle has been part of the collection of the Audrain Auto Museum, in the United States. The face-to-face auction will take place next Wednesday, January 28, in Paris, attracting investors and classic motorsport enthusiasts.
