Description
This is lot number 208 in the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed sale on July 12th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
• Participated in 16 World Championship Grand Prix
• Unique 'art car' by acclaimed artist Dexter Brown
• Sold for charity in 2011 and subsequently retained by the team
• Offered in show car configuration
Here we are delighted to offer not just another mouth-wateringly accessible modern-era Formula 1 car, but also a well-known example of striking artwork as applied to the streamlined form of a much-raced Grand Prix projectile with jam-packed racing history.
Dr Vijay Mallya purchased the former Spyker team in 2007. Little time remained to design and develop an all-new car for 2008 and so the Force India-Ferrari VJM 01 cars emerged as modified Spyker F8-V11s, a design which itself derived from the Midland M16 of 2006. Consequently 2008 proved very much to be a foundation season for the new Force India team and its drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil. They still competed valiantly in their basically three-year old cars.
During that maiden season, 'VJM01-05' now offered here - driven by Giancarlo 'Fisi' Fisichella - contested no fewer than 16 of the season's 18 Formula 1 World Championship-qualifying races, missing only the Monaco and Canadian rounds. It completed no fewer than 6, 227kms (3, 870 miles) racing, while out of the public eye it also accumulated 6, 812kms (4, 233 miles) testing. In those sessions it was always driven only by Fisichella apart from brief spells with Vitantonio Liuzzi and Adrian Sutil in the very first and last test sessions of the season, both at Barcelona. Its total mileage covered both in racing and testing was 13, 039kms (8, 103 miles) – more than many a family car's mileage for an entire year's 'civilian' motoring.
But the dominant feature of this historic car's striking presence is of course its unique paint finish as applied by the great abstract expressionist artist – and lifelong motor sports enthusiast - Dexter Brown.
Immensely well known, popular and well respected within the British racing world, Dexter Brown has been a fixture of the automotive art scene for four decades. In recent years his work has evolved to focus on the abstract expression of racing images. Combining his artistic skills with the ultimate piece of Formula One memorabilia created a unique collector's piece.
The chassis chosen as his canvas was 'VJM01-05'. This 'Art Car' was displayed at several high-profile events in the lead up to the 2011 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, after its initial unveiling at London's Natural History Museum before it was displayed at the year's Grand Prix Ball, held at the prestigious Hurlingham Club.
This Art Car was initially auctioned in October 2011 after the inaugural Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh circuit, New Delhi. The funds raised were split between Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the Force India Academy, to giving youngsters in India the chance to become involved in motor sport.
During the course of that week, Formula 1 drivers and legends were invited to sign 'VJM01-05'. Today the list of its signatories features no fewer than nine Formula 1 World Champion Drivers, and overall it includes: Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Niki Lauda, Damon Hill, Nico Rosberg, John Surtees, Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, David Coulthard, Ross Brawn, Prince Michael of Kent, Eddie Jordan, Vijay Mallya, Martin Whitmarsh, Eric Boullier, Peter Sauber, Tony Fernandez, Patrick Head, Mike Gascoyne, Mark Webber, Felipe Massa, Nick Heidfeld, Vitaly Petrov, Kamui Kobayashi, Sergio Perez, Adrian Sutil, Paul di Resta, Rubens Barrichello, Pastor Maldonado, Jaime Alguesuari, Sebastien Buemi, Heikki Kovalainen, Jarno Trulli, Jerome d'Ambrosio, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Garry Paffett, Bruno Senna, Karun Chandhok, Narain Karthikeyan and of course Giancarlo Fisichella himself.
This Art Car project was the brainchild of Linda Balzanella and Erik Meijer, founders of Intentio Partners. Artist Dexter Brown said at the time: "When I was approached by Erik Meijer to paint an Art Car, I was immediately excited by the project. Of course, it's not the first car I've painted, but it's the first time I've had the chance to work with a modern Formula 1 car. The last one I painted was a BMW in Genoa in 1993, but the Force India was a different challenge because I had to work around the complex bodywork form. It's great to be involved in such a unique project and I look forward to seeing the reaction of the public."
Force India team founding owner Dr Vijay Mallya: "Seeing one of my Formula 1 cars transformed into a painting is a wonderful initiative that combines two of my greatest passions: cars and art. I wish to thank Dexter for producing this exquisite piece of work, which I am sure will be of great interest to art collectors around the world..."
Having been retained by the evolving team since that 2011 auction – today prominent as Aston Martin Racing – this original-series Force-India is offered in display configuration – complete with an original gearbox casing but without its original Ferrari 056 90-degree V8 engine.
This Force India-Ferrari's racing record is as follows:
2008
Australian GP, Albert Park, Melbourne – Fisichella – q. 16 – Rtd
Malaysian GP, Sepang, Kuala Lumpur – Fisichella – q. 17 – 12th
Bahrain GP, Sakhir – Fisichella – q. 18th – 12th
Spanish GP, Circuit de Catalunya – Fisichella – q. 19th – 10th - TEAM'S BEST RESULT OF SEASON
Turkish GP, Istanbul Park – Fisichella – q. 20th – Rtd
French GP, Magny-Cours – Fisichella – q. 17th – 18th
British GP, Silverstone – Fisichella – q. 19th – Rtd
German GP, Hockenheim – Fisichella – q. 20th – 16th after 25sec penalty
Hungarian GP, Hungaroring – Fisichella – q. 18th – 15th
European GP, Valencia, Spain – Fisichella – q. 18th – 14th
Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps – Fisichella – q. 20th – 17th
Italian GP, Monza – Fisichella – q. 12th – Rtd
Singapore GP, Marina Bay – Fisichella – q. 20th – 14th
Japanese GP, Fuji Speedway – Fisichella – q. 20th – Rtd
Chinese GP, Shanghai – Fisichella – q. 20th – 17th
Brazilian GP, Interlagos – Fisichella – q. 19th – 18th
This Force India-Ferrari/ Dexter Brown Art Car is a truly unique proposition, the opportunity to buy a significant 'Art Car', with extensive race history and a piece which would look stunning in a collection or – as many admirers of such sculptural/ graphic pieces choose – attached to a wall to be truly enjoyed as an objet d'art. We commend it highly to the market.
Bidders and the Buyer acknowledge that Lot 208 has been constructed for static display purposes only, was not constructed for use under power and is not suitable for use under power. The Buyer of Lot 208 undertakes not to make any adjustments, amendments or additions to Lot 208 to enable it to be used under power, and undertakes not to attempt to use Lot 208 under power.
The Buyer shall notify any onward purchaser of the same.
Please note that this lot is subject to VAT on the hammer.
