Description
This car is Lot 122 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris Sale on 6 February, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Tuesday 4 February from 08:00 until 18:00 and Wednesday 5 February from 9 AM - 6 PM, at The Grand Palais Historique, Paris.
Lot 122
The Ex-Giancarlo Fisichella/ Dexter Brown Force India 'Art Car' the debutant team's best result of the 2008 season
2008 Force India-Ferrari VJM01 Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater
Registration no.
Chassis no. VJM01-05
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 this lot 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 undertakes not to make any adjustments, amendments or additions to it to enable it to be used under power, and undertakes not to attempt to use it under power. The Buyer shall notify any onward purchaser of the same.
Please note that if this vehicle is sold to a French private buyer or an EU private individual it will be subject to Import Duty at 10% (+VAT) and 20% Import VAT on the hammer price. The Import VAT and Duty will be invoiced to you by our custom broker who will also charge a clearance fee. If you buy as a Trader or Company however, the Finances Publiques will charge you the Import VAT directly (based on our customs broker clearance) and the Import Duty will be charged by our customs broker and include a clearance fee. Import rates to other EU Country's may vary for VAT rate and an administration fee will be charged to prepare the necessary customs clearances. Please note that if you purchase as an EU Company, the VAT amount will be calculated based on your registered countries rate. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department or our recommended shippers.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
