F1 fans have the chance to own a piece of history, with Michael Schumacher‘s first grand prix-winning car set to go under the hammer.
But it won’t come cheap. The Benetton B192, listed by Broad Arrow Auctions, is expected to set its new owner back more than $15 million.
Schmacher drove the car in five races in the 1992 season. The chassis debuted at that year’s Canadian Grand Prix, where the German drove it to second place.
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In a year dominated by Williams and Nigel Mansell, Schumacher’s moment in the sun – or what little there was on that day – came at the Belgian Grand Prix in August.
The car Michael Schumacher drove to his maiden F1 victory in 1992 is up for sale. LAT Images
At the track he had made his sensational debut 12 months earlier, Schumacher mastered changeable conditions in the Ardenne forest to claim the first of his 91 grand prix victories.
“I had the car today that was unbelievable, and I have to say thank you to the team,” Schumacher said at the time.
Having qualified third, Schumacher ran third for much of the race as bands of showers continuously swept over the circuit.
Schumacher dousing himself and team boss Flavio Briatore in champagne on the podium. Getty
The decisive moment came just after the halfway point of the 44-lap race, when as the track dried after yet another shower, Schumacher ran wide, which let teammate Martin Brundle past.
But instead of it derailing Schumacher’s afternoon, it was a blessing in disguise. Schumacher saw Brundle’s rear tyres were wearing, and figuring his likely were too, he dived straight into the pits for slick dry-weather tyres on a still-damp track.
From then on, Schumacher’s supreme skill in tricky conditions were on full display. When the front-runners pitted only a handful of laps later, Schumacher had a massive lead he would never lose. He crossed the line 36 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.
“I really can’t describe it,” Schumacher said.
It was the first of 91 victories Schumacher would claim. LAT Images
“All weekend I felt quite good, and when I was in the motorhome today, I thought I could win this race. I have to say thank you to the team … and I give this victory to the German fans.”
Schumacher would finish third in the championship with 53 points – still 55 points behind the all-conquering Williams of Mansell.
The car was later retained by the Benetton team, which through various iterations would become the Renault factory team and then Alpine, and kept as a part of the Renault Classics collection.
It is the first time the car has been up for public sale.