Toyota Formula 1 car set to be auctioned

Formula 1

Toyota Formula 1 car set to be auctioned

FIA and RM Sotheby's to raise funds for fight against Covid-19

Sam Hall

Monday 1 June 2020 13:52

Lots including a 2009 Toyota Formula 1 car are to go under the hammer in an auction to raise funds for the International Red Cross and Red Cross Societies involved in the fight against Covid-19.

The FIA has already donated €1 million to the International Red Cross and this auction, in conjunction with RM Sotheby's and dubbed #RaceAgainstCovid, is hoped to significantly increse this number.

The headline item for sale is a Toyota Formula1 car, complete with engine and gearbox.

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The TF109-01 was raced in 2009, the final year in which the manufacturer competed, and has latterly been used by Pirelli for tyre testing.

A mark of the cars later life, the car will be presented in the black testing livery of Pirelli, rather than the red and white Toyota design.

Two pieces of Ferrari memorabilia are up for grabs, with Charles Leclerc's race suit from the Belgium Grand Prix, his first F1 victory, available, and Sebastian Vettel's suit from Singapore, to date his final F1 victory, to be sold off.

From Mercedes, race suits, gloves and boots signed by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will be auctioned.

Other items, including a helmet and race suit used by Damon Hill in 1995 have been donated, with further lots due to be announced before the auction goes live on June 15.

"Since the beginning of the health crisis, the FIA and the entire motor sport community have been committed to fighting the pandemic through many initiatives such as #RaceAgainstCovid," said FIA president Jean Todt.

"Today, we have another opportunity to show our strength and unity.

"I very much welcome the FIA and RM Sotheby's collaboration for the benefit of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I thank all the drivers and teams for their contributions as well as the FIA Foundation for its generous donation.

"To ensure this auction the success it deserves, I urge each and every one of our motor sport family to join us."

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