A remote-controlled Formula 1 car is set to sell for as much as $250,000 in England on Thursday, just days before the British Grand Prix.
The car, a 1:3 scale replica of the 2003 world champion Ferrari F2002, is signed by Michael Schumacher, who drove the original Ferrari to win the 2003 championship.
It took 1,000 hours of work to create the working replica, designed by Stéphane Andrist, a mechanic and founder of Medicatech, which manufactured nearly all of the mechanical parts for the remote-controlled car during its creation from 2000-03.
After the completion of the car, Schumacher heard about the detailed recreation and asked for a demonstration, visiting the premises at Atelier Mediatech in Switzerland, where it was made and applying his signature to the rear spoiler in November 2003.
The car’s top speed is around 50 mph.
If the car sells for its estimate, it would set the record for the most expensive remote-controlled car ever sold. Actual-sized F1 cars fetch millions when they cross the auction block, particularly vintage examples, with the current record held by a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196, which sold for nearly $30 million in 2013.
Other lots included in the auction, held by Graham Budd Auctions, includes race-worn suits from Schumacher and Max Verstappen and an autographed replica Lewis Hamilton helmet.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.