Schumi: Virgin F1 Car For Sale

The Benetton F1 Ford Cosworth B191 05 is a derivative of the B194, in which Schumacher claimed his first F1 title in 1994.
According to autctioneers Coys: “It’s eminently eligible for any historic Grand Prix events and remains highly competitive, having appeared at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed in 2003 and 2004.”

Chris Routledge of Coys said: “This is a stunning and fine-handling racing car. The B191 05 is a highly important piece of both Benetton and Michael Schumacher’s history. It's an opportunity not to be missed.”

The car is offered in race-ready condition with race-tuned facia, a data acquisition system and all the equipment necessary to run and drive , including a spare set of wheels and components. It also includes a comprehensive file documenting the car's history and restoration. It was used at the Jim Clark Revival in Hockenheim earlier in 2013 - and made the podium.

The car was designed by technical director John Barnard and Mike Coughlan and was first raced at the 1991 San Marino GP by Nelson Piquet and Roberto Moreno. 

The B191 was powered by a 544kW Ford V8 and ran on Pirelli tyres. After the Belgian GP the team replaced Moreno with a then-rookie Michael Schumacher - the rest is history.
 
Nelson Piquet gave the B191 its only win at the 1991 Canadian GP after Nigel Mansell's leading Williams-Renault broke down, giving Piquet the final win of his F1 career. It was used again for the first three races of the 1992 season, renamed as the B191B with minor upgrades to its bodywork and suspension. 

Schumacher remained with the team while Martin Brundle replaced retiring Nelson Piquet in the team's second car. The B191B was replaced by the Benetton B192.

At the end of the 1991 F1 season, the B191 05 was retired from the Benetton team, the engine removed, and the car repainted in Mild Seven livery. It was used as a show car until 1995 when it was bought by Cars International and restored and prepared to its 1991 Benetton race specification, including its Ford Cosworth HB engine.

The B191 05 has appeared at the both the 2003 and 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed. In 2006 it was re-united with former F1 ace Martin Brundle. 

Brundle said: “(The car) fits like an old pair of trainers. It was always such an easy car to drive. It would step out a little bit at the back, but it would go no further. It was really stable.”