Motor Sport collection: April 2024
The Expert View: F1 caps are a snapshot of history
John Ketchell 2018 Le Mans
Truffle Hunter print
Porsche caused one of the great stirs of Le Mans history when it pulled the covers off its latest adaptation of the all-conquering 917 sports car in 1971. The 917/20 was unlike any before it, aiming to blend the best of high- and low-downforce bodywork together into one unified package. Only problem is it looked a tad freakish. So much so Porsche’s livery designers labelled it a pig and drew designations for meat cuts all around it. And so was born one of the great racing liveries, as the ‘Pink Pig’ came to be. Porsche resurrected the scheme for its 2018 GTE attack. Artist John Ketchell captures the drama of the reborn colours perfectly with this work, in which the class-winning No92 car leads the sister machine, bedecked in Rothmans livery. Limited edition fine art prints, available in three sizes – standard (34.5cm x 27.7cm), premium (55cm x 44.2cm) and super premium (66cm x 86.4cm). From £55
Kimi Räikkönen signed
1:2 scale ‘final race’ helmet
Last month we showed you some of the great Kimi Räikkönen signed collectibles available from our friends at The Signature Store. This month we’ll show you arguably the ultimate one, and by that we mean one that signalled the end of The Iceman’s incredible F1 career. This half-scale display helmet is modelled on the one Kimi wore for his 349th, and final, grand prix in Abu Dhabi 2021. Exact in accuracy, signed on the dark-smoked visor and with photo certificate of authenticity. One not to miss. £349.95
Motor Sport
Wireless Headphones
The upside of the daily commute (if we have to find one) is the additional time to unwind with one of your favourite podcasts – our podcasts, of course. So what better way to tune into the legends of the sport sharing their most fascinating tales and insights than with your own pair of Motor Sport branded wireless earbuds? Complete with charging box. £59.99
F1 Greats book
After a Formula 1-themed book that’s not your usual mass-produced run-of-the-mill thing? Look no further than this superb tome from one of the all-time great grand prix photographers, Rainer W Schlegelmilch. Across 500 pages it charts the history of the sport with text in English, German and French. It also weighs in at 4.5kg, so you’ll have to reinforce your coffee table. £350
Suixtil Angouleme shirt
Why not add a bit of retro cool to your wardrobe with Suixtil. Inspired by the threads worn by the early Argentinian national racing team, this new Angoulême shirt is an instant hit. Made from 100% cotton with contrast stitching, it’s designed with sleeves that can be rolled up for when you mean business at an event. £110
The expert view
Hats off to them
I find driver memorabilia auctions very interesting, and a few recent sales got me thinking about the area of caps as collectibles. It ‘peaked’ my interest…
Recent sales of collections concerning Nigel Mansell, Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher all featured various bits and bobs, from helmets to gloves, race suits and trophies, but then there are the podium caps. These are pieces that are a snapshot of history and no more. They’re usually chucked in a box by the winning driver for years… yet they can command a hefty fee. A podium cap from Mansell’s 1992 British GP win, below, sold for £6300.
To the right person who was perhaps there, it’s a special memento. But will it appreciate beyond that? I’m not so sure. They’re all easily identified (most say the location, race and finishing position on them), are seen in photos and ultra-rare. But a big part of me sees them as something bought with heart over head.
Then there are caps that become synonymous with personalities. The most expensive I’ve seen of late was an original Ayrton Senna Nacional, which hammered down at over £9000. These tell a different story. While a podium cap is a limited thing, a sponsor cap such as those worn by Senna, Michael Schumacher or Niki Lauda becomes a personal thing.
Yes, there are millions of knock-offs out there, and even the sponsors wouldn’t have tailored one hat to a specific driver, but with the right provenance the hats worn by those drivers become intimate objects. Lauda is a great case as in his later years he was never seen without a Parmalat or Novomatic cap, and he wore these both for commercial reasons but also to protect his injuries, so it becomes an essential element linked to Lauda.
It’s tough to find the real deal in these circumstances, but if you can it’s a gem. Senna’s Nacional hats were reissued as official replicas with commemorative boxes, and those will be ones to watch. Don’t go wearing them to the beach.
Andrew Francis is director at The Signature Store, thesignaturestore.co.uk