Bernie Ecclestone has offered his complete assortment of historic grand prix and System One automobiles – – to the billionaire son of Purple Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz.
Austrian Mark Mateschitz, 32, who inherited 49 per cent of the world’s largest power drink producer following his father’s loss of life in October 2022, mentioned he would make the gathering accessible to the general public “within the close to future”.
It has not been disclosed how a lot Mateschitz paid for the fleet, which incorporates Ferraris raced by world champions reminiscent of Mike Hawthorn, Niki Lauda, and Michael Schumacher, Brabhams raced by Nelson Piquet, Carlos Tempo and Lauda, in addition to the one-off Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46B “fan automotive”, which raced solely as soon as, profitable the Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp in 1978.
Tom Hartley Jnr, who dealt with the sale, informed Telegraph Sport on Thursday that it was “by a number of multiples the most important sale value ever achieved for a basic automotive assortment”.
Mark Mateschitz inherited 49 per cent of Purple Bull after the loss of life of his father Dietrich – Getty Photos/Manfred Noger
Ecclestone, 94, introduced late final yr that he was placing the gathering, which he has acquired over the course of fifty years, up on the market. His resolution to promote got here after he , having didn’t declare a belief that held belongings value greater than £416 million.
Prosecutors informed Southwark Crown Courtroom that he would pay a , whereas he was given a suspended jail sentence of 17 months. However in a current interview with Telegraph Sport, Ecclestone insisted this performed no half in his willingness to dump the household silver.
“It’s very straightforward,” mentioned the previous F1 supremo, who now lives in Gstaad, Switzerland with spouse Fabiana, 48, and four-year-old son Ace. “Optimistically I’d get two or three extra years. And I don’t need to go away all this for Fabiana to kind. All these automotive sellers could be driving her mad. So the most effective factor to do is to get all of the automobiles collectively and check out to ensure they go to correct properties. Ace won’t be thinking about dealing with all this both. He could be extra into soccer. Ultimately, this needed to occur. I’m nonetheless roughly in management, so I can do what I like. Perhaps in one other yr I gained’t be capable to.”
Hartley Jnr mentioned there had been curiosity from all around the world, together with from two sovereign wealth funds. Ecclestone indicated to Telegraph Sport in the identical interview that one of many nation states was Saudi Arabia.
“Once we put the automobiles up on the market earlier than Christmas I don’t suppose we may have anticipated how a lot curiosity there could be,” Hartley Jnr mentioned. “It’s been completely unbelievable. We obtained presents from all around the world, together with from two separate sovereign wealth funds. However I do really feel the gathering has gone to the most effective residence, and to the customer which Bernie most favoured.”
He added: “The customer moved extraordinarily rapidly. We spoke with him earlier than Christmas, he flew over, we confirmed him the automobiles and he was very, very excited. He was positively a favoured purchaser of Bernie’s.
“There has by no means been a transaction within the collectors’ automotive world that even comes near this. By a number of multiples it’s the greatest sale value ever achieved.
“Being concerned within the sale was an actual privilege. Though it got here collectively rapidly in the long run, the method took years – researching each chassis, the race historical past of every automotive, going over to Ferrari and digging into their archives and so forth.
“Bernie deserves nice credit score and gratitude, for not happening the normal public sale route. Once you put a automotive up for public sale it’s open to so many parts. The inventory market may crash the day earlier than, the market might be unstable. Bernie gave us a mandate to promote, however didn’t impose a time restrict. I believe we achieved the most effective outcome we may.”
Ecclestone he was delighted that the gathering could be going to the one son of a detailed private good friend. “It means a fantastic deal to me to know that this assortment is now in the perfect of arms,” Ecclestone mentioned. “Mark is the most effective and most worthy proprietor we may ever think about.”
Mateschitz, who succeeded his father on his loss of life in October 2022, added: “I’m more than happy that Bernie has positioned his belief in me to handle this traditionally important assortment.
“It will likely be fastidiously preserved, expanded over time, and within the close to future it will likely be made accessible to the general public at an applicable location.”
Requested the place he thought the gathering could be exhibited, Hartley Jnr added: “I think about it should most likely be in Austria.”
Six of probably the most important automobiles from the Ecclestone collection1949 Ferrari Skinny Wall Particular
1949 Ferrari Skinny Wall Particular
Raced by Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi, this well-known Ferrari performed an integral position in creating Tony Vandervell’s personal System One staff, Vanwall. It grew to become the primary Ferrari to beat an Alfa Romeo when Reg Parnell drove the 1952 spec to victory at Silverstone.
1975 Ferrari 312 T
1975 Ferrari 312 T
Most profitable F1 Grand Prix automobiles change into synonymous with the good drivers who drove them. The 1975 Ferrari 312 T powered Niki Lauda to the world championship with 5 wins that yr to change into the primary Ferrari to win a title since 1964.
1983 Brabham BT52B
1983 Brabham BT52B
The chassis which allowed Nelson Piquet to clinch his second F1 title after snatching the championship within the last race after Alain Prost’s retirement. This Brabham is only one of two ever made and it is usually the automotive which Aryton Senna examined for Brabham at Circuit Paul Ricard.
1957 Ferrari Dino 246 F1
1957 Ferrari Dino 246 F1
A a number of grand prix winner, Mike Hawthorn gained the 1958 title within the ‘Dino’ regardless of profitable just one race that season. Hawthorn, tragically, was killed in an accident on the A3 Guildford bypass solely three months later, following his retirement. It was the primary F1 automotive to make use of a V6 engine and the final entrance engine automotive to win a race.
1949 Maserati 4CLT/48
1949 Maserati 4CLT/48
Louis Chiron raced this Maserati within the first-ever F1 world championship race, the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone and went on to realize a podium in Monaco the identical yr. It’s one among solely 19 ever constructed.
1978 Brabham BT46B ‘Fan Automotive’
1978 Brabham BT46B ‘Fan Automotive’
Simply Brabham’s most memorable and well-known automotive with Lauda’s half-minute victory on the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix the one time it was entered right into a Grand Prix. The ‘fan’ design by Gordon Murray would have revolutionised F1 had Ecclestone chosen to not withdraw it.
