RM Sotheby's expects big offers for Schumacher's F300 Ferrari

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An outstanding lot will feature at RM Sotheby's prestigious sale at Monterey next month, with Michael Schumacher's undefeated 1998 Ferrari F300 crossing the auction block.

The Scuderia's charger, specifically chassis #187, was designed by a team of engineers led by Rory Byrne under the guidance of Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn.

The car was entered in four races in Canada, France, Great Britain and Italy, and won all four events with Schumacher at the wheel, an undefeated track record that constitutes one of the F300 unique assets.

While the great German driver was in his third season with Ferrari, team and driver were unsuccessful in their bid to win the world championship in 1998, with the titles going to McLaren and Mika Hakkinen that year.

Chassis #187 was acquired by its previous owner directly from Ferrari in 1999. Since, the car has remained in its original, untouched state – never restored or altered from its as-raced condition – and shielded from the public.

Read also: Mansell's crown jewels top Monaco RM Sotheby's auction

RM Sotheby's have put a $6m - $8m estimate on the special F300 machine, which implies that bids could surpass the price paid for another ex-Schumacher machine, the 2001 Ferrari 2001 that was sold last year for a whopping $7,504,000.

While the latter remains the most expensive modern F1 car ever sold, the outstanding record in value is held by the ex-Fangio 1954 Mercedes W196R that went under the hammer several years ago for a cool $29,650,095!

"Eminently rare and forever tied to one of racing’s all-time greatest legends, the extraordinary Michael Schumacher, 187 is without a doubt one of the most significant Ferrari F1 cars extant, being the only undefeated chassis to run at least three races," commented RM Sotheby's.

"It offers long-term appreciation as the immediate antecedent of one of Formula One racing’s greatest championship runs, and it can also be enjoyed firsthand as a breathtaking demonstration of the amazing technical specifications and unbridled power of a genuine late-1990s Ferrari F1 car."

RM Sotheby's flagship Monterey Car Week auction will be held 18-20 August at the Monterey Conference Center in California.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.