As the world prepares to commemorate on May 1st the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's tragic passing at Imola, a remarkable piece of Formula 1 history has just hit the market.
Senna's iconic red Honda NSX - a car almost as legendary as the driver himself - is up for sale.
The great Brazilian’s life was tragically cut short during the infamous 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend. However, his legacy continues to inspire generations of racing enthusiasts, particularly in his home country.
The red NSX on offer holds a special place within Senna's collection. It wasn't just one of three NSXs he owned – including a black personal car in Brazil and another black model purchased by his manager, Antonio Braga – but the one he kept at his Portuguese residence at Quinta do Largo in the Algarve.
In fact, a famous photograph from 1991 captures Senna washing this very car, highlighting his personal connection to this specific NSX.
The car’s current owner, Robert McFagan from East Sussex, UK, has entrusted the iconic machine’s sale to Auto Trader, a leading UK automotive marketplace.
The asking price sits at a staggering £500,000, reflecting the car's unique history and association with a motorsport legend. The car was first registered in 1991 and currently has just over 39,100 miles on the clock.
“I first bought the car in 2013 during a trip to the Algarve in Portugal and have owned it ever since where it has sat proudly at my estate in East Sussex,” commented McFagen.
“Senna’s red NSX was given to him by Honda who he had a commercial partnership with and Senna frequently used and was photographed with the car during his stays in Portugal.
“Being a huge Senna fan myself, I was delighted when I was able to get my hands on the NSX which was crafted to perfection and features a sleek and powerful machine to give an incredible experience on the road.
“It’s been a real pleasure owning what is one of the most famous cars belonging to a true sporting legend and the thrill of driving Senna’s car never goes away.”
For serious collectors and die-hard Senna fans, and with only a handful of these NSX models remaining, the NSX represents an exceedingly rare opportunity to own a tangible piece of both automotive and racing history.
Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Auto Trader added: “As the UK’s largest automotive marketplace for used and new cars we sell c.450,000 vehicles every day of different sizes, styles and price points and we often see cars once owned from celebrities to royalty being listed on our site.
“Senna’s impact on Formula One and the world of motorsport was immeasurable and Senna’s iconic Honda NSX is a chance to own a rare piece of sporting history which will no doubt turn heads and spark conversations amongst friends, family and neighbours.”
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