Checkered Flag for Bonhams|Cars Landmark Abu Dhabi Auction at the Formula 1 Etihad Airway Grand Prix 2023

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – November 28, 2023 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – The night before the season closing FORMULA 1® ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2023, Bonhams|Carslined up 35 collector cars directly on the starting grid of the iconic Yas Marina Circuit as the exclusive auction partner with the Formula 1 Paddock Club™. Bidders and spectators filled the seats directly on the track to watch the auction take place under the starting lights. Welcoming guests to the grid was CEO of Ethara, Saif Rashid Al-Noaimi, who wished bidders luck on the exceptional line up of cars on offer. Then it was off to the races with Maarten ten Holder, Bonhams|Cars Managing Director on the rostrum leading the auction. Bidding in the audience, on the phones, and online was competitive enough to match energy seen on race days. With registrations from 27 countries, the majority of the cars went to UAE residents bidding directly on the track. All in, the On the Grid: The Abu Dhabi Auction achieved US$13.6 million on Saturday November 25.

Maarten ten Holder, Bonhams|Cars Managing Director, commented: “It was outstanding to be part of the Formula 1 spectacle in Abu Dhabi and the electrifying atmosphere carried through to our auction tonight. We showcased an array of premium, top-tier automobiles and orchestrated an elaborate auction that complimented the splendor of an F1 race weekend.  We are tremendously grateful to our partners, Ethara, Formula 1®, and The Stables, for welcoming us to their 2023 season closing race.”

Before the sale, the selection of cars were displayed throughout the massive 400-acre Yas Marina Circuit, offering a chance for F1 fans to see the incredible offerings before hitting the auction block. Bonhams|Cars partnered with The Stables who handled shipping, storage, and detailing, in addition to hosting 26 of the cars on offer in a custom-built gallery just 100 meters from the track.

The Stables, Bonhams|Cars, On the Grid: The Abu Dhabi Auction, 2023

The top price for a car this weekend went to a Formula 1 race car – Kimi Räikkönen’s McLaren MP4/21. The car, which has two podium finishes is most famously remembered for an engine-overheat that sent Kimi back to his yacht instead of the Team’s paddocks. The gorgeous race car sold for US$2.76 million.

Presented at the auction was an opportunity unlike any other, to acquire a Porsche 911 RSR still in its original factory protective wax with just 10km on the odometer. This model…