A chance to buy motorsport history


The debut racing car of Formula One legend Ayrton Senna is to be actioned in May 2012.

Senna's Toleman

Ayrton Senna's Toleman TG 184-2 Image: Silverstone Auctions

The Hart-engined Toleman TG 184-2 is the car driven by the Brazilian in his debut F1 season and took take him to Second on the podium in a wet 1984 Monaco Grand Prix.

That race announced Senna to the racing world at the start of a career at the top level of motorsport that was to make him, arguably, the best F1 driver in history before his life was cut short in 1994, aged 34, when he crashed at the San Marino GP.

The Toleman-Hart team was privately owned by British entrepreneur Ted Toleman, who also made a name for himself in the world of powerboat racing.  Toleman signed the young Senna who had won the British Formula Three Championship the previous year.

In his first season with Toleman, Senna also took Third place in the British and Seventh in the Canadian Grand Prix.  Now, 28 years later, Senna's debut car will be the star of The Spring Sale auctions on 16 May held at Silverstone - home of the British Grand Prix.  Senna memorabilia fetches high premiums at auction as the recent sale of a helmet for £74,750 ($116,600) and a race suit for £35,650 ($56,500) indicates.