RM Sotheby’s to support the FIA with online only: #RaceAgainstCovid Auction

01.06.20

Proceeds from the Charitable Auction to benefit the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Socities
Global response to Covid-19 sale to feature memorabilia and collectibles donated by Members of the FIA Community

 

  • RM Sotheby’s to host Online Only auction offering a range of stunning lots donated by members of the motor sport community and friends and supporters of the FIA
  • All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) global response to COVID-19
  • The FIA Foundation’s initial donation of 1 million EURO will be supplemented by funds raised through the online sale
  • Early lots include a race suit worn by racing legend and President of the FIA Drivers’ Commission, Tom Kristensen, as well as a selection of items used by Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Charles Leclerc, Damon Hill, and more
  • Bidding opens on Monday, 15 June with lots closing on Monday, 22 June
  • Additional information available at rmsothebys.com

RM Sotheby’s is privileged to announce that it will be supporting another fantastic fundraising initiative in the global fight against COVID-19 via its Online Only auction platform. The initiative is the work of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), and all proceeds of the online auction will be donated to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The auction follows an initial donation of 1 million EURO that the FIA Foundation has made to the IFRC in order to kick start the fundraising process.

The FIA is calling on the fans and members of the motor sport family from around the world to support the fund-raising initiative. The sale will offer more than 60 lots, all of which have been generously donated by drivers, race teams, and members of the motor sport community, and many of which are personal items owned by some of the best-known names in motor sport.

Notable early consignments include:

  • The racing suit worn and personally donated by motor and endurance sport legend, nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, and President of the FIA Drivers’ Commission, Tom Kristensen, during the last race of his tremendous career in which he took Third Overall at the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo 2014 (FIA WEC).
  • Damon Hill, former Formula 1 world champion, has put forward a helmet and a racing suit used during the 1995 season and in which he won the Australian GP.
  • Scuderia Ferrari has donated the racing suit worn by Charles Leclerc at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix weekend in Spa-Francorchamps, where he claimed the first win of what promises to be a stellar career, as well as Sebastian Vettel’s suit from the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix weekend, where he won his last race to date.
  • Scuderia Ferrari is also offering the chance to spend a day in their track simulator.
  • Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 has equally contributed to the auction, donating two sets of racing suits, gloves, and boots, signed by the reigning, six-time F1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, and his teammate Valtteri Bottas respectively.

The online only auction will open for bidding on Monday, 15 June with staggered lot closure on Monday, 22 June.

Speaking of the forthcoming sale, Maarten ten Holder, Head of Europe, RM Sotheby’s, says: “It is a privilege for our team be asked to support this auction, proceeds from which will go directly to the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative by the FIA is an incredible effort to raise a substantial sum for a global cause. We’ve recently enjoyed great success with our charitable online sales, and with the inestimable value of the lots which will be offered in the #RaceAgainstCovid Auction, I have every confidence that the collector car and motor sport community will once again come together to raise a substantial contribution to supplement the €1,000,000 donation already made by the FIA Foundation.”

FIA President Jean Todt says:
Since the beginning of the health crisis, the FIA and the entire motor sport community have been committed to fighting the pandemic through many initiatives such as #RaceAgainstCovid. Today, we have another opportunity to show our strength and unity: I very much welcome the FIA and RM Sotheby’s collaboration for the benefit of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I thank all the drivers and teams for their contributions as well as the FIA Foundation for its generous donation. To ensure this auction the success it deserves, I urge each and every one of our motor sport family to join us.”

In the weeks building up to the auction, 15-22 June, the FIA and RM Sotheby’s will release additional information relating to the lots that will be offered, with significant promotion via social media channels using the #RaceAgainstCovid hashtag to allow the public to easily track progress and to get involved with this crucially important initiative.

Additional lots will be available to view in the coming weeks on rmsothebys.com. Each lot offered in the Online Only auction will be presented with photography and a written description. Bidder registration will soon be open and requires very simple steps to complete. RM Sotheby’s Client Service team is ready to assist interested bidders with any part of the account creation or registration process.

Interested bidders can find more information at rmsothebys.com.

About RM Sotheby’s
RM Sotheby’s is the world's largest collector car auction house by total sales. With 40 years of proven results in the collector car industry, RM’s vertically integrated range of services, from auctions (live and online) and private sales to estate planning and financial services, coupled with an expert team of Car Specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. RM Sotheby’s launched its Online Only division in 2019, providing consignors and bidders an easy-to-use, proprietary platform that allows faster transactions to take place while still harnessing the level of service and global reach for which the RM Sotheby’s team is known. For further information, visit rmsothebys.com.

About the FIA
The FIA is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation of the world’s leading motoring organisations. Founded in 1904, with headquarters in Paris, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is a non-profit making association. It brings together 243 international motoring and sporting organisations from 146 countries on five continents. Its member clubs represent millions of motorists and their families.

About the IFRC
IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working to save lives and promote dignity around the world.

About the FIA Foundation
The FIA Foundation is an independent UK registered charity which supports an international programme of activities promoting road safety, the environment and sustainable mobility, as well as funding motor sport safety research.  The Foundation was established in 2001 with a donation of $300 million made by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the non-profit federation of motoring organisations and the governing body of world motor sport.