The late Niki Lauda had three Components 1 championships on his resume, however not each race automotive Lauda drove was a single-seater.

A part of an RM Sotheby’s public sale in St. Moritz, Switzerland, scheduled for Sept. 15, is that this 1984 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16, from the Race of Champions on the Nürburgring. The race was a one-off occasion held by Mercedes on Could 12, 1984, to advertise the opening of the observe’s new Grand Prix circuit. A group of 20 notable drivers competed in a 12-lap race in an identical automobiles.

1984 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 race automotive pushed by Niki Lauda (photograph through RM Sotheby’s)

Together with Lauda, who who would win his third championship that yr, the sector boasted 9 of the 12 F1 champions then residing, plus future champions Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.

The race additionally showcased the 190 E 2.3-16 sports activities sedan. It was a warmer model of the 190 E compact sedan designed for touring automotive racing, strengthened with a 16-valve inline-4 engine tuned by Cosworth. Race of Champions automobiles have been modified by Mercedes-Benz Sport-Technik with a brand new exhaust system and suspension setup, 4.08 remaining drive, a bolt-in roll cage, a fireplace extinguisher, Recaro racing seats with 6-point harnesses, a fast launch hood, a central circuit breaker, and wider wheels with Pirelli racing tires.

1984 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 race automotive pushed by Niki Lauda (photograph through RM Sotheby’s)

Lauda completed second within the race, 1.58 seconds behind Senna. Many of the 21 automobiles modified for the race have been subsequently transformed again into street automobiles and offered to sellers or model VIPs, however the automobiles pushed by Lauda and Senna have been stored in racing spec. Senna’s automotive went to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, making Lauda’s the one Race of Champions 190 E in non-public palms. Lauda was reunited with the automotive in 2016, autographing its roof. The proprietor then had the automotive rebuilt by Mercedes-Benz Traditional in 2017.

Beforehand supplied on the market in 2018, The Lauda-driven 190 E is predicted to promote for 400,000 to 500,000 Swiss francs, or about $450,000 to $565,000 at present change charges. That is a excessive value for an early 190 E 2.3-16, however seemingly cheaper than shopping for certainly one of Lauda’s outdated F1 automobiles.