The late Niki Lauda had three Method 1 championships on his resume, however not each race automobile 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 monitor’s new Grand Prix circuit. A set of 20 notable drivers competed in a 12-lap race in equivalent automobiles.

1984 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 race automobile pushed by Niki Lauda (photograph by way of 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 dwelling, 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 automobile racing, bolstered with a 16-valve inline-4 engine tuned by Cosworth. Race of Champions automobiles had been modified by Mercedes-Benz Sport-Technik with a brand new exhaust system and suspension setup, 4.08 closing 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 automobile pushed by Niki Lauda (photograph by way of RM Sotheby’s)

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

Beforehand provided 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 trade charges. That is a excessive worth for an early 190 E 2.3-16, however seemingly cheaper than shopping for considered one of Lauda’s previous F1 automobiles.