Let’s get to the point
Whether hunting for gifts or buying for yourself, visit the Motor Sport shop at motorsportmagazine.com/shop and find a miscellany of track-friendly ideas
Kevin McNicholas artworks
When it comes to Formula 1-themed art there seems almost no limit to the variety you can choose, from photo-realistic paintings to abstract and just plain bizarre designs. But sometimes simple black and white proves to be the most effective approach. That’s the one adopted here by artist Kevin McNicholas, who’s drawn his subjects using good old pencil. There’s something about pencil drawings that really captures the attention, whether it’s the rawness and graininess of the graphite, the delicate contrasts of the shading, or just their moody, shadowy beauty. Either way, these are guaranteed to catch your eye. They are one-off originals, each signed by the artist and framed. Take your choice from either Max Verstappen, right, or George Russell, above. But be quick. £500
Charles Leclerc signed mini helmet
This one surely doesn’t need much explanation beyond that it’s an official 1:2-scale Bell replica of Charles Leclerc’s 2021 helmet design, which the Monegasque star has signed. It’s limited to just 50 editions and if you’re a fan of Scuderia Ferrari or its talismanic young charger, this is one for your collection. £492
Sunset at Goodwood print
In contrast to our pencil artworks opposite, if your taste is more attuned to a mixture of modern and classic, why not try this limited edition print of Jean-Yves Tabourot’s glorious Sunset at Goodwood 2 painting? Depicting Andrew Smith and Gary Pearson’s Ferrari 250 GTO in the Kinrara Trophy race in 2019, the car’s curves blend wonderfully with the abstract sky. £99
GTO/64 book by Doug Nye
This hefty collectors’ book focuses on unravelling the history of the Ferrari 250 GTO/64 – both the original three cars and the four that were upgraded from 1962-63 versions. The 250 GTO/64 was the last roll of the dice for Ferrari’s legendary Berlinetta. Doug Nye has complied an extensive history, delving into the development, racing activity and some of the mysteries surrounding the GTO/64. The Uber edition is limited to 100 copies, bound in black goatskin with ceramic ‘64’ inserts and a leather slip case, with each numbered and signed by the author. A Standard edition is also available. From £280
Leo Mason sporting images book
You may not have heard of Leo Mason but if you’re a sports fan then you’ve definitely seen his work. After becoming a photographer in 1974, Mason has been at the heart of many classic shots, from working with Richard Noble’s Thrust 2 team at Bonneville to airborne America’s Cup imagery, behind-the-scenes Formula 1 moments and spending a week with Muhammad Ali. This book brings together his greatest works, with his recollections. It’s perfect for those with a wide-ranging sports interest. £35
About the motor sport shop
With hundreds of special and unique racing-themed products, and many new items regularly added, the Motor Sport shop is aimed at both serious and casual collectors with a wide range of prices to suit your budget. Visit motorsportmagazine.com/shop
The expert view
True museum pieces
The term ‘museum piece’ tends to get over-used these days, but every now and then something crops up that well and truly lives up to that billing.
Signed race-used equipment or clothing is a highly appealing market for collectors, but it’s rare that items come as a set, which is just one thing that makes the race-worn Gerhard Berger suit and helmet we have so special, below. They both came from the Ferrari Museum and date from 1989, when Berger was at Ferrari. He won one race that year (the Portuguese GP), and this suit and helmet were both worn for the final two races of the campaign (Japan and Australia). Gerhard himself confirmed this.
Here’s the story: a client we know occasionally dives into the collectibles market and they contacted us to say they’d bought a Ferrari Testarossa – ex-Berger. In fact, it turned out that he used to give Ayrton Senna lifts to various European GPs in it!
That kick-started an interest in Gerhard. They found the helmet available, with ex-Ferrari Museum provenance, and the matching suit, so they reunited the pair. The helmet had been signed, but the signature had faded, so they determined to track down Gerhard and get it signed again. They caught up with him in the UK, showed him his old Testarossa and he happily re-signed both the suit and helmet, and confirmed they were his.
Having something authenticated like that is so rare, and the set comes complete with a photobook of both the signing, and the original display in the Ferrari Museum.
Suit and helmet collections aren’t for everybody. Helmet collectors often don’t want suits and vice-versa so they may end up being split again, which would be a shame. They’re crying out for a good home, one with adequate space for both ideally – as it’s quite a ‘unicorn’ lot.
Andrew Francis is director at The Signature Store, thesignaturestore.co.uk