Unique 2008 Force India F1 art car on sale at the Festival of Speed

Designed by abstract expressionist artist (and motoring enthusiast) Dexter Brown, this Formula 1 car, chassis number VJM01-05, features eye-catching green, white, and orange livery more closely resembling that of later Force India cars than that of 2008’s on-track look which features no green at all.

This car was driven by Giancarlo Fisichella and competed 3,870 miles of racing at 16 out of 18 Grand Prix in the 2008 F1 season, missing only Monaco and Canada. It earned the team’s best result that year, finishing 10^th at the Spanish Grand Prix. 2008 marked the first season under the ownership of Dr Vijay Mallya, who purchased the Spyker team in 2007 with little time for the design and development of a new car for the following season. As such, the VJM 01 was a modified Spyker F8-V11.

After being transformed into an art car, the VJM01-05 was auctioned for charity in 2011, raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Force India Academy, before being subsequently retained by the team. Here, it is offered in display configuration, with an original gearbox but minus the Ferrari 056 90-degree V8 engine.

What makes this art car all the more special is that it features the signatures of numerous high-profile motorsport figures, including no less than nine F1 world champions: Michael Schumacher, Sir Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Niki Lauda, Damon Hill, Nico Rosberg, John Surtees, and Sir Jackie Stewart. Among the other names are Dr Mallya and its driver Giancarlo Fisichella.

On being commissioned for the work, artist Brown described how he was “immediately excited by the project.

“Of course, it's not the first car I've painted, but it's the first time I've had the chance to work with a modern Formula 1 car. It's great to be involved in such a unique project and I look forward to seeing the reaction of the public."

Dr Mallya said: "Seeing one of my Formula 1 cars transformed into a painting is a wonderful initiative that combines two of my greatest passions: cars and art. I wish to thank Dexter for producing this exquisite piece of work, which I am sure will be of great interest to art collectors around the world..."

It certainly will be. This unique collector’s piece will be available for one lucky owner to purchase at the Bonhams|Cars sale at the Festival of Speed, with an estimate of £80,000-£120,000. 

The 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard takes place from the 11th-14th July, and you can watch every moment of the action on our live stream right here on GRR!