Ayrton Senna Helmet and Racing Suit Up For Auction

Danny Choy
by Danny Choy
Last December, an auction provided a rare opportunity for racing fans and cinema buffs to bid on Steve McQueen’s original Gulf livery racing suit worn in the movie “Le Mans.” In case you missed out or couldn’t afford the $800,000 price tag, a new opportunity to own a piece of motorsport history has arisen.

Thanks to Asif Kapadia’s successful documentary that revived Ayrton Senna awareness, and even mania, there’s a growing market for Senna related racing memorabilia. Up for auction at the Race Retro Sale of the Silverstone Auction in the UK are Ayrton Senna’s original 1991 Championship season Shoei full face helmet and racing suit.

The racing helmet bears Senna’s signature and is instantly recognizable by the Brazilian color theme adorned with Nacional, Boss, Marlboro, and Honda stickers, as well as a McLaren International authentication certificate. This special championship season Senna helmet is projected to sell for a staggering $66,000.

Senna’s race suit features the Brazilian flag as well as his name embroidered along the belt. Experts estimate that the race suit will sell for more than $31,000.

Despite the astronomical price tags, wealthy bidders may consider the helmet and suit a bargain considering Steve McQueen’s “Le Mans” racing suit went for more than $800,000.

The auction will take place on February 25th in the U.K.

GALLERY: Ayrton Senna Racing Helmet and Race Suit

Danny Choy
Danny Choy

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  • Iamamerican Iamamerican on Feb 17, 2012

    There is something fishy here. It says the auction is for a 1991 Senna Shoei helmet. In 1991 Senna wore Rheos helmets. He only used Shoei from 1992-1993. In addition to that the helmet in the picture is a Bell helmet Senna used from 1988-1989.

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