Off-grid: Autocar’s best F1-inspired used cars Car News

New Formula One driver Mick Schumacher’s Haas may cost more than you can wave a checkered flag, but for just £ 2,000 you could get behind the wheel of his father’s old Fiat.

The UK only received 200 copies of Stilo Schumacher’s limited edition, and one of the rarer versions, a GP, auctioned recently for exactly that amount.

Fortunately, there are a lot more (and better) F1-inspired cars like this, a lot of them for sale right now. We’re not talking about mega-expensive supercar tributes like that other Schumacher car, the 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB Schumacher, or the 2021 GMA T50S Niki Lauda, ​​the 2018 McLaren Senna, the Aston Martin Vantage Red Bull Racing Edition. 2017 or the 2015 McLaren P1 Alain. Prost.

We’re also not interested in the Alfa Romeo Racing limited editions of the Giulia Quadrifoglio and Stelvio Quadrifolgio launched to celebrate the brand’s return to F1 in 2019, given their prices close to £ 100,000.

Instead, we’re only interested in affordable machines inspired by great prices. We’ve combed through online classifieds and auction catalogs to find them – or, failing that, those that look like them.

Fiat Stilo Michael Schumacher GP

In 2006, the Stilo was on the finish line to become one of the most loss-making cars in Europe. In a last desperate move, Fiat called on its greatest asset. The Stilo Michael Schumacher Limited Edition had a 168-horsepower 2.4-liter five-cylinder engine – but the GP, which cost £ 2,600 more, went to Prodrive for larger OZ alloys, a sport suspension and a silencer in stainless steel.

One we found: Fiat Stilo Michael Schumacher Limited Edition, 2005/55, 54k miles, £ 3,995

Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet Michael Schumacher Edition

Before going to Ferrari, Schumacher drove for Benetton, whose cars used Ford engines. In recognition of the German’s victory in his first F1 World Championship in 1994, Ford applied its name to a special Escort XR3i Cabriolet. Sadly, it seems like their namesake did in Adelaide, most have now left the track. The only XR3i from this era that we could find was a non-Schumi cabrio. It is, however, in good condition.

One we found: Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet, 1993 / K, 85 km, £ 4,759

Fiat Seicento Michael Schumacher Sporting

Schumacher knew his worth, and once he got to Maranello, the company paid his salary. In 2001, the year it won the fourth of its seven titles, Fiat gave its name to its 54bhp Seicento city car. In fact, the company was taking a bet, as the German driver was not as popular among Italians as some Ferrari drivers. Fiat made 3,000 copies of the Michael Schumacher Sporting, and 120 are still registered in the UK.

One we found: Fiat Seicento Michael Schumacher Sporting, 2002/02, 62 km, £ 3,999

Renault Megane Renaultsport 265 Red Bull Racing RB8

After an edition inspired by Fernando Alonso in 2006, the Mégane was again at the center of the F1 special edition treatment when Red Bull Racing, powered by Renault V8 engines, won its fourth consecutive constructors’ title and Sebastian Vettel its fourth. consecutive pilot title. This time, however, the standard Megane RS 265 was already so good that the Red Bull luster only boiled down to bigger wheels, GPS, a special paint color (Twilight Blue) and a certain brand.

One we found: Renault Mégane Renaultsport 265 Red Bull Racing RB8, 2013/63, 33 km, £ 14,995

Renault Clio Williams

Renault supplied engines to the Williams team during its heyday of the 1990s, and it’s no surprise that the partnership resulted in a series of special road cars meant to capitalize on that success. The first outing was the Clio Williams 1, followed, to the irritation of many existing owners, by the Clio Williams 2 and Clio Williams 3. As the first and lightest of the three iterations, the Williams 1 is the most sought after. after; last month a 1994 example with 76,000 miles fetched £ 19,995 at auction.

One we found: Renault Clio Williams 3, 1995 / N, 86k miles, £ 9,480 (Category C write-off repaired)

Renault Megane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26

This Mégane RS 230 was the one launched to celebrate Alonso who won his second consecutive F1 title for Renault in 2006. Rightly so, given the Spaniard’s demanding nature, the special model represented more than a number plate. For example, its engine produces 5 hp more than the standard 225 version, and it has a limited-slip differential, stiffer suspension, and reduced suspension bumpers. All this and it still costs the same price as the regular 225.

One we found: Renault Mégane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26, 2007/07, 86k miles, £ 3,995

Mercedes-AMG A45 Petronas World Champion Edition 2015

Few people criticized Mercedes for playing the Special Edition card after making the double in F1 in 2015, winning his second consecutive constructor title and main driver Sir Lewis Hamilton his second consecutive driving title. . The result…