Minardi Extend F1 Auction

The Minardi Formula One team have announced their auction - aimed at raising money for the running of the squad and touted the largest Formula One auction ever - has been extended to four days.

The auction, originally scheduled for November 18-20, will now take place from November 17th to November 20th at one of Minardi's two facilities in Ledbury.

The event is shaping up to be one of the largest auctions in Formula One history, with over 5,000 individual lots being offered, including 40 Formula One cars, plus engines, bodywork, team clothing and an array of motor racing memorabilia.

"I didn't realise how many Formula One-related items we had until we started to assemble everything in order to catalogue it," said Minardi boss Paul Stoddart.

"When you consider three individual F1 teams will be represented in the auction â€" the entire assets of Tyrrell, a majority of the assets, including intellectual property rights, of Arrows, and, of course, Minardi â€" then I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise that there will be over 5,000 lots available to the public.

"One thing is certain, and that is, it's going to be a very busy four days for the five auctioneers involved. We anticipate the auction lasting 12 hours each day, with the main items of interest, the F1 cars, coming up for sale at 3pm each day."

Minardi said at 2pm on each of the four auction days, a bidder will have the opportunity to win a ride in a two-seater F1 car at Misano, Italy, the following week. The proceeds of the two-seater ride auction, however, will go to charity.