To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' London event, 1 November 2025.

• Bought new by Ayrton Senna and driven home from the Mercedes-Benz factory alongside fellow Brazilian Formula 1 driver Maurício Gugelmin
• Senna’s desire for a 190 E 2.3-16 was motivated by his victory at the 1984 Nürburgring Race of Champions, where he drove a similar car in the same colour
• Presented in its factory-correct colour combination of Smoke Silver Metallic over a black leather interior
• Acquired by the consigning owner in 1996, who took the car to Australia upon emigrating to the country in 2004
• Engine bay signed by Niki Lauda at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix
• Offered with original paperwork documenting Senna’s ownership; includes factory purchase invoice, previous V5, and tax import slip all in the late driver’s name
• Further accompanied by extensive service invoicing dating to Senna’s ownership

To celebrate the opening of the Nürburgring’s revamped Grand Prix circuit (or GP-Strecke), and to mark the release of the new Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16, 20 of the world’s most prominent drivers lined up for The Race of Champions in May 1984. Returning to the scene of his devastating crash in 1976, Niki Lauda was instrumental in assembling a starting grid teeming with heavyweight names; the exhibition race included nine of the 14 previous Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champions who were alive at the time. Of the surviving former champions, Mercedes-Benz ambassador Juan Manuel Fangio did not drive but was there to hand over the winner’s trophy. The star-studded driver line-up was bolstered by two future F1 champions: 1980s hotshot, Alain Prost, and promising young rookie, Ayrton Senna.

Observers would have been forgiven for overlooking Senna among a strong and competitive driver field. While emerging from Formula Ford and Formula Three ranks as a serial title winner, by May 1984 Senna was only four races into his fledgling Formula 1 career at Toleman Motorsport. It is said that Emerson Fittipaldi had agreed to drive in Germany but instead took part in Pole Day at the Indy 500, leaving compatriot Senna to fill the gap.

Every car on the track was supplied as a lightly race-modified 190 E 2.3-16; Senna drove a Smoke Silver Metallic car numbered “11”. The cars were modified with a revised exhaust system and suspension setup, four-piston front brakes, a 4.08-ratio final drive, bolt-in roll cage with fire extinguisher, twin Recaro racing seats with six-point harnesses, a quick-release bonnet, central circuit breaker, as well as wider wheels wrapped with Pirelli racing tyres.

An unknown quantity to much of the competing grid, Senna surprised them all with a sensational qualifying effort. He placed 3rd-fastest behind the polesitter Prost and fractions of a second behind Carlos Reutemann. Come the race itself, Senna’s scintillating form continued with victory on the 12-lap course. In rainy conditions, the Brazilian held off his closest competitor, Lauda, who crossed the line in 2nd place with the rest of the drivers in hot pursuit. The young Senna was instantly at ease in the company of past, present, and future F1 champions.

After tasting victory at the 1984 Race of Champions, Senna wanted more from the 190 E 2.3-16. So much so that he was willing to buy one for his own personal pleasure—with that very car now proudly offered here by RM Sotheby’s. According to copies of the factory order invoices (available to view on file), Senna ordered the 190 E 2.3-16 with a friendly discount, and organised to take delivery in October 1985. The Brazilian collected the car from the Mercedes-Benz factory alongside compatriot Maurício Gugelmin and drove it back to his English residence in Esher, Surrey. Also on file is a tax import slip showing the UK duty and VAT that Senna paid upon disembarking the ferry from Calais.

Senna enjoyed the car for two years, clocking some 24,862 miles noted on the last service invoice before the Mercedes-Benz was reluctantly sold. The 190 E was acquired by Robin Clark of Malmsbury, Wiltshire, in November 1987, as a friend of Senna’s manager, Julian Jakobi. The sale was made in anticipation of Senna signing to race for McLaren, which would result in him moving from the UK to Monaco.

In August 1996, the Mercedes-Benz was acquired by the consigning owner while living in the UK. There, the car gained the private plate “B15ENA”, which the vendor has kept on retention and could be purchased separately by the winning bidder. Following almost 30 years with the car, the 190 E 2.3-16 is available again, having followed its owner to Australia after emigrating in 2004. To comply with Australian import laws for emissions regulations, the air conditioning system was disabled, but could be restored by its next owner. The car has been carefully maintained during its time Down Under, testament to the many invoices and receipts on file. Remarkably, service invoices from the impressive history file date consistently to Senna’s ownership.

At the 2016 Australian Grand Prix, the engine bay was signed by Lauda, then Non-Executive Chairman of the marque’s F1 team. Among an extended factory options list chosen by Senna, the car is offered with its original books and manuals, fire extinguisher, Becker Mexico stereo, toolkit, trickle charger, and unopened first aid kit. The 190 E is equipped with a factory-approved self-closing car alarm and immobiliser. As a car that was cherished by an eternal icon of Formula 1, this 190 E 2.3-16 has provenance like no other. This represents an extremely rare opportunity for fans of the sport to buy a piece of history with an unbreakable connection to its former owner.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/lf25/.