Rare breed hits auction

A FORD GT once owned by Jenson Button is going on sale at an auction where it is expected to fetch more than €300,000. Built in 2005 the VIP Ford boasts a hand-crafted 550bhp V8 engine with a quad camera and six-speed manual transmission.  

It can easily hit 200mph plus and reaches 60mph from a standstill in just three and a half seconds. Benson, awarded an MBE for his services to the sport, raced the car from 2006 to 2011. 

Even today it has less than 9,000 miles on the clock.  

The Ford will be sold by Silverstone Auctions who described it as that ‘rare breed of modern cars that instantly become collectable.’ It goes on sale at the track’s famous Race Retro rally from February 24-26.  

The Warwickshire show will see a terrific selection of classics, including a TS14 raced in 1972 and a Bentley Speed 8 worth over €10 million.  

It’s unknown if Button himself will be in attendance. The 27-year-old announced his retirement from Formula One racing in 2016, but remains an ambassador for McLaren until at least 2018. He won the 2009 Championship with Brawn GP and won 15 races out of 305 with 50 podium finishes.