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Theft

Formula One Steering Wheel Worth £2,500 Stolen During British Grand Prix

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A historic Formula One steering wheel valued at over £2,500 was stolen from a classic car on display at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix. The theft occurred while team members were on lunch break, highlighting concerns about security at the event. The stolen wheel was a one-of-a-kind, bespoke piece designed for the 1990 Leyton House CG901, which was due to be driven by Ivan Capelli. The theft has left the team facing an unnecessary procedure to replace the wheel, which will cost thousands of pounds.

Key Takeaways:

  • A historic Formula One steering wheel worth over £2,500 was stolen from a classic car on display at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix.
  • The theft occurred while team members were on lunch break, highlighting concerns about security at the event.
  • The stolen wheel was a one-of-a-kind, bespoke piece designed for the 1990 Leyton House CG901, which was due to be driven by Ivan Capelli.
  • The theft has left the team facing an unnecessary procedure to replace the wheel, which will cost thousands of pounds.
  • The replacement wheel will be made bespoke, as the original manufacturer no longer produces the part.
  • Meanwhile, visitors used a second historic F1 car on display as a "climbing frame," while a separate car sustained thousands of pounds worth of damage when someone tried to climb inside.
  • 34 crimes were reported during the event, including theft, criminal damage, assault, and drugs possession, with 20 arrests made.
  • The stolen wheel is considered irreplaceable, and the team is eager to reunite the original parts.

Statistics:

  • £2,500: the value of the stolen steering wheel.
  • 34: the number of crimes reported during the event.
  • 20: the number of arrests made during the event.
  • 500,000: the number of people who visited the circuit over the weekend.
  • Thousands of pounds: the estimated cost of the damage sustained by the separate classic Formula One car.

Sources:

  • Russell Sheppard, engineer at Martin Stretton Racing
  • Northamptonshire Police
  • PA Media
  • Silverstone Circuit

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