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New Delhi: Every year in August, car enthusiasts with deep pockets arrive in Northern California’s Monterey. Despite how the linen industry might profit from it, cars remain the central focus of the whole affair. The Monterey Car Week keeps getting bigger each year and it is the one that is defined by big auctions that take place.

The 2026 edition is set to host one quite a special car amongst many, which is a McLaren F1 GTR chassis 10R, coming with a really outrageous livery.

Every one of the 106 McLaren F1s produced is a multi-million-dollar example and often commands more than £ 20 million. The car in question is quite special. It is an F1 GTR, the racing version of the legendary supercar that famously secured an outright victory at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is also one of just nine cars built to 1996 specification.

Built before the 1996 racing season, the car never actually went on to an actual race but was used for testing and pre-qualifying activities for the year’s Le Mans event. It was also used for promotions, which explains its distinctive red-and-yellow ‘Pop Art’ livery.

McLaren F1 GTR chassis 10R interior (Image via McLaren F1 GTR chassis 10R interior)

After McLaren finished using the car, it was sold to Pink Floyd drummer and renowned car enthusiast Nick Mason. In 1999, McLaren converted the GTR to make it road-legal at Mason’s request. Since then, the race-bred machine has occasionally been seen driving on public roads, alongside appearances at various automotive events.

The car did have a minor crash at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2017, but it has since undergone a comprehensive restoration carried out by McLaren specialists Lanzante. Mason is now parting with the F1 GTR, with the car set to headline RM Sotheby’s Car Week auction. 

Given how rare it is and its ownership history, the estimation is that it would go for above the £ 26 million mark. The price could be even higher when the bidding concludes on August 15.