One of the most iconic items in Formula 1 history has just set a new world record. The helmet worn by Gilles Villeneuve in his last race in the category was sold at auction for US$ 1.25 million, becoming the most expensive racing helmet ever sold.
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The sale was conducted by the Canadian company Hall of Fame Collection, specialized in historic motorsport items. The amount surpasses the previous record held by a helmet used by Ayrton Senna at the 1992 Belgian GP, sold last year for approximately US$ 966 thousand.
Villeneuve’s helmet had been part of a private collection for almost thirty years. The Canadian used the item at the 1982 San Marino GP in Imola, a race marked by internal controversy at Ferrari involving Didier Pironi.
On that occasion, Villeneuve finished the race in second place after being overtaken by his teammate in the final laps, despite Ferrari’s orders for the drivers to slow down. The episode caused significant tension within the Italian team and is remembered as one of the most controversial moments in the Canadian’s Formula 1 career.
Two weeks after that race, Villeneuve died at age 32 following an accident during the qualifying session for the Belgian GP. The driver was wearing a different helmet at the time of the fatal accident.
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Darren Jack, CEO of Hall of Fame Collection, highlighted the historical rarity of the piece: “The GPA helmet is an extremely rare model in the collectors’ world. Moreover, this is one of only five, perhaps even fewer, racing helmets used by Gilles Villeneuve that still exist,” he told CBC.
The model features predominantly red paint, with black stripes on the sides and a stylized red ‘V’ on the back. The item was presented by Jack directly from the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Canada.
The sale placed the Canadian’s helmet at the top of the list of the most valuable items in motorsport history. Behind it is Ayrton Senna’s 1992 helmet, valued at US$ 966 thousand, followed by a 2023 Lewis Hamilton helmet sold for US$ 387 thousand. Also on the list are a 1970 Steve McQueen helmet traded for US$ 375 thousand, and a 2023 Charles Leclerc helmet bought for US$ 335 thousand.
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