AUCTIONS of memorabilia and equipment from collapsed Caterham F1 team have raised millions, thanks to an “extraordinary” level of interest.

Auctioneer Matt Hardy, who has been overseeing a series of online sales since March, says his firm’s website received 33,000 hits in less than 24 hours.

And the sale generated 1.5m followers on social media site Twitter in less than three days.

Oxford Mail:

A show car with no engine or gearbox attracted bids of more than £50,000

Mr Hardy, of Wyles Hardy, said it has attracted bidders from 40 countries including Europe, the USA, Australia and the Middle East.

He said: “The interest that has been generated by social media has been extraordinary.”

The sell-off of the F1 team’s equipment is being partly done via private deals and the rest through timed online auctions.

Similar to eBay, these stay open for up to a week to attract the highest bid before the deadline.

The latest online sale, which includes race bay and works furniture, is live now on wyleshardy.com and closes tomorrow.

The eighth and final twoday auction, which goes online in the final week of May, is of car components, memorabilia, merchandise and team clothing.

In earlier online sales, a show F1 car with no engine or gear box attracted bids of more than £50,000, six steering wheels were snapped up for an average of £6,000 each and wheel nuts for £50 each.

A chassis tub, written off by racing driver Kamui Kobayashi during testing in Barcelona last year fetched in excess of £3,000.

One of the most bizarre items was a bright orange life-size crash dummy affectionately known as “Mr Tango” by former Caterham F1 employees, which sold for £720.

Mr Hardy, whose firm is acting on behalf of Londonbased administrators Smith & Williamson, added: “It is pretty unique and that’s what drives the interest from collectors.”

He expects the final online sale next month to “attract a lot of attention”.

He said: “This is F1 so it has a world audience, it’s not just a local thing.”

Oxford Mail:

Larger pieces of equipment, like this autoclave were sold privately

The auctioneers have also sold much of the larger and more expensive equipment privately, including race trailers and a race car simulator.

Mr Hardy added: “Some of the engineering equipment was very in demand.”

Leafield-based Caterham F1 went into administration last October and later went out of business after a rescue bid failed. More than 200 people were made redundant.

Finbarr O’Connell , of administrators Smith & Williamson, said £2m has been raised so far through private sales of equipment and cars.

He expects £3.5m to be generated by the online auctions.

PROBE

ADMINISTRATOR Finbarr O’Connell of Smith Williamson revealed there is an ongoing investigation surrounding the collapse of the former Caterham F1 team, which may result in legal action.

He said: “If there are any parties who are guilty of wrongdoing, it is up to me, as administrator, to investigate and take legal action against them.

“I can confirm that I am actively investigating and I believe there will be legal action against certain parties following the demise of the Leafield Caterham F1 team.”