Supercars loaned to motorsport park

Rare supercars - three limited edition Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss and an Enzo...
Rare supercars - three limited edition Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss and an Enzo Ferrari, on show at the National Motorsport Museum. Photos from Highlands Motorsports Park.
The Enzo Ferrari.
The Enzo Ferrari.

Like any new arrivals, this foursome is already winning hearts. But unlike other new arrivals, each of these ''babies'' cost more than $1 million.

The proud parents, Highlands Motorsport Park management, announced the delivery of four rare bundles of joy yesterday - limited edition supercars on display at its National Motorsport Museum in Cromwell.

Highlands general manager Mike Sentch said the 12-cylinder Enzo Ferrari was one of 400, while the three supercharged V8 Mercedes-Benz McLaren Stirling Moss vehicles were even more rare - only 75 were made of this edition.

The Australian owner of the cars, who wanted to remain anonymous, offered them for display ''because he likes what we've done here, and this was his way of saying so,'' Mr Sentch said.

''Everyone here is just buzzing about having such cool cars to display.''

Even better, Mr Sentch had the privilege of driving one of the Mercedes-Benz around the park's 4.1km racetrack.

''You get used to seeing amazing cars here, so I don't usually get too excited about them, to be honest, but these ... they're really something spectacular.

''Driving the Mercedes was absolutely incredible, just magic. You're out in the open, they have a tiny windscreen, and you're thinking of all that heritage and the prestige of the brand; it ticks so many boxes.''

He declined to speculate on the vehicles' value but newspaper stories when the limited edition Mercedes-Benz launched in 2009 said each vehicle cost 750,000, or $US1.07 million.

A luxury car sales firm in Los Angeles was yesterday advertising a ''near-new'' condition Enzo Ferrari for sale on its website. The asking price? $US2.88 million.

Security was already tight at the museum to protect the contents, Mr Sentch said.

''Security's already a priority and at the highest level,'' Mr Sentch said. ''We've got other cars here worth a lot of money, so we don't take any chances.''

The vehicles, probably be on display in the museum for about six months, might also get the occasional ''outing'' on the track, in demonstration drives at motorsport events.

Asked how his work vehicle compared with the supercars, Mr Sentch said he was quickly brought down to earth, literally, after his ''dream drive'' in the Mercedes-Benz.

''It was back on the Claas tractor for me, levelling some dirt out around the place.''

lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz

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