The Mercedes CLK GTR was designed for the purpose of winning the FIA GT - the federation's Gran Turismo, or Grand Touring championship. Now a rare example of this modern classic car is for sale.
It will go under the hammer for an estimated price of £430,000-500,000; less than half what was paid for it new.
The car won the Grand Touring Championship in both 1997 and 1998 - and, as a result, became a victim of its own success.
In 1999, no challengers came forward to race the CLK. The series had to be cancelled, leaving the CLK with nothing to race but the wind.
However, it is perhaps not surprising the car won...
Gran Turismo implies that the car can function propery on normal roads and journeys, but the car must be road legal. The CLK is designed for racing first, road driving last.
Out of the 25 made, just five of the CLK GTRs are roadsters.
The car coming up for auction is thought to have been bought by a member of Brunei's Royal family, and, unusually, features a right hand drive.
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It was made some time after the GT wins, probably in 2006, and has only 34km on the clock, suggesting that the only driving done in it was for the last leg of its delivery journey.
The auction takes place on the afternoon of October 28 at RM Auctions, Battersea Park, London.
