(Motorsport-Total.com) – Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, the Audi R26 was presented on a lavish yacht. The luxury boat, valued at 75 million US dollars, also served as a stage for the Koenigsegg Jesko.
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Behind the stunt is Tom Claeren, the founder of Ultimate Superyacht. The R26, the Koenigsegg Jesko, and a sculpture in the shape of current Formula 1 cars were loaded onto the decks of the so-called Stella Maris. A little later, Claeren was able to promote one of his showpieces with lavish images.
Not only the Formula 1 monoposto, the sculpture, or the luxury yacht fit Monaco in terms of price. The Koenigsegg is expected to cost between 2.8 and 3 million US dollars, complete with a 5-liter twin-turbo engine and up to 1600 hp when using E85. The production run of the car is limited to 125 units.
Luxury yachts as part of tradition
The Monaco Grand Prix has always been an eccentric weekend full of tabloid reporting. The multitude of expensive yachts in the principality’s harbor, in particular, shapes the annual television images from the city-state. Traditionally, the winner of the race is honored with the roaring sound of boat horns.
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Kimi Räikkönen provided the most memorable scene on and next to his own yacht in 2006: After his McLaren MP4/21 broke down in the middle of the race, the later Ferrari driver did not return to the pits, but went directly to his cruiser. Shortly thereafter, a shirtless Räikkönen was seen on the television broadcast.
Formula 1 drivers are and were anything but averse to owning such luxury goods. A few weeks before the race in Monaco, local hero Charles Leclerc, for example, bought a new boat. The price is likely to be around 20 million US dollars.
Audi’s performance this season has not been particularly lavish so far. After numerous technical errors, they are in ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
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