F1 team in £1m court fight after Grand Prix car driven by Ralf Schumacher VANISHES from local garage

Formula 1 team Williams is engaged in a £1 million High Court lawsuit against former garage director Peter Thorpe over a missing heritage racing car. The £750,000 FW23 chassis, driven by Ralf Schumacher in the 2001 championship, was loaned to Autotech Performance Ltd in 2015. Williams requested the vehicle back in 2021 before the company entered liquidation, but the vehicle was never returned and its location remains unknown.

Williams alleges Thorpe improperly claimed ownership of the car and removed it from the premises, demanding the car's return alongside damages. Thorpe denies taking or claiming ownership of the car, with his defense stating he suffered a stroke in 2018 causing memory loss, while also contending the vehicle was merely an engine-less show car.