Racers and car collectors have an exclusive opportunity to own a genuine, race used F1® car, complete with an engine. This 1992 Fondmetal GR02 race car is a survivor of one of the most iconic eras of the sport. 

This chassis is the third of only three to ever be made; a fourth was planned however it was never assembled into a complete car.  

Restored under the guidance of its original chief designer, Sergio Rinland, and now running with a period-correct Cosworth HB engine, Chassis 03 stands today as a fully functional example of early-90s F1® engineering. 

Driven by Belgian driver, Eric van de Poele, this car tells a unique story... 



A Team With Big Ambition 

For many modern era F1® fans, the team name ‘Fondmetal’ may sound unfamiliar, but this fact makes their journey in the sport even more intriguing. Starting out as a small Italian supplier, forging and casting wheels and components for big automotive names, Fondmetal grew and grew over the years to eventually become an industrial powerhouse. Under the ownership of Gabriele Rumi, the company expanded into a Formula 1® entrant for the 1991 and 1992 seasons. 

Despite the enormous ambition of the team, their resources were modest, especially compared to the giants of the sport who had been making a name for themselves since the 50s. Fondmetal became known for striving for more, which in turn attracted top engineers and talent which would lead to developing daring race cars. 

The GR02 was the team’s entrant for the 1992 season; it would be the last Fondmetal car in F1® before their exit. Patrick Head, the co-founder and engineering director of Williams praised the GR02 at Spa in 1992, calling it the only car on the grid he could “learn something from.” 

Eric van de Poele’s GR02 

In the early part of the decade, the rules of F1® and Qualifying were different to today’s. The number of entrants at a Grand Prix often exceeded the number of spaces on the grid, which meant that those who had not performed well the previous season and new teams were all required to participate in additional pre-Qualifying sessions. Those who did not qualify in the pre-Qualifying would not be involved in the race on the Sunday. 

This exact chassis, Chassis 003, was driven by Eric van de Poele, who qualified for three Grands Prix in 1992: the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Belgian Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix. The chassis’ best result came in Belgium when van de Poele finished tenth. 

Despite, its lack of points finishes, the GR02 gained admiration in the paddock, especially given their budgets and limitations compared to other teams. For example, big names like Williams Racing could rotate through around 60 different aerodynamic floors throughout the season, meanwhile Fondmetal only had a choice of three. 

Following its final involvement in a race, the car was sold directly by Rumi and spent years on display in a private home in Rome. There, the car remained untouched, still in its 1992 race condition, missing only its original engine. 

In the late 2010s, van de Poele himself retrieved the car for a collector and personally confirmed its originality. 

In an exclusives interview with F1 Authentics, Eric van de Poele said:  

“The car arrived in the middle of the season … it was in the beginning of the process to make the car really competitive, and already it was competitive… If we could have done all the season … I think the car could have been really, really good.”  

“At that time, many cars were very tiny … (but) Gabriele Tarquini was quite tall and the cockpit is good for him, so it's just perfect for me. And I think with Formula One, it's difficult to find cockpits to accept tall drivers. So, this is a very good, comfortable car.”  

Speaking on seeing the car before it is sold at auction, he said, “The car is exactly like it was. And when I see the details, everything is perfect. When I had the chance to drive it again in 2021, at a demo in Spa, the car was incredibly fantastic to drive … I think the story of Fondmetal in Formula One is something very special. It was Gabriele Rumi, who was an extraordinary person. The team was very close.” 

The GR02 was designed by Sergio Rinland, who was part of Argentina’s lineage of motorsport innovators. Taking learnings from both Williams and Brabham, the car was developed in just four months by a team of six engineers, introducing concepts that were years beyond their time. 

Also speaking exclusively to F1 Authentics, Sergio Rinland said:  

“When people ask me which of the old cars that I designed I feel most proud of, I always say the Fondmetal, because we had no influence, we had no legacy. We had to start from scratch... I had four months to design and build the car. That was the plan, and we did it. Two weeks to modify the old one, and from January until middle of May, we tested the car for the first time ... and that included wind tunnel testing.”  

“The whole process of building that car is what filled me with pride. Because aerodynamically it had a lot of innovations that took many, many years for other Formula One cars to have ... one concept was used at Ferrari ten years later in 2002. It was the side channels, which every single car now has.” 

“It represents my life. I mean, it's my pride and joy ...  I consider it probably my best design, not the most successful, that obviously was the FW11 ... but at the time in 1992, if it would have been on a team with resources ... that car would have been very successful.” 

“It was a hell of an adventure.”  

An Expert-Led Restoration 

MECAuto, a historic and premier race car restoration workshop in Europe, (with the blessing of Sergio Rinland) sourced a correct Cosworth HB engine, installed a rebuilt gearbox and fitted a modern MOTEC ECU and dashboard for reliable running; this is the car’s only non-period modification. Every other element remains true to its 1992 F1® build.

The car is sold with a comprehensive spares package including suspension, powertrain and ancillary components. For further information on these please contact F1 Authentics.

Please note that this item has been consigned to this auction from a private seller. All consignors are members of our database and are vetted for authenticity. 

This is a large-format item and does not qualify for standard shipping rates. This item is located in Belgium. A custom shipping quote will be provided following a successful winning bid. Alternatively, buyers may arrange their own courier (administration fee applies). Upon a successful bid, a deposit will be required. A full shipping quote will then be issued, with the remaining balance due before dispatch.