Motorworld’s Michael Schumacher permanent exhibition in Cologne & provides F1 car for Mick’s lap of honour in Spa
Motorworld Köln–Rheinland will be opening its doors in the spring of 2018. At the same time, a permanent exhibition eagerly awaited by many fans the world over will also become accessible to the public for the very first time: the Michael Schumacher Private Collection. This unique assemblage, comprising outstanding automotive gems and memorabilia from the unparalleled career of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, can then be admired by all visitors to the new classic car and sports car centre at the former airport at Butzweilerhof.
Even before it opens, Motorworld Köln – Rheinland will be causing a sensation: On the 25th anniversary this weekend of Michael Schumacher’s maiden Grand Prix victory in Spa-Francorchamps, the son of the record-holding Formula 1 world champion, Mick Schumacher, will be driving a lap of honour on the Ardennes racing circuit behind the wheel of the 1994 Benetton Ford B 194-5. This was the car with which Michael Schumacher won his first F1 world championship title. It is now owned by the Motorworld Group. “There was no hint of a doubt in my mind that I wanted to do this,” says the F3 driver, who races for the Prema team.
The exhibition concept was unveiled during a preliminary presentation with Mayor Henriette Reker, Motorworld initiator Andreas Dünkel, and Schumacher’s manager, Sabine Kehm.
Michael Schumacher’s private collection takes visitors on a journey through time spanning his entire career. It shows go-karts from his early years, racing cars from his time in Formula König up to Formula 3, and naturally most of the Formula 1 racing cars with which he won seven world championships. Numerous trophies and unique memorabilia will also be on show. Every single vehicle, every helmet, breathes the success story of the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time.
“To be able to honour Michael Schumacher’s achievements in this manner and bring them so close to his fans means a great deal to us,” commented Andreas Dünkel, CEO of the Motorworld Group, during the presentation of the exhibition concept. “It was clear to us right from from the outset that we would have to give this unique collection a worthy home at Motorworld Köln – Rheinland. Embedded in a whole world of mobile passion, the Michael Schumacher Private Collection will become the emotional centrepiece of our new Motorworld.”
The Motorworld Group last year concluded an agreement with the family of Michael Schumacher to make this unique collection accessible to the general public for the very first time, and for many years to come.
The Michael Schumacher Private Collection is realised by the Keep Fighting Foundation, a charitable initiative established by Schumacher’s family. Sabine Kehm, manager of the family, is delighted in particular that the collection will be finding a perfect home in not just one, but two respects: “Everybody who associates fun and nostalgic feelings with Michael’s incomparable career will find a starting point here with one of the world’s most important motor sport collections. Michael’s career spans far in excess of two decades, and so these gems relate a large piece of the history of mobility. Motorworld with its automotive expertise and passion is the perfect partner and – this was especially important to Michael’s family – Butzweilerhof is located very near to his home town of Kerpen.”
Henriette Reker, Mayor of the city of Cologne, is also looking forward to the opening. “Cologne can claim to be an automobile city in the truest sense! This is where the success story of the automobile began, the world’s oldest motor works has its registered office here, and leading car makers have located their European or German headquarters in our city. Motorworld and the Michael Schumacher Collection could therefore not have found a more suitable location than Cologne, and Butzweilerhof will become a meeting point for automobile lovers and motor sport enthusiasts from all over the world.”
