As controversy stirred in motor racing yesterday, when team orders seemingly appeared to have led Felipe Massa to stand aside for Fernando Alonso take first place in the Formula 1 race in Germany, Silverstone was heating up in a different way - the sale of the current Formula 1 World Land Speed Record car.

The 2006 Honda F1, nicknamed Bonneville 400, fetched £51,000 at Bonhams Collectors' Motor Cars auction, which was five times its pre-sale estimate. Its pre-sale estimate was £10,000 to £20,000.