The merry month of May seems a long way off during the dismal days of March but when you're hoping to bid for an historic Ferrari being auctioned at the factory in Maranello, perhaps it's like tomorrow. So one can hardly blame RM Auctions if they encourage us as reporters and others as prospective buyers to check out the merchandise. Leggenda e Passione, the first-ever auction to be sanctioned by Ferrari and taking place at the very home of the Prancing Horse, is certainly a unique event. Lucky are those who can attend, let alone bid.

Among the feature cars this one certainly caught my attention especially as, like F1 fans the world over, I await the season opener in Australia with great anticipation. RM describes it as "one of the most important of all the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 race cars." The 1997 Ferrari F310B, chassis 175, was driven to victory in Monaco and Spa that year by Michael Schumacher. According to RM it has been part of two important U.S. collections since its retirement and is offered for sale for the first time in many years. What a sensation this will be if the new owner decides to enter it in vintage race events! Contact RM c/o Sotheby's at +44-207-293-6336.