Zoom F1 charity auction races to success

Stars of Formula One racing gathered together with the rich and famous last Friday for the third annual Zoom Charity Gala Auction at London’s InterContinental Park Lane Hotel. The auction raised over £20,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

F1 drivers, team principals and well-known faces within the world of motor racing, including Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel, each took photographs for the initiative. A selection of the photos, along with four Nikon cameras signed by world champions, were auctioned off.

Some of the biggest sellers from the evening were photographs submitted by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone (sold for £2,400), former Marussia CEO Graeme Lowdon (sold for £1,400), double world champion Fernando Alonso (sold for £1,100) and 1996 champion Damon Hill (sold for £900).

Some of the most notable F1 faces within F1 were in attendance on Friday evening, including Bernie Ecclestone, Adrian Newey, Max Mosley, Eric Boullier and Claire Williams. Geri Halliwell, whose romantic black and white ‘selfie’ with her fiance Christian Horner sold for £800, led the celebrity contingent with Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden, Scott Gorham from Thin Lizzy and Stephanie Powers. The evening was hosted by the BBC’s F1 presenter Suzi Perry.

Christian Sylt, co-founder of Zoom, said: “I would like to thank everyone who made Zoom 2015 possible: all our partners, the guests at the auction, and also everyone who took a photograph for the initiative, including the drivers, teams and Bernie Ecclestone who have given their continuing support to Zoom. We're delighted to have raised money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity for the third year in a row."

There is still a chance to own a unique photograph taken by one of the stars of F1 racing. Half of the 50 images are still to be auctioned along with a selection of Nikon cameras signed by some great names from F1 history. The online auction of these items begins on Wednesday, January 22 at www.coys-zoom.co.uk.