Picture: Sothebys

A crash helmet worn by Grand Prix champion Ayrton Senna has sold at auction for a world record £720,000.

Senna was wearing the custom-made Shoei helmet when he risked his life to save another driver.

Érik Comas – racing for Ligier in the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps – was knocked unconscious in a crash.

Senna, racing for McLaren, stopped his car mid-race and ran back through thick smoke to rescue Comas.

The Frenchman still had his foot on the accelerator and the engine was heading towards 8,000 RPM.

Senna found the circuit breaker and cut the car’s engine.

He then supported the Frenchman’s head until paramedics arrived.

Comas said the Brazilian had “saved his life”.

He added:

“It knocked me out like a KO in boxing.

“Meanwhile, the car went back to the middle of the track, but I kept, unconsciously, accelerating.

“I was unconscious with the car accelerating like crazy.

“Ayrton arrived and directly heard the crazy sound produced by the engine, the motor was screaming at 7,000 to 8,000 RPM or something around.

“He stopped his car; he ejected himself from it and, at his own risk, came to my car and stopped the engine.

“Even with the yellow flags, the circuit was still very dangerous.

“He searched for the circuit breaker and stopped the motor, preventing it from burning or even exploding.

“After the impact it seems that there were some leaks of fuels so the risk was high.

“In a few seconds it could have exploded, yes, probably, so Ayrton Senna saved my life, yes.”

Senna died two years later in a racing crash.

He was aged 34.

RM Sotheby’s, which handled the sale, said the that £720,000 winning bid was a world record for a race-worn helmet.

The previous lot – worn by Chales Leclerc in the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix – sold for ££262,700.