Rowan Atkinson cost his insurer £910,000 in repair costs after crashing his McLaren F1 into a tree in August of 2011. The insurance firm took 4 weeks to work out if it would be cheaper to buy a replacement car, or have the wrecked F1 repaired. They eventually decided that repairing was the most economical option, since purchasing a replacement would cost significantly more.
Over the last 15 years the value of McLaren F1s has grown a great deal, with one recently fetching £3.5 million. Only 64 of the cars were ever made, making the F1 a very collectible car indeed.
Production of the F1, which boasted a 6.1 litre BMW engine, began in 1992. The car can reach 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds.
Atkinson crashed his supercar near Peterborough – no other drivers were involved. Despite the fact that the Mr Bean star suffered a fractured shoulder blade in the incident, he remains a dedicated sports car fan, believing that such cars should be driven and enjoyed, rather than locked away as collectors’ items.
It took 16 months before he could get back behind the wheel of his beloved F1, which he described as “putting on a familiar sweater”.
While his driving kudos took a knock after the F1 crash, Atkinson is still well-respected as a driver, having come out top on Top Gear’s Star in a Reasonably Priced Car feature. In just 1 minute 42.2 seconds, the Blackadder star completed a circuit of the famous TV show’s track.
Atkinson’s misadventures behind the wheel are a reminder to us all of the importance of having insurance for car breakdowns, as well as regular motor insurance.
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