An artist has used F1 legend Fernando Alonso’s engine exhausts to create a striking new collection of motorsport-inspired artworks.
British designer Ben Rousseau has hand crafted unique light sculptures and timepieces built from genuine Formula One parts in collaboration with John Haigh from Racing Gold who specialise in re-cycling the world’s “most exciting junk” and transforming it into engineering art.
Each piece contains authentic Formula One components – including Fernando Alonso’s 2006 world title-winning exhaust- that have been “exquisitely reimagined” using motorsport heritage with refined design, precision metalwork, and immersive lighting.
Designer Ben said: “Each piece is unique and exists to capture the imagination of anyone who’d love a piece of motorsport legacy.”
A striking horizontal mounted sculpture on display at the Escapade Silverstone Gallery uses the race-run exhausts from Fernando Alonso’s Race and Championship winning R26 Renault F1 car of 2006. Fibre optic lighting make it look ablaze.
Ben said: “The piece is made from Inconel metal, race worn before export then expertly crafted into tubular masterpieces here in the U.K.
“After performing on the race car, we hand polish the external surfaces then stove lacquer.
“The lamps are adorned with 12v fibre optic lighting strands with multiple pieces of supporting F1 exotic parts. Namely torsion springs and the infamous legality plank.”
The same race run exhausts from Fernando Alonso’s R26 Renault F1 car of 2006 have been fashioned into a chandelier, with the cylinder head mounts rotated in different directions to create an “organic and from the ocean” look says Ben.
He added: “The exhausts are manufactured from an ultra thin gauge super-alloy metal called Inconel. Often used in the hot section of mainstream jet engines and more impressive rocket engines, this expensive material is incredibly stable at very high temperatures.
“Formula One’s Teams push the boundaries of technology. The energy expelled by a Formula One power unit actually wears the inside of these exhausts meaning they get retired before they risk failure.
“Once retired, we have the opportunity to create pieces of art giving these amazing exhausts a new life.”
To purchase a piece of racing history will set a collector back £9250. All art can be viewed by appointment at Escapade Silverstone.
Ben Rousseau’s artistic signature timepieces are also on display in the exclusive venue’s gym.
Made from rotational grained aluminium mounted with over 132 genuine F1 parts from things like torsion rods and suspension fastenings.
Art Director at Escapade Silverstone, Renata Fernandes, chose to spotlight established and up and coming artists for 2025, including ex-racing drivers such as Stefan Johansson.
The exclusive, world-first collection includes original paintings, photography and sculpture and bespoke digital art.
Ben added: “Whether I’m designing an interior, a sculpture, a clock or a piece of art I want to light up someone’s eyes and their imagination. I want them to be filled with energy and positive happiness.
“Everything is designed to look at reflection and the way the light catches in the shadow.
“This collection was about capturing the raw energy and emotion of racing.
“These parts once screamed around this circuit. Now they tell a new story through light and form.”