
‘Don't tell the wife' – Scottish sports star splashes over £4MILLION on two of the world's most expensive supercars
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
SCOTS driving legend Dario Franchitti has revealed he has ordered two of the world's most expensive supercars without telling his wife.
The four-time IndyCar champion is to splash out on two luxury motors worth more than £4 million made by former Formula 1 racing car designer Gordon Murray.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
6
Dario Franchitti has ordered two of the world's most expensive supercars
6
Franchitti test drives the vehicles for Gordon Murray's manufacturing business
6
The T33 Spider is priced at £1.8million and is mid-development
6
Franchitti test drove the T50, priced at £2.8million, and was desperate to have one
The Gordon Murray T50 is priced at £2.8 million and the Gordon Murray T33 Spider costs £1.8 million.
Franchitti performed test drives of the cars and showed them off to potential customers as part of his role as a development driver with Murray's car manufacturing business.
He decided he had to have a model each for himself because he wants to drive them on country roads in his native Scotland.
However he feels his extravagant purchases may land him in hot water with his wife Eleanor.
Speaking on YouTube channel The Late Brake Show, Bathgate-born Franchitti, 51, said: "I have ordered a T50 and I have also ordered a T33 Spider.
"If my wife is watching this, Ellie, switch off now.
"It started off with me doing the launch of T50 with Gordon during Covid and he said to me 'Do you want one?'
"I said 'I would love one but it's a lot of money'.
"I had just bought a house and a Daytona Spider in the same week, it was expensive times, and I just thought 'I can't'.
"So I didn't do it and we did the launch and within two days they all sold.
Dario Franchitti: It has been emotional
"I was alright about it at that point and then I drove it for the first time.
"I got home and went to bed and I couldn't sleep.
"I just kept imagining driving across some Scottish moorland road.
"I wrote Gordon this long email about why I should have one and what I would do with it and all this stuff.
"I went back for the second phase of testing on it and he put his arm around me and said 'Don't worry, we kept you a prototype back'.
"It's such a wonderful car.
"We are mid-development with the T33.
"What a car, I love it.
"I'm really excited about that one too."
The T50 is inspired by the F1 car Murray designed for McLaren and has a top speed of 226mph.
The open-top two-seater T33 Spider is designed to be compact and light and is powered by a 4.0-litre Cosworth-built V12 engine which revs to 11,100rpm.
Franchitti said he had to sell some cars from his luxury collection to help him afford the new supercars.
6
Celtic-daft Franchitti was married to Hollywood star Ashley Judd but they split in 2013
Credit: SNS
6
He married wife Eleanor in 2015 and the pair have two children
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
He was forced to retire after he escaped death in a 200mph crash in which he suffered two broken vertebrae, a fractured right ankle and concussion which damaged his brain.
The Scot was left with a limp and memory loss after the accident in Houston, Texas in 2013.
Franchitti split from his first wife, the Hollywood star Ashley Judd, shortly before his career ending crash.
He married Eleanor in 2015 and the couple have two children.
He started racing karts at West of Scotland Kart Club in Larkhall and tested at Knockhill, near Dunfermline.
He won his first karting title aged 11 and went on to race at the British Championship.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
When is the next F1 race? Dutch GP 2025 schedule and how to watch
F1 returns after the four-week summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, round 15 of the 2025 season. With 10 races left this season, it is a two-horse race for the drivers' championship between the two McLaren drivers. Oscar Piastri currently has a nine-point lead over teammate Lando Norris, who won the last race in Hungary after holding off a late challenge from the Australian. Norris also won last year's grand prix at Zandvoort. George Russell claimed a podium in Budapest but Max Verstappen had a race to forget, finishing ninth. The reigning world champion will be looking to bounce back in front of his passionate home fans on the North Sea coast. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is seeking a significant improvement in performance, having failed to secure a podium in Ferrari red after the first 14 races of the season. Charles Leclerc also cut a frustrated figure at the last race in Hungary, finishing fourth after starting on pole. When is the Dutch Grand Prix? All times BST Friday 29 August Free practice 1: 11:30am Free practice 2: 3pm Saturday 30 August Free practice 3: 10:30am Qualifying: 2 pm Sunday 31 August Race: 2pm How can I watch it online and on TV? The Dutch Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom - and ESPN in the United States. Sky's coverage of Sunday's race starts at 12:30pm (BST). Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action in Zandvoort on the Sky Go app. If you're not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription. If you're travelling abroad and want to watch the Dutch Grand Prix then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help. F1 driver standings 1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 284 points 2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 275 points 3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 187 points 4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 157 points 5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 139 points 6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 109 points 7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 64 points 8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 54 points 9. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 37 points 10. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 27 points 11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 26 points 12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 26 points 13. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 22 points 14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 20 points 15. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 20 points 16. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 16 points 17. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 14 points 18. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 10 points 19. Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 8 points 20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points 21. Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 0 points F1 constructor standings 1. McLaren - 559 points 2. Ferrari - 260 points 3. Mercedes - 236 points 4. Red Bull - 194 points 5. Williams - 70 points 6. Aston Martin - 52 points 7. Sauber - 51 points 8. Racing Bulls - 45 points 9. Haas - 35 points 10. Alpine - 20 points 2025 F1 CALENDAR IN FULL: ROUND 15 - NETHERLANDS Circuit Zandvoort - 29-31 August ROUND 16 - ITALY Monza Circuit - 5-7 September ROUND 17 - AZERBAIJAN Baku City Circuit - 19-21 September ROUND 18 - SINGAPORE Marina Bay Street Circuit - 3-5 October ROUND 19 - UNITED STATES (sprint weekend) Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 17-19 October ROUND 20 - MEXICO Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City - 24-26 October ROUND 21 - BRAZIL (sprint weekend) Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo - 7-9 November ROUND 22 - LAS VEGAS Las Vegas Street Circuit - 20-22 November ROUND 23 - QATAR (sprint weekend)


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Council tax bills to rise by whopping £380 per year under Angela Rayner's plans
Plus, we share how you can save on your council tax bill BILL BLOW Council tax bills to rise by whopping £380 per year under Angela Rayner's plans Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) COUNCIL tax bills could rise by £380 per year under Angela Rayner's plans to unlock cash for deprived areas. But the changes mean that households in rural areas could see their council tax rise by between £376 and £380 over the next four years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Council tax bills could rise by £380 per year under Angela Rayner's plans to unlock cash for deprived areas. Credit: PA Research by the County Councils Network, which represents local authorities in county areas, said families living in band D properties in countryside areas will pay £2,756 annually by 2029. That is compared to the £2,380 that those in the band group pay today. It comes as the Deputy Minister has outlined proposals to redistribute government funding to the most disadvantaged local authorities through a new formula. Under the plans, Rayner wants households in more affluent areas to pay more in council tax to help fund services in poorer parts of the UK. The government has said the overhaul is required so councils have enough funding to pay for services. The Deputy Prime Minister launched a consultation on the new funding formula in June. This closed last week, with changes expected to be introduced from next year. But to help offset these costs, CCN claimed that councils in country areas would have to increase council tax by the maximum rate of 5% over the next three years. Research by the group also found that £1.6billion in council tax income from dozens of rural areas would be distributed to other parts of the UK including cities. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now A spokesperson for the ministry of housing, communities and local government, said: 'We do not recognise this analysis. "The current, outdated way in which local authorities are funded has left communities behind and damaged local services." They added: "This must change and is why we are taking decisive action as part of our Plan for Change to reform the funding system so we can improve public services, while maintaining the previous government's referendum threshold on council tax rises so taxpayers have the final say and are protected from excessive increases.' It comes as a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) published in August, said that changes to the the system could leave dozens of councils facing major cash shortfalls. It warned that these shortfalls would also need to be offset by increases to council tax. The IFS's report says councils in inner London are set to be "by far" the biggest hit. Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Wandsworth and Westminister will see their overall government funding drop by up to 12% in real terms by the 2028/29 financial year, even factoring in a 5% rise in council tax each year. District councils like Cherwell, Mid Suffolk and North West Leicestershire are set to be negatively impacted as well. MORE COUNCIL TAX NEWS Meanwhile, a consultation has also been launched proposing letting households pay for their council tax bill over 12 months rather than 10. It has also laid out plans to change the way council tax debt is collected. Under the plans, councils will have to wait longer before demanding a bill is paid in full and the costs charged to households through liability orders will be capped. A liability order is a demand for payment of council tax issued by a Magistrates' Court. The Government is also mooting changing the name of the so-called "severe mental impairment" discount. Under the discount, someone who has been medically certified as having a permanent condition that affects their intelligence and social functioning, can get up to 100% wiped off their bill. Ministers are also consulting on amending the definition of the discount to encourage take-up. The consultation is also looking at whether it can be made easier for households to challenge their council tax band. None of the above plans are yet to have come into force, with the consultation running until September 12. WHAT IS COUNCIL TAX? Council tax is an annual fee you pay to your local council to help fund local services. Each council sets its own cost. The amount of council tax you pay relates to the valuation of your property. Each property is valued by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and placed in one of eight council tax bands, ranging from A to H. You can find out the council tax band for a home by looking up its address or postcode. This can be done by visiting If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for a reduction on your council tax. You need to apply for a reduction via your local councils website. To make a claim, will need to provide the council with information on your earnings and what pensions, benefits, allowances and tax credits you receive. To find where your local council is, visit


The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Former McLaren driver predicts Piastri-Norris crash in title clash
Juan Pablo Montoya, a former McLaren driver, predicts an "explosion" within the team as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris battle for the 2025 F1 world championship. Piastri currently leads Norris by nine points with 10 races remaining in the season, which resumes next week with the Dutch Grand Prix. Despite their respectful rivalry and only one collision so far, Montoya believes the high stakes of the championship will inevitably lead to a crash between the teammates. Montoya suggests that as the season progresses and points become critical, drivers might resort to extreme measures to secure the championship. He also highlights that the upcoming regulation changes for next year mean this could be the only opportunity for either driver to win a world championship, intensifying the pressure.