There’s something fitting about transforming retired Formula One exhausts into sculptural lightworks. That’s exactly what British designer Ben Rousseau has done with his latest collection of motorsport-inspired art, now on display at Escapade Silverstone.
Working in collaboration with John Haigh of Racing Gold, known for repurposing high-performance engineering into objets d’art, Rousseau has created a series of striking timepieces and light sculptures using authentic F1 parts, including race-used exhausts from none other than Fernando Alonso’s 2006 World Championship-winning Renault R26.
“It’s about preserving the legacy of these machines,” says Rousseau, who’s no stranger to fusing fine art with cutting-edge design. “Each piece is unique and exists to capture the imagination of anyone who’d love a piece of motorsport history in their home.”
Ben Rousseau has created a series of striking timepieces and light sculptures using authentic F1 parts…
Industrial elegance, lit from within
At the centre of the collection is a commanding wall-mounted light sculpture made from Inconel, an ultra-tough, heat-resistant alloy also used in jet engines and rocket parts. Originally welded to Alonso’s title-winning engine, the tubular forms have been meticulously hand-polished, stove lacquered, and fitted with glowing fibre optic strands.
Other pieces include a dramatic chandelier fashioned from the same R26 exhaust system, reoriented to evoke organic sea life.
These materials were never meant to last, in F1, even the smallest risk of failure is unacceptable. But once retired, Rousseau saw the potential to give them a new kind of permanence. “These parts once screamed around this circuit,” he says. “Now they tell a new story through light and form.”
In addition to the sculptural centrepieces, Rousseau’s limited-edition signature timepieces are also on show inside Escapade Silverstone’s gym. Each clock is a conversation starter, made from rotationally grained aluminium and assembled using more than 130 genuine F1 components, including torsion rods, legality planks, and suspension fastenings.
Art with horsepower
This collection forms part of a wider artistic initiative at Escapade Silverstone, curated by Art Director Renata Fernandes. The venue is spotlighting both established and emerging artists for 2025, including former racers such as Stefan Johansson. Alongside Rousseau’s work, visitors will find original paintings created with gold leaf, photography, sculpture, and bespoke digital art, all capturing different facets of speed, adrenaline, and precision.
With prices starting at £9,250, these artworks are not impulse buys, they’re heirlooms for collectors who live and breathe motorsport.
Ben Rousseau’s work channels the same intensity: “I want people to light up when they see it,” he says. “To feel the energy, the craftsmanship, the story behind every weld. It’s about emotion, light, and legacy. That’s the real finish line.”
Viewings are strictly by appointment at Escapade Silverstone.
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The Luxe Review 
There’s something fitting about transforming retired Formula One exhausts into sculptural lightworks. That’s exactly what British designer Ben Rousseau has done with his latest collection of motorsport-inspired art, now on display at Escapade Silverstone.
Working in collaboration with John Haigh of Racing Gold, known for repurposing high-performance engineering into objets d’art, Rousseau has created a series of striking timepieces and light sculptures using authentic F1 parts, including race-used exhausts from none other than Fernando Alonso’s 2006 World Championship-winning Renault R26.
“It’s about preserving the legacy of these machines,” says Rousseau, who’s no stranger to fusing fine art with cutting-edge design. “Each piece is unique and exists to capture the imagination of anyone who’d love a piece of motorsport history in their home.”
Industrial elegance, lit from within
At the centre of the collection is a commanding wall-mounted light sculpture made from Inconel, an ultra-tough, heat-resistant alloy also used in jet engines and rocket parts. Originally welded to Alonso’s title-winning engine, the tubular forms have been meticulously hand-polished, stove lacquered, and fitted with glowing fibre optic strands.
Other pieces include a dramatic chandelier fashioned from the same R26 exhaust system, reoriented to evoke organic sea life.
These materials were never meant to last, in F1, even the smallest risk of failure is unacceptable. But once retired, Rousseau saw the potential to give them a new kind of permanence. “These parts once screamed around this circuit,” he says. “Now they tell a new story through light and form.”
In addition to the sculptural centrepieces, Rousseau’s limited-edition signature timepieces are also on show inside Escapade Silverstone’s gym. Each clock is a conversation starter, made from rotationally grained aluminium and assembled using more than 130 genuine F1 components, including torsion rods, legality planks, and suspension fastenings.
Art with horsepower
This collection forms part of a wider artistic initiative at Escapade Silverstone, curated by Art Director Renata Fernandes. The venue is spotlighting both established and emerging artists for 2025, including former racers such as Stefan Johansson. Alongside Rousseau’s work, visitors will find original paintings created with gold leaf, photography, sculpture, and bespoke digital art, all capturing different facets of speed, adrenaline, and precision.
With prices starting at £9,250, these artworks are not impulse buys, they’re heirlooms for collectors who live and breathe motorsport.
Ben Rousseau’s work channels the same intensity: “I want people to light up when they see it,” he says. “To feel the energy, the craftsmanship, the story behind every weld. It’s about emotion, light, and legacy. That’s the real finish line.”
Viewings are strictly by appointment at Escapade Silverstone.
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