Sir Roger parts with supercar

By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK

Sir Roger Bhatnagar may have plenty money, but he would rather drive a yellow Volkswagen than the world's fastest production car.

The millionaire businessman has sold his McLaren F1 for $US800,000 ($1.8 million), breaking the New Zealand record for a used road car sale.

Sir Roger, who made his fortune through Noel Leeming appliance stores, owned the English supercar for "six years and 10 days" before selling it to a Californian billionaire this month.

"I never used it - the insurance was $25,000 a year," said Sir Roger, who bought the car for $2 million.

"I'm a little bit sad to see it go because there is nothing better than this car and it is a McLaren."

The F1 is one of the world's most expensive cars, and the fastest.

Powered by a 6.1-litre V12 BMW engine, it is capable of 370 km/h and can cover the standing kilometre in less than 20 seconds.

The driver sits in the middle with his passengers slightly behind and on either side.

Production of the F1 ended in May 1998 after 100 cars had been made, 64 of them similar to Sir Roger's but a number modified for racing.

The businessman has often appeared at charity events with the midnight blue car, although he rarely drove it on the road.

He has no plans to buy another supercar and is content to drive his bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle.

"I love cars, I always have.

"I never had cars before. We were very poor," he said.

"You can't take money with you. You may as well enjoy it."

The car was sold through an agent.