Justin Wilson eBay Charity Auction set for big Monday launch

The list of contributors to the upcoming Justin Wilson eBay Charity Auction has been nothing less than overwhelming. Set to start on Monday, Sept. 14, the auction will see all proceeds sent directly to the Wilson Children's Fund, and based on a small sampling of the items that have been committed throughout the world of motor racing, fans will have access to an amazing list of memorabilia that continues to grow.

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes AMG Petronas teammate Nico Rosberg will send race-worn driving suits after next weekend's Singapore Grand Prix. Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon is giving an autographed fender from his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy SS.

Le Mans winners Corvette Racing will donate bodywork from their thundering Corvette C7.Rs. 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay is donating a signed driving suit. 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button is donating the helmet he wore bearing a Justin Wilson tribute sticker (RIGHT) at the recent Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Team Penske is assembling an unparalleled VIP experience for two winning bidders at the 100th running of the Indy 500 in 2016. Actor/racer Patrick Dempsey is donating the custom Specialized bike he used to train for this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. Michael Shank is donating the helmet Justin wore on the way to finishing second overall with his team at the 2006 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

All four manufacturers in the FIA World Endurance Championship P1 category are donating invaluable items. Six F1 teams have contributed memorabilia that cannot be purchased anywhere other than the Justin Wilson eBay Charity Auction. Most of the NASCAR Sprint Cup field has donated signed driving gear and other personal belongings.

The same is true for IMSA and its TUDOR United SportsCar Championship teams. NHRA teams and drivers have added to the pool. Legends of the sport have reached into their private collections to donate exclusive memorabilia.

And, as one would expect, Wilson's friends and competitors in the Verizon IndyCar Series have made unbelievably generous contributions where all 10 teams and their drivers have donated helmets, suits, or bodywork.

Add in auction donations from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, musicians, mechanics, photographers, artists, car companies, and friends of the beloved Brit, and a network of volunteers have assembled more than 100 items for the charity drive.

The items mentioned above represent only a fraction of what will be added progressively starting on the 14th, and more will go up for bid throughout the auction that will remain open until the end of October.

IndyCar driver Graham Rahal and eBay CEO Devin Wenig have been the driving force behind the auction, and Rahal says he can't wait for the auction to get under way.

"There are so many people, so many drivers, so many teams, and people reaching out to donate from every corner of the world, we've set a closing date at the end of October to accommodate their generosity and to work with their racing schedules," Rahal told RACER.

Justin Wilson fans and interested bidders can look for the eBay auction link on Monday, and then return on a regular basis to see new memorabilia and other items as they're received and posted.

"As most people know, the auction will start with helmets from the IndyCar drivers at Sonoma, and eBay and Auction Cause will post new items every day after," Rahal continued. "I know of drivers who'll race at the Singapore F1 race, and at COTA for the IMSA and WEC weekend, that will step out of their driving suit or take off their helmet and it will be packaged and on its way to go up for bid right after. It's pretty incredible."

Rahal's goal for the Wilson auction, which follows the charity eBay auction he created that raised $590,000 for the late Dan Wheldon's family in 2011, should be achievable.

"I'm excited by the energy everyone has put into this, and with all the help we continue to get, I know we can bring in more than a million dollars for Justin's wife and little girls," he said.

Check back Monday for the auction link, and if you have an auction item that would bring a significant bid to help raise money for the Wilson Children's Fund, please send an email to JWilsonAuction@gmail.com.