The 1961 Porsche Stirling Moss drove in his last competitive race is coming to auction.

The vehicle will auction at Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale on June 26.

The last racing car Moss drove competitively - in 2011

Moss bought the Porsche RS-61 in 2010 for $1.7m and raced it at the Le Mans Classic and in the US in his last competitive outing before his retirement in 2011, writing on his website: "this afternoon I scared myself".

The vehicle now has a £1.7-2m ($2.5-3m) estimate - evidence of the value collectors attach to the Stirling Moss name.

The 85-year-old racing great was inspired to purchase the diminutive but agile racer having driven another of the machines almost 50 years earlier at the Nurburgring 1,000.

"After 12 laps I handed over to Graham [Hill] who rejoined fifth, " remembers Moss of the 1961 race.

"Then it began to snow! Graham handed back to me and I found the little Porsche ideal for the Nurburgring in such conditions. We climbed into third, then second. I was set to take the lead when the little car broke - but it had been exciting while it lasted."

Moss states he never lost his love of the "grand little Porsche" and when he saw this example for sale in the US "just fell in love with it, all over again".

This example spent its early racing career in the US, before undergoing a large-scale rebuild.

Check out this signed photo from the stars of the 2002 F1 season.

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