The Sporting Classics of Monaco auction on May 1, 2010 will take on established sales held by British auction houses Bonhams and Coys over the Historic Grand Prix weekend.

Star lot will be the stunning 1962 Ferrari Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina – one of six short-wheelbase cars by the Italian coachbuilder and the only one with covered headlamps – fresh from its appearance in the 2009 Pebble Beach concours.

RM Europe managing director Max Girardo said ‘the Monaco sale is the first element of RM’s European expansion strategy.’

The new Hamburg office, which opens on January 15, 2010, will be run by Annette Abaci, who has worked in RM’s London office since it opened in 2006.

Since establishing annual sales in Italy and London in 2007 the company’s flamboyant style has helped it achieve record auction prices including £3.9m for Bernie Ecclestone’s 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster and a market-defying €7m (£5m) for a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider.