The LaFerrari’s production run was meant to end at 499, but Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne has decided that they will take that total to 500 in response to the 6.2-magnitude earthquake which struck Italy last week.

The unplanned edition of the hypercar will be sold at auction, with the proceeds going to help those affected by the disaster which has so far claimed the lives of nearly 300 people.

It’s not clear yet when the car will be constructed or indeed when it will go under the hammer, although with the LaFerrari Spider due to make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show next month it’s not like they’re short of spare parts.

The original batch of LaFerraris sold like hot cakes despite carrying a price tag of £1 million each, and with an unexpected opportunity to own a very special edition, you can bet that No. 500 will fetch a sum that’s even heftier still.

Given the cause, that’s certainly no bad thing.