Racing pedigree shows at Chantilly Concours

The Chantilly Concours d’Elegance in France traditionally reserves a large chunk of the field for racing cars. Here is our selection of the best, seen through the lens of Peter Singhof.

Chantilly is one of the top Concours, normally held every two years. Because of Covid, the planned 2021 edition was reported to 2022, thus creating a three-year gap. With a quality field, however, Chantilly proved once more why it’s one of Europe’s best Concours in the business.

Index of Performance

Among the racing categories, Chantilly-organiser Peter Auto had created an Alpine class, a barchetta class, and to celebrate 100 years of Le Mans (in 2023) there were two dedicated classes. One class was attributed to the Index of Performance, officially a performance levelling mechanism for all, but also a handy tool to present the French cars running in lower cc categories with some trophies. In Chantilly, this class was won by the 1956 Panhard Monopole X86 – see! – with a 1964 Alpine M64 runner-up.

Hunaudières class

The main Le Mans class gathered competitors around a ‘Hunaudières speed and aerodynamics’ theme. The field ranged from the Guikas-entered ex-Penske Sunoco Ferrari 512M (1971) to the 1992 Peugeot 905 Evo1 Erik Maris brought, along with the Ascott Collection’s Lola T600 (1981) and many others. Unsurprisingly, the 512M took best in class, in front of Frédéric and Fanny Leroux’ 1964 CD-Panhard LM64.

Alpine

Over to the Alpine class, where the top trophy went to a 1963 Alpine M63, with a 1964 Alpine M64 runner-up. Alexander Schaufler’s 1920 Ballot 3/8 LC Grand Prix received the first prize in the 1905 – 1925 race car category. Christian Hrabalek’s 1994 Bugatti EB110 S ‘Le Mans’ won the Bugatti, La Renaissance-class.

Best of show

Ralph and Marion Stadler’s 1950 Talbot Lago T26 GS Barchetta with Motto bodywork not only won the barchetta category, but also won best of show in the post-war category. That same honour, but in the pre-war category, was bestowed upon the 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6C Dubonnet Xenia of Merle and Peter Mullin. José Fernandez’ 1953 Kurtis Buick 500X was best open American sports car.

Next to the Concours participants, the French clubs assembled their toys in the gardens surrounding the castle. And near the entrance, the BRM expo could have easily been mistaken for a Concours class.