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Competition monsters shake up Villa d’Este

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Imagine, the stylish surroundings of the Villa d’Este on the boards of Lake Como. And then, a race car starts up.

The Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este has always paid attention to motor racing. This year, we counted no less than three primarily racing-oriented categories among the seven categories in total. And there were race cars in the other categories as well.

Photo Dirk de Jager

Bugatti show

Let’s start with a car that was one of the favourites for the ultimate ‘best of show’; Fritz Burkard’s 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports. This highly original Bugatti was a works race car in 1934 and 1935, before the later king Leopold III of Belgium took possession of it in 1938. The car received lights, mud-guards and a black livery. Close to 90 years on, this car has never been restored, and under the cracking paint, traces of the original blue are visible. It is a brilliant car but it was ultimately ‘only’ good for the ‘best-preserved pre-war car’ trophy. Another Bugatti T57 beat it to top honours; Andrew Fisker’s 1937 Bugatti T57 S Cabriolet Vanvooren.

Photo Dirk de Jager

In the Mercedes Kompressor class, Eric van Lammeren’s 1929 Mercedes-Benz 710 SS took the Trofeo Vrancken Pommery. Its wealthy, young first owner Max von Arco-Zinneberg supposedly made the proposal for the bodywork design himself. He campaigned his Mercedes at the Gaisbergrennen in Austria and the Semmering hill climb. The car came fresh from a restoration.

Photo Dirk de Jager

200 mph Citroën

More race cars in the 75 years of Ferrari class, where there was a mention of honour from the judges for David Sydorick’s 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato, which has competed in the Mille Miglia. In the class ‘Breaking the speed barrier’, Thierry Dehaeck’s 1971 Citroën SM received a mention of honour. Dehaeck proudly continues with Jerry Hathaway’s heritage in the form of this Bonneville salt flats racer that broke the 200 mph (322 kph) barrier in this turbocharged Citroën SM. The period-raced 1953 Siata 208 Jan De Reu had entered, also walked away with a mention of honour in its category.

Photo Dirk de Jager

‘Born on the racetrack’ gave us plenty of spectacular race cars. The class win went to Bob Ingram’s 1961 Porsche 356 B Carrera Abarth GTL. The car gave its first Swedish owner two national GT titles, finishing first in the eleven races it started in. ‘Best preserved post-war car’ went to the 1954 Maserati A6 GCS Ulrich Schumacher brought to the Concorso. The Maserati raced in Senegal and in the Mille Miglia in 1954, with start number 651.

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Photo Dirk de Jager

Nissan R390 GT1

A bit surprising was the judge’s choice for the 1993 Ferrari F40 LM for ‘the most powerful car’ trophy. Not only was the F40 never raced in period, it stood next to the 1988 Nissan R390 GT1 Erik Comas has just finished restoring. Comas told us that without air restrictors, the Nissan is good for 1000 hp. The Nissan R390 GT1 has been road-registered, making it only the second road R390 GT1 in existence. Comas will also drive the car over the road to Le Mans next year to participate in the events for 100 years Le Mans.

Photo Dirk de Jager

And finally, a word on the ’50 years of BMW Motorsport’ category. A category that was extended to ‘M and its predecessors’. We can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed that so little of M’s history was there to be judged. The Jägermeister BMW 320 Group 5 (1978) was spectacular, the 1979 M1 Procar was gorgeous. But where were the M3s, 635s and other race-CSLs?

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