The Heveningham Concours, one of the most exclusive events on the international automotive calendar, crowned its winners from a stunning field of 50 entries last weekend, which also celebrated 100 years of the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Alfa Romeo 8C, Porsche 3.0 RSR, and Ferrari Daytona sweep up the honours for best pre-war car, best post-war car, and best supercar at the Heveningham Concours in Suffolk, selected by a distinguished panel of automotive judgesNearly 50 entries line up on the terraces of Heveningham Hall last weekend, with part of the display celebrating 100 years of the Le Mans 24 HoursHeveningham Concours and Country Fair raises more than £115,000 for deserving local charities in Suffolk, with attractions also including Horsepower Hill, the Heveningham Tour, and the Aviation ShowManolo Blahnik Experience adds an extra dimension to blend creative shoe design with the best of automotive design, as part of a unique associationMore than 10,000 visitors flock to the stunning Capability Brown-designed gardens of Heveningham Hall over an action-packed weekend for all the family
The best pre-war car was the 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Le Mans Tourer owned by Mihai Negrescu, the best post-war car was Andy Prill’s Martini-liveried 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR – another endurance racing legend – while the best supercar was 2023 Ferrari SP9 Daytona, resplendent in rosso libano red.
Max Hunt, chairman of the judging panel that also comprised racing driver Marino Franchitti as well as automotive designers Peter Stevens and Tony Hatter, said: “Every year the task of picking a winner seems to get harder and harder, which is why we also wanted to make some honourable mentions too: including a beautiful 1936 SS Jaguar 100 special, an amazing yellow 1959 Aston Martin DB4, and the incredible Praga Bohema from the present day. We were privileged to welcome some real endurance racing legends too as we celebrated 100 years of Le Mans, including a Porsche 956 driven by Ayrton Senna, and the ‘Harrods’ McLaren that finished third at Le Mans in 1995.”
Uniquely, the judges were dressed by shoe designer Manolo Blahnik: who provided unforgettable footwear for the event as well as an incredible display as part of the celebration of design and style that Heveningham is famous for.
One more winner was James Nicholls, who reached 117mph in a Ferrari 488 Pista Spyder up ‘Horsepower Hill’ – a drag race for owners and visitors on a special course within the grounds. Before the start of the Concours, the Heveningham Tour also took place, with an incredible array of cars undertaking a scenic 50-mile trip around some of the most beautiful roads in Suffolk.
In total, more than £115,000 was raised for local charities over the course of the not-for-profit event, with money benefitting the East Anglian Air Ambulance and local dementia unit, as well as the Pear Tree Centre and other local causes including youth projects and scholarships.
Heveningham Concours
Inaugurated in 2016, the Heveningham Concours has become one of the UK’s finest annual motor car and aeroplane shows. Held at Heveningham Hall in Suffolk, the Grade I listed estate hosts around 50 remarkable, hand-picked cars, each a spectacular example of historic and modern motoring. Displayed on the famed grass garden terraces, which were curated by renowned landscape architect Kim Wilkie, the Concours cars sit alongside historic aeroplanes, which are also on show throughout the event.
Alongside the automotive and aviation activities, Heveningham Concours takes place at the same time as the estate’s long-standing charity annual Country Fair, which attracts over 10,000 visitors annually to the Capability Brown-designed parkland.
