ASTON MARTIN DB5 WINS BESPOKE RALLIES’ INAUGURAL PYRENEES 1000 EVENT IN STYLE

ASTON MARTIN DB5 WINS BESPOKE RALLIES’ INAUGURAL PYRENEES 1000 EVENT IN STYLE

The winning crew and their Aston Martin DB5

Julian Reddyhough and Gus Pope have achieved a convincing victory in Bespoke Rallies’ inaugural Pyrenees 1000 event aboard an Aston Martin DB5. A new four-day contest of, as the name suggests, 1000km, the regularity rally began and ended in Pamplona, Spain (as in The Running Of The Bulls), and passed through some of Europe’s most stunning mountain scenery, including areas of France and Andorra. The eclectic array of competing cars ranged in age from an immaculately-presented 1926 Bentley 3 Litre to a modern Lotus Elise, and included such sporting automotive icons as a Ferrari Boxer, AC Cobra, Jaguar E-Type and MGA, in addition to the triumphant Aston Martin.

Having been worthy winners of the same company’s recent Highland 1000 rally, the pilots of the 1969 E-Type, Nick Seaton-Burridge and Dennis Greenslade, were intent on further success, but an almost faultless second day run from Andorra to Pau by the Aston Martin team left the Jaguar boys fighting over second place with the Cobra pairing of Dominic Manser and Jill Brum. Ultimately, it was dropped points by the latter on the final passage from Pau to Pamplona that allowed Seaton-Burridge and Greenslade to claim the runners-up spot.

Commented Bespoke Rallies director John Brigden: “The stunning scenery combined with perfect conditions throughout to make this a memorable event, and a big hit with the competitors. Under the circumstances, we will have no hesitation in running it again in 2019, be it in May rather than in early Autumn.”

The final event on Bespoke Rallies’ packed international calendar of 2018 will be the Grand Prix of South America. A 10,000km adventure through the wilds of Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, it will run from October 18 to November 17. For further details of all Bespoke Rallies’ popular events see www.bespokerallies.com. 

Top six Pyrenees 1000 results: Penalty points

1st, Julian Reddyhough/Gus Pope, Aston Martin DB5 440

2nd, Nicholas Seaton-Burridge/Dennis Greenslade, Jaguar E-Type 1801

3rd, Dominic Manser/Jill Brum, AC Cobra 2520

4th, Simon and Jo-Anne Skelton, Lotus Elise 4053

5th, Marco Rollinger/Marianne Hengesch, Ferrari Boxer 5019

6th, Adam Cope/Michael Murray, MGA 5285

Second Place E-Type

E-TYPE UK SERIES 1 RESTORATION WINS BEST IN CLASS AT WARREN CLASSIC

E-TYPE UK SERIES 1 RESTORATION WINS BEST IN CLASS AT WARREN CLASSIC

Leading restoration specialist E-Type UK showcased its recently restored and highly original Jaguar E-Type Series 1 at the Warren Classic Concours in North Maldon, Essex, where the period accuracy and incredible attention to detail impressed the Concours judges who awarded it the coveted Best in Class award in the Jaguar class.

The prestigious show, held in the glorious grounds of The Warren Estate, attracts an incredible array of classic and modern automobiles. E-Type UK’s original UK delivered right-hand drive flat-floor, external bonnet latch Series 1 E-Type was an instant hit among the crowds, and the astonishing detail of the build attracted the attention of visitors throughout the weekend.

In order to keep the world-famous British sports car entirely accurate and to period specification, many of the original parts were recommissioned and refitted. When it arrived at the E-Type UK facility, the 54th E-Type to have rolled off the production line had been resprayed in British Racing Green with a beige interior – far from how the car would have looked when it sat on the Coventry factory floor. The in-house body shop team completely stripped down the body and repainted it to its original Imperial Maroon finish.

The team went to incredible lengths to restore this Jaguar to the exact specification it was when it left the factory. The interior was taken from beige back to its flamboyant factory maroon – with a hand-built black hood to cover it. Where possible, each nut, bolt, cable and switch was disassembled, cleaned and returned to the condition it was in in 1961. From original spot weld patterns to an exacting interior trim pattern, every single detail was considered.

Last month, the car was also displayed in the Members Enclosure at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. As one of the most prestigious Concours events in the country, it welcomed rare and stunning classics from every corner of the globe. This prestigious Best in Class win at the Warren Classic Concours is a fitting accolade for this exceptional restoration and a true indicator of the superb work of the E-Type UK team.

Founder Marcus Holland commented “We’ve had an exceptionally busy Concours season that has seen E-Type UK and sister company DM Historics restorations shown at several world-class Concours including Pebble Beach, and to finish our Concours season with this Best in Class win further demonstrates the exceptional talent of our restoration team.

E-Type UK Chassis 54

FERRARI WINS 10 AWARDS AT THE SALON PRIVÉ CONCOURS

CLASSIC TORQUE

FROM CLASSIC CHATTER

FERRARI WINS 10 AWARDS AT THE SALON PRIVÉ CONCOURS

Ferrari received an incredible 10 class wins and awards during the Concours d’Elégance at Salon Privé last weekend, including a very special award for a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM which won the People’s Choice award. The event which was held once again at Blenheim Palace also celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the original Ferrari Dino with an outstanding display of 8 stunning models all lined up side by side. Incredibly, 3 Dinos drove home with silverware including a very rare 1968 206 GT, which was formerly owned by Eric Clapton and 1 of only 5 such models imported into the UK winning the “Coup de Couer”, a 1970 246 GT in stunning Rosso Chiaro which won “Best in Class” in “50 Years of the Dino” and the 1973 246 GTS, under the same ownership for the last 40 years, also winning “Best in Class” in “Preservation at its Best”.

With the coveted People’s Choice already secured, the 250 LM went on to also receive the prestigious “Duke of Marlborough’s Award”.

As he has done for several years, five-times Le Mans winner Derek Bell MBE chaired the judging committee for this year’s Concours d’Elégance. The two-time World Sports Car Champion and former works Ferrari driver was one of many star names lending their experience and opinions to proceedings, ranging from globally-renowned designers and journalists to respected historians and motor industry heavyweights.

The full range of Ferrari cars receiving recognition at this year’s event is as follows:

CATEGORY	No.	MODEL	Year
People's Choice	74	Ferrari 250 LM	1964
Class D: Preservation at its Best	25	Ferrari Dino 246 GTS	1973
Class G: Grand Tourers of the 50s & 60s	37	Ferrari 250 GT Lusso	1964
Class H: Wind in Your Hair	45	Ferrari 365 GTS/4	1972
Class J: Streamlined Closed Sports Cars	52	Ferrari 275 GTB	1965
Class K: 50 Years of the Dino	57	Ferrari Dino 246 GT	1970
Most Elegant	38	Ferrari 365 GTC	1969
Best Restored	35	Ferrari 250 GTE	1961
Coup de Coeur	56	Ferrari Dino 206 GT	1968
Duke of Marlborough's Award (Car)	74	Ferrari 250 LM Source: Ferrari North Europe