Ross Brawn, Derek Bell and Tiff Needell join Wilton House Concours des Légendes
Wilton House’s new Concours des Légendes aims to shift attention away from static displays alone, bringing designers, drivers and engineers together for a weekend shaped as much by conversation and recollection as the cars themselves
How about a concours d’elegance with a difference? Making its debut in June, the Wilton House Concours des Légendes will offer much more than the usual fare – and that’s the reason Motor Sport has joined the event as a media parter.
The three-day spectacle, which runs from June 19-21, aims to bring to life some of the car world’s greatest stories, told by the people behind them. Yes, there will be displays of some extraordinary machinery – not least from the private collection of the Earl of Pembroke in whose historic grounds the event takes place – but the emphasis is very much on the characters behind them.
A galaxy of star speakers are on the bill to give their first-hand memories of important moments in the history of cars and motor racing.
On Friday, there’s Stefan Johansson, the 1997 Le Mans winner and former Ferrari, Ligier and McLaren F1 driver, Peter Stevens, designer of the McLaren F1 and Jaguar XJR-15, and former F1 team chief Ross Brawn.
On Saturday you can hear from Frank Stephenson, designer of the Fiat 500, Ferrari F430 and Maserati MC12, and Richard Attwood, who will be joined on stage by Derek Bell to reflect on the recently run Le Mans 24 Hours while giving accounts of their own epic victories for Porsche in the 1970s and ’80s.
They’re followed on Sunday by former Top Gear presenter and multi-series driver Tiff Needell, while Andy Green will be telling guests about his recently announced tilt at the world Land Speed Record for a hydrogen-powered car with the JCB Hydromax.
As well as talks and Q&As, the event will host a drive-through of supercars and curios owned by event attendees (go to the website for details of how to enter) alongside workshops, art and automobilia exhibits.
You’ll also want to visit the Literary Stage for talks by authors and biographers, and don’t miss a special area for owners of historically interesting cars, who will be telling the stories behind them.
We’ll see you there.
1-day pass, £65; 2-day pass, £110; 3-day pass, £145. concoursdeslegendes.co.uk