Against the glorious backdrop of Hampton Court, the 2020 Concourse of Elegance show drew limited but enthusiastic crowds who ventured to the beautiful former home of King Henry VIII despite the covid-19 crisis. Their journey was worth it, with a mouth-watering selection of exotic and wonderful cars to savour, and stunning weather to cap off the event.

Chosen each year is the Best of Show, a car deemed to be important, superbly presented, and worthy of entering into the ranks of winners of worldwide concours shows. In these, only the very best stand a chance of winning. It’s unusual that a post-war vehicle takes the spoils, but this year’s winner is entirely fitting: the award went to the Porsche 917 that took the marque’s first overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 50 years ago in 1970.

The Porsche brand would become synonymous with Le Mans in the coming decades, with notable victories by models such as the 936, 956, 962 and latterly the astonishing 919. In fact, a Porsche 911 tool overall victory in 1998, cementing that car as one of the most recognised cars of all time.

First Of Many

That 1970 win, in the hands of Richard Attwood and Hans Hermann, was not the first success for Porsche in motor sport, but it was the first in a high-profile international event. Not only did the 917 win, but a sister car – driven by Gerard Larrousse and Willi Kauhsen followed it home, with the podium completed by Helmut Marko and Rudi Lins driving a Porsche 908. The icing on the cake lay in the three Porsches coming home ahead of their great rivals, Ferrari, in a landmark event.

The car itself is kept in stunning condition for display at shows across the world and is presented proudly and perfectly every time. That Porsche went on to become one of the world’s best-known motoring brands is down in no small part to its exposure and success on the race tracks of the world, where private entries continue to be successful.

Rennsport Collective Show

Indeed, for Porsche fans in the UK there is a treat instore on November 1^st, 2020. You’ll need to get tickets early – from rennsportcollective.com – if you want to see a spectacular array of Porsche’s at Stowe School, close to Silverstone, where Rennsport Collective will host the second edition of its Porsche Motorsport celebration. Expect Porsche models form all eras, and there will be a dedicated car park for those arriving in a Porsche, and if last years’ inaugural event was a pointer, this one should be spectacular! Entry is just £25 and compared to many shows that is a bargain.

Stowe is easy to reach and if you want to indulge yourself in motorsport history why not book tickets to enjoy the Silverstone Experience, and visit the scene of many notable Porsche victories across the years? It’s a fascinating look at the history of the UK’s premier racing circuit, and well worth the few miles extra on your journey.