Back for the 8th year in a row, this fairly new event – now under new management – will once again bring classic and performance cars of the highest possible level to Marbella’s sunny shores on October 2nd.
Car season in Europe might be coming to and end (actually, nowadays with winter events coming sooner than we think, it’s more of a short break than an actual ending), but there is still one place on the continent where the sun always shines, the roads are challenging, the vistas are beautiful, the food is delicious and the car selection is exquisite. This place is, of course, Andalusia, with the jet-setting resort town of Marbella at its automotive centre.
On the first weekend of October, hypercar and classic car collectors from around the world will flock to the Spanish coast to participate in one of the most interesting new events on the calendar, the Concurso de Elegancia Costa del Sol. And we use the word “new” on purpose, as this event has been constantly reinventing itself over the past few years. Last year, it finally landed on the more-than-perfect recipe that blends both static car displays, wonderful gourmet dinner locations and epic drives on Spain’s wonderful mountain roads with the addition of a few hot laps on Europe’s best club track: Ascari.
The programme of the Concurso de Elegancia Costa del Sol is therefore quite impressive. It starts on October 2nd with an evening gathering of 300-plus extraordinary cars at Magna Marbella Golf Club. There you will be able to see a fairly egalitarian and eclectic mix of machines. Classic Hispano Suizas, Porsches and Mercedes-Benz racing cars through to modern sports cars from brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston-Martin will gather alongside true Marbella icons, like the Rolls-Royce Corniche, Bentley Azure or Testarossa. This all sets the stage for the world’s rarest hypercars from brands like Pagani, Bugatti, Koenigsegg and other niche automotive producers, which — together with classic cars — are judged by a panel of international jurors.
On the next morning of October 3rd, those who are up for it will embark on a short road trip to Ronda and the Ascari Race track for some laps of the circuit. There is nothing like seeing a AMG One followed by an SVR Diablo and a bunch of Chirons and Veyrons flying down the back straight, all followed by the odd GT3 RS and a screaming Aston Martin Valkyrie. Especially with Andalusian mountains serving as backdrop. The last day — on October 4th — is the grand gala dinner and Concurso finale. The award ceremony takes place at one of the most exclusive gated communities in Europe — La Zagaleta — and is followed by a three-star Michelin dinner.
What makes the Concurso de Elegancia especially great is the variety of both the cars on display and activities offered, from beachside lunches and breakfasts at private clubs to spirited driving in dreamy convoys of the world’s greatest cars. It’s also important to remember that’s all in October, so attendees will enjoy a pleasant temperature of 25 degrees celsius and sunsets around 8 pm. We simply can’t wait to report it all to you live on our channels – so hasta la vista in a few weeks!
Photos by Błażej Żuławski