Concours of Elegance 2026 The Lotus Esprit Edition
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It is with great pleasure that I present the 2025 Concours of Elegance photobook, an exceptional event that both I and the Drivers Union members eagerly anticipate each year. Over the course of the three-day event, I captured more than five thousand photographs, a selection of which are featured in this book. Among them, the Lotus Esprits remain my personal favourites.
SYEED ALI Drivers Union Founder
My sincere thanks go to the team at Thorough Events Ltd for their continued support and for taking such excellent care of both myself and our club members, while once again delivering a truly spectacular event. In particular, Andrew Evans and Iain Campbell. Finally, many thanks to Charlie Brenninkmeijer for kindly contributing some of the photographs included in this book. To put the photos in context, each day of the event starts with invited car clubs gathering in the fields behind Hampton Court Palace before being led to the Palace Gardens where they are parked in allocated spaces. I hope you like the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them
ANDREW EVANS CONCOURS DIRECTOR
The Concours of Elegance first coincided with the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation. In 2012, 60 cars graced the lawns of Windsor Castle; it was an immediate success. In the 14 years that have followed, the Concours of Elegance has commanded a unique position in the Concours world; renowned for its Royal Patronage, access to historic and Royal Palaces with a strong feeling of elegance and Britishness. It has been an incredible journey with Concours taking place in the Royal Palaces of Hampton Court, Windsor Castle, The Palace of Holyroodhouse and St James’s in London. For the past nine years, Hampton Court Palace has hosted the Concours of Elegance, and it will remain the long-term home of the event. Amongst the global car collecting community, the COE is ranked as one of the top four events in the world and many regard it as Europe’s leading Concours. Each year, eighty of the world’s rarest cars compete for the coveted Pegasus Trophy. Entrants are private collectors and each car is carefully vetted by a specialist team (the Selection Committee) for suitability. These cars are complemented each day by two hundred entrants from visiting car clubs, representing the premium marques of the automotive world. For many years, the Drivers Union has been an active participant in the event, showcasing member cars on the opening and closing days of the Concours. This remains an important partnership between Thorough Events and the Drivers Union which we value most highly.
LOTUS ESPRIT
The 2025 Concours of Elegance, held at Hampton Court Palace from 5–7 September, marked the Lotus Esprit’s 50th anniversary with a dedicated Club Lotus display. Ten exceptional examples were presented on Saturday 6th September, spanning the model’s 28-year production run and tracing its evolution from the dramatic wedge-shaped design that caused a sensation at the 1975 Paris Motor Show. The organisers highlighted special variants including the ultra-rare Essex Turbo Esprit and the Sport 300, and Concours CEO James Brooks-Ward framed the car as embodying what made Lotus special: a challenger to the established supercar makers with innovative engineering, striking design and characteristic Lotus handling.
On the day, the line-up lived up to its billing. One attendee described how the display ran from the last-of-the-line V8s to the rare Essex Special, the commemorative John Player Specials and the evocative Turbo HC, together telling the story of one of Britain’s most distinctive supercars. Adding a touch of cinema, a full-scale replica of the James Bond submarine car from The Spy Who Loved Me was also on show, a fitting nod to how the Esprit’s wedge became a genuine cultural icon. The Esprit tribute sat alongside the event’s other headline milestone, Formula One’s 75th anniversary, making 2025 a notably anniversary-heavy edition of the show.
Best inShow
1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I ‘The Phantom of Love’
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
Winner - Pre 1920’s 1914 Bugatti Type 13 Eight Valve
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - 1920’s 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C ‘Boulogne’ Short Chassis Saloon
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - 1930’s 1939 Lagonda V12 Rapide DHC by James Young
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - 1940’s 1940 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - 1950’s 1957 BMW 507
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - `1960’s 1962 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - 1970’s 1972 Iso Grifo Series II
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - 1980’s 1988 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante Prince of Wales
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Future Classics 1994 Bugatti EB110 America
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Ferrari 1990 Ferrari F40 LM
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Chairman’s Award 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Convertible Saloon
WINNER - Formula 1 1956 Maserati 250F
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Manufacturer Award 1930 Bentley 8-Litre Weymann Saloon
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Thirty Under 30 1983 Toyota Sprinter Carib
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - The Club Trophy 1952 Aston Martin DB2 Grabor Drophead Coupe
Charlie Brenninkmeijer Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Gooding Christies Award 1956 Maserati 250F
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
Highly Commended - Specialist dealer Trophy 1980 Ferrari 308 GTB
Charlie Brenninkmeijer Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Jaguar Trophy 1969 Jaguar E-Type
WINNER - Specialist Dealer Trophy 1932 Bentley 8 litre Coupe by Mayfair
Charlie CharlieBrenninkmeijer Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Best Car Club presented by Classic & Sports Car 1982 Rolls Royce Camargue
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Restoration Showcase Award 1990 Peugeot 205 1.9 GTI by AutoRARA
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER Sunday Best Car Club Presented by Classic & Sports Car 1971 Marcos GT 3.0-litre
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - 1950’s Sports Racing Car 1955 Aston Martin DB3S Coupe
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER Bentley Trophy Presented by Classic & Sports Car 1982 2000 Bentley Continental T
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - The Levitt Concours 1934 Aston Martin Ulster LM17
Robyn Halliday
Highly Commended The Levitt Concours 1904 Peugeot Type 63B
Robyn Halliday
Highly Commended - The Levitt Concours 1961 Sunbeam Harrington Alpine
HIGHLY COMMENDED Junior Concours
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Junior Concours Most Original Car
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Junior Concours Best in Show
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
WINNER - Junior Concours Best Petrol Car
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
Winner - Junior Concours Best Dressed Driver/Mechanic
Charlie Brenninkmeijer
Volume II
All Marques Union
Volume I
All Marques Union
Volume I
Ferrari Union
2025
Concours Of Elegance
Volume I
Brands Hatch Union
Volume II
Ferrari Union
2025
London Concours
Volume II
Brands hatch Union
Volume III
Ferrari Union
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