Wilton is something I look forward to as it features a much more informal and jovial atmosphere that is somewhat absent at the likes of Goodwood and Salon Privé.
This, the fifth year of Wilton Classic and Supercar, had a lot to live up to. With Aston Martins 100th anniversary just a few weeks ago and McLaren’s 50th, fans were eagerly anticipating the opportunity to gawp and drool over some of the rarest and most famous cars not only from the current run of super and hyper cars, but bonafide classics too.
The setting, as always, is in itself an event. Lord Pembroke; himself an occasional race driver who owns the infamous BugARTi, has an estate with rolling greens and a gently flowing river, not the conventional setting for a show such as this, something I later found out as I explored the Manors grand rooms only to be disturbed by the sound of a Zonda barking loudly to the cheers of the crowd.
Being one of the largest events in the UK, the line up of cars, both classic and contemporary did not fail to excite. Six (!) Pagani Zondas, three Ferrari Enzo Ferraris, two Ferrari F12berlinettas, over one-hundred Aston Martins (to celebrate their anniversary), a Lamborghini Miura, numerous Countachs and Diablos, and more Ferrari 458s, McLaren 12Cs or Lamborghini Aventadors (including a Roadster) than you can ever want to seen in a day! As with every other year at Wilton, the majority of cars filtered in at the 12 o’clock Supercar Parade led by Lord Pembroke in his BugARTi. What followed over the hour or so of the parade was something that will not be forgotten!
The parade of cars was phenomenal. The cars of childhood dreams such as the Lamborghini Countash and Shelby Cobras rolled through, revving and kicking up plumes of dust that mixed in the air with the smell of burning fuel and clutches. Then there were the rare and the frankly bizarre cars. A Gumpert Apollo pleasing the packed lines of the fans that crowded around the drive, by appearing with both of its winged doors open as if reaching for the sky. A Nobel M600 roared its way past, followed by the feather-weight cars; a very classy Morgan Three-Wheeler, an Ariel atom and a BAC MONO to which children shouted “look it’s the STIG!”.
Having been chased up the drive, more than two hundred cars settled down onto the pristine green lawns to be admired by crowds armed with cameras, snapping away knowing that these are cars are certainly out of the ordinary.
The excitement again built as the announcement was made that the cars in the Hypercar Paddock were to prepare for the ‘Rev Off’. The paddock consisted of the six stunning Zondas, three Enzo Ferraris, three Bugattis (one EB110 and two Veyrons), a Carrera GT, a 599GTO, the Gumpert Apollo, a Koenigsegg CCR and an extremely special Stealth B6 a car with around 500bhp that weighs little over 1000kg!
The Rev Off was spectacular. It was a close result with the insane Stealth B6 taking the win over a red Enzo that had been de-catted and straight-piped.
After a sublime display from a Lynx helicopter the programme came to an end. The cars began to leave and it was an opportunity to see the cars that had been swamped by the crowds, alone on the lawns being driven away. One of the stars of the show was the Jaguar C-X75, the car that Jaguar recently announced that they unfortunately would never produce.
McLaren had brought their legendary F1 hypercar along with an MSO 12C Coupe, Spider 50th anniversary edition and SLR.
This event draws larger and larger crowds year upon year and for good reason. The show also featured Alan McNish and his 2013 Le Mans winning Audi and stars such as Maximillion Cooper, founder of Gumball 3OOO were present reflecting the standard of Wilton Classic Supercar. 2014 will be just as good if not better, It’s an event that you wont want to miss!
Soon you´ll find a complete photo report made by a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/zaidhamidphotography?fref=ts" >Zaid Hamid. This will appear on the frontpage this week!
