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Twenty Testa Rossas

With 15 competition groups, the breadth of racing and diversity of entrants was truly astounding. Anything from pre-War Grand Prix cars to monstrous Can-Am machines, and from beautiful 1960s GT racers to Trans-Am and Formula Atlantic thoroughbreds, the Monterey Motorsports Reunion is a feast for enthusiasts of all ages.  

The win for the striking silver Ferrari is a big surprise, sending a signal to other concours events that post-War classics should be evaluated. For Pebble Beach jury member and classic car expert Julius Kruta, this decision was only a matter of time. “It was expected that a Ferrari would win Pebble Beach sooner rather than later, given the current market trend. It’s not just the first success of a post-War car, but also a first for a Ferrari.” 

The decision to build the six ‘missing’ Lightweight E-types from the intended 18-car run was announced as part of plans for Jaguar’s burgeoning Special Operations division, which now has a dedicated heritage arm. All six cars will be built at Jaguar Heritage's facility at Browns Lane (where the original 12 cars were completed) and sold as period competition vehicles, eligible for historic motorsport. Now drink in the details; does it get much better?

In a similar vein to Ferrari’s ‘XX’ programmes, the folks at McLaren Special Operations will handle the hard work, managing transport, maintenance and running at a host of Grand Prix circuits around the world. They’ll even help you hone your driving style, granting access to the secretive McLaren racing simulator to help you get the most from your new ‘toy’. All you need to do is turn up… and have your wits about you, of course.

The atmosphere at ‘The Quail’ is something of a warm-up for Sunday’s headline concours, though that’s not to say it’s any less special. Under the leadership of Bentley veteran Richard Charlesworth (in his role as ‘Master of Ceremonies’), visitors were able to mix fine food and chat in stunning surroundings and automotive company. 

While one-offs and limited editions from mainstream marques are fairly humdrum, Bugatti’s ‘Les Legendes de Bugatti’ series, celebrating the key personalities and vehicles from its long history, is something else entirely.