Text and photos: Dirk Ivens
The 10th edition of the Zoute Grand Prix in Knokke-Heist was one big party for car enthusiasts. More than 250.000 visitors enjoyed the most exclusive vintage cars and dream cars. Among them also a list of prominent figures such as Jacky Ickx, Thierry Boutsen, Stoffel Vandoorne, Dimitri Vegas and Anouk Matton, Jean Todt, Koen Wauters, Peter Goossens and many others. These were some of many highlights.
On Friday and Saturday, 200 cars, registered for the first time between 1920 and 1965, drove the ZOUTE RALLY® by Stow. The highlight of the European vintage season drew more than 150.000 enthusiasts on Saturday. They saw quite a few well-known figures. Ruben Maes and Bjorn Vanoverschelde won the jubilee edition rally in a Porsche 356c from 1965.
Auction
The Zoute Sale by Bonhams again confirmed its strong reputation this year with a total revenue of 11.710.104 euros, a record for Belgium. One of the eye-catchers was a unique one Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy Long-Nose from 1965. The car went under the hammer for a record amount of 2.875.000 euros. A 1931 Invicta 4.5-Liter S-Type 'Low Chassis' was sold for 890.281 euros. A Ferrari Enzo knocked on 1.506.500 euros. In addition, several records, such as one, were killed 1956 Austin-Healey 100 / 4 'Le Mans Spec' for 149.500 euros. A big success!
The prestigious elegance competition at the Royal Zoute Golf Club celebrated the 10th anniversary of the classic car festival in style. Porsche unveiled a unique one in the presence of 75-year-old racing legend Jacky Ickx Porsche 911 4S Belgian Legend Edition (made on 75 copies). In addition, there were also 5 super rare hypercars on Saturday and Sunday: a Bugatti Centodieci, an Bugatti Chiron Sport, an Dallara Stradale, an Pininfarina Battista and an The Tomaso P72.
Of the more than 100 participants in the competition, the international jury called one 1936 Mercedes 540 K Convertible A (pre war) and one 1949 Ferrari 166 Barchetta Touring - Le Mans Winner (post war) out to Best of Show winners.
Birthday
Following the 110de Bugatti's birthday was also a special one this year '110 Years Bugatti' category. Winner was an 1938 Bugatti Type 57 C Coupé - Le Patron. Other eye-catchers were the 'Beach Cars' category in which an 1958 Fiat 600 Jolly went for the main prize. The prize for the most iconic car went, finally, to one 1955 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing
Those who love exclusive modern GTs (younger than 20 years) and roaring names had to go to the ZOUTE GT TOUR on Sunday® by EY. More than 200 cars showed the best of themselves (and hear) in an 120 kilometer-long autumn ride. Cycling champion Remco Evenepoel rode the wheel of a BMW M850i xDrive Coupé from 2019. Rob Van Loock and Jens Aerts won the Salt GT Tour by EY in an Audi R8 Coupé from 2019.
From 2020 onwards, the organization will expand its events with the Rallye de Durbuy in May, a coastal rally for female pilots in June (Deauville-Le Touquet / Paris Plage-Knokke Het Zoute), a Generations Rally in August and a Zoute X-mas in December. Rally. We will keep you informed of what you can expect.
