Concours of Elegance UK 2015 - Photos, Results, Report

The fourth annual Concours of Elegance took place on 4-6 September 2015 at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland. A total of 60 automobiles from around the world graced Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse, joined by displays of hundreds of other motor cars from manufacturers and car clubs. Nearly 10,000 spectators enjoyed this year’s first-class event, which featured wonderful weather and a passionate selection of the world’s rarest motor cars.

The 2015 Concours of Elegance at Holyroodhouse Palace was the fourth such automotive gathering in the United Kingdom, with the first event at the Windsor Castle in 2012, followed by the St. James’s Palace in 2013 and Hampton Court Palace in 2014. The event is unique in the fact that the setting changes from year to year but with the consistent theme of always being held on the lawns of a Royal palace. Set against the backdrop of Arthur’s Seat, the Palace of Holyroodhouse stands at the end of Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, and serves as Her Majesty The Queen’s official residence in Scotland.

Immediately ahead of the UK Concours of Elegance 2015, a 200-mile driving tour of Scotland was offered to entrants wishing to participate, culminating at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Starting in Loch Lomond, the ‘Highland Tour‘ route saw the cars drive the famous ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ hillclimb, before moving on to Inverary Castle, the Falls of Dochart and back to Loch Lomond ahead of the final leg which took in the Trossachs and the route to Edinburgh.

With perfect weather for all three days of the Concours – Owners’ Day, Jaguar Land Rover Saturday and Bentley Sunday – thousands came out to enjoy the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Among them were some special guests, including Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Sir Jackie Stewart and Dario Franchitti. The Concours of Elegance UK 2015 concluded on Sunday, September 6th at the Palace of Holyroodhouse with the Concours awards prize presentations. Concours entry owners and guests were invited to a dinner for the prize winners’ announcements on Saturday night, hosted by Concours of Elegance Patron, HRH Prince Michael of Kent.

The owners of the sixty Concours cars were asked to vote for the car they would ‘Most Like To Drive Home In’ and thereby selected the ‘Best In Show’. The overall winner at the Holyroodhouse Palace Concours 2015 was awarded to the 1903 Mercedes 60HP Simplex of Anke RuckWarth. The owners praised the incredible engineering in this 112-year-old car, which is powered by a 9.2-litre four-cylinder engine and capable of nearly 80 mph. Only four are known to exist.

Other winners included the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider of Jon Shirley awarded the RAC Spirit of Motoring Award, while the 1927 Mercedes-Benz S Rennsport owned by Klaus Schildbach won the Spirit of the Tour award as the driver and car pairing considered to enter most in to the spirit of the Highland Tour.

An impeccable Jaguar SS1 took home two prizes this year, winning both the RAC Club Trophy and the inaugural Jaguar Trophy. Two independent panels of judges, which included HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Jaguar director of design Ian Callum and Aston Martin head of design Marek Reichman, were unanimous in their decisions. As winner of the RAC Club Trophy the SS1, belonging to Michael and Linda Jewell, will be invited to take part in the main Concours in 2016.

The 2015 Concours of Elegance included a special feature for some of Scotland’s most famous racing drivers and their cars. The grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse hosted iconic cars driven by Scottish legends like Jim Clark, Johnny Dumfries and Andrew Cowan. In a world-first, Sir Jackie Stewart brought together all of his Formula One World Championship-winning cars: a 1969 Matra MS80, a 1971 Elf Team Tyrrell 003 and a 1973 Elf Team Tyrrell 006. Scotland’s most famous racing team, Ecurie Ecosse, was celebrated with the largest ever collection of the team’s cars. There were two in the main Concours – the Jaguar D-type that came second at Le Mans in 1957 and an ex-Jim Clark 1959 Tojeiro-Jaguar – as well as an additional six Ecurie Ecosse racers on display.

The stunning pale green Ferrari 250 GTO (s/n 3505GT) at the Concours was driven by Innes Ireland straight from Maranello to Goodwood for the International Easter Monday race of 1962. It’s also the same car that won the Tourist Trophy in 1962 and competed at Le Mans in the same year, where it failed to finish.

Ferrari fans were also able to see a Ferrari 212 Export Vignale that made its worldwide Concours debut after an extensive 14-month restoration. The 1951 car was personally driven by Enzo Ferrari to its first owner in Italy, powered by a race-prepared 2.5-litre V12 engine and boasting a body styled by Vignale.

As ever with the Concours of Elegance, this year’s event successfully raised £150,000 for it’s charities for 2015 Action on Addiction, Walking With the Wounded and Springfield Motor Racing’s Club for Young People.

Concours of Elegance is already planning for 2016. To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday next year, the event will have the biggest and most incredible selection of cars ever seen at the Concours of Elegance.

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Similar to the 2012 Windsor Castle, 2013 St. James’s and 2014 Hampton Court events, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2015 Concours of Elegance, with Senior Photographer Tim Scott producing the following stunning images from this year’s event that show the wonderful selection of cars and the unique Palace setting. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery and award winners can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Tim, visit fluidimages.co.uk.

Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery

Sir Jackie Stewart brought together all of his Formula One World Championship-winning cars: a 1969 Matra MS80, a 1971 Elf Team Tyrrell 003 and a 1973 Elf Team Tyrrell 006.

1961 Jaguar E-Type Semi-Lightweight ‘ex-Briggs Cunningham’

1903 Mercedes Simplex 60HP won Best in Show

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two