Munich / Cernobbio – The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2024 culminated in a spectacular celebration of automotive beauty and heritage, with the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 winning the prestigious Trofeo BMW Group – Best of Show. This event, held from May 24th to 26th at the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este on the picturesque shores of Lake Como, brought together a dazzling array of historic cars, captivating a large audience and an international jury of experts.
The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, a stunning spider designed by Figoni in the 1930s, emerged as the overall winner. The proud owner from the HM Collection in Belgium received the coveted trophy from Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic, and Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange und Söhne. In addition to the trophy, the winner was awarded a unique 1815 Chronograph in white gold, specially crafted by A. Lange und Söhne for this occasion.
The Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este, awarded by public referendum, went to a 1995 McLaren F1 presented by Tony Vassilopoulos from Great Britain. This supercar, a racing legend, received the highest number of votes from the event’s visitors.
The event kicked off in style with the BMW Group Cocktail, featuring the 20th BMW Art Car designed by Julie Mehretu. BMW also unveiled the BMW Concept Skytop, influenced by the iconic BMW Z8 and BMW 503, and the BMW R 20 concept, a homage to the Big Boxer Roadster by BMW Motorrad. Rolls-Royce marked its 120th anniversary with the presentation of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II, a bold evolution of the super-luxury SUV.
The weekend’s festivities included the Wheels & Weisswürscht – Amici & Automobili event, where a variety of BMW automobile clubs and other marque clubs from North and Central Europe showcased over 150 models from the 1930s to the present day. Nearly 12,000 visitors attended the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Public Day, which featured the 20th BMW Art Car and additional iconic BMW Art Cars with Le Mans racing history.
The sporty and elegant BMW Z8 was a crowd favorite, celebrating its 25th anniversary. The BMW Group Innovation Isle provided insights into new drive systems and technological innovations. A special tribute was dedicated to the late Marcello Gandini, a master of modern Italian automobile design. Young visitors and gaming enthusiasts enjoyed activities like the Carrera Track and Sim Racing simulator, competing against professional racer Bruno Spengler. The parade of historic cars was a highlight, showcasing a range of award-class vehicles.
Following the parade on Sunday, Helmut Käs, Carlotta Fontana, and Massimiliano di Silvestre presented a donation of €50,000 to Matteo Monti, the Mayor of Cernobbio, for the local children’s nursery, combining ticket sales income with an additional contribution from BMW Group Classic.
“Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2024 allows us to highlight the fascination of mobility and connect the iconic automobile past with the present and future,” said Helmut Käs. Davide Bertilaccio, CEO of Villa d’Este Hotels, added, “Villa d’Este is proud to honour the timeless elegance, class, and passion for automobiles that have characterised the Concorso d’Eleganza since 1929. We are thankful to BMW Group for the long-lasting partnership and great collaboration with Villa d’Este.”
The event concluded with an invitation to join the next edition in May 2025, promising more extraordinary automotive highlights.
