A 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Strassenversion has claimed Best of Show at the 2026 Royal Bahrain Concours, held at the Royal Golf Club in Riffa on November 6-7. One of just 20 road-going coupés built to homologate Mercedes-Benz’s GT1 racing programme, the CLK GTR emerged victorious from a field of 85 cars competing across 11 classes.
The result marks a second consecutive Best of Show victory for Bahraini collector Dr Khalid M Abdulrahim, whose 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV took the top honour at the inaugural event in 2025.
The competition-spec CLK GTR won back-to-back FIA GT Championship titles in 1997 and 1998, and its Strassenversion counterpart is one of the rarest and most valuable production models the Three-Pointed Star has ever produced. It features carbonfibre construction and a 6.9-litre naturally aspirated V12 developing 622bhp.
Before securing the overall honours, the CLK GTR topped the Sports & Race Classics category, ahead of Abdulrahim’s own 2005 Maserati MC12 and a 1985 Audi Sport Quattro.
This year’s 85-car field represented an increase from the 70 entries at the 2025 event. The judging process was also overhauled, with the previous owner-led system replaced by an international panel chaired by former Bentley heritage director Richard Charlesworth. Among the judges was former Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni.
The eclectic field spanned everything from elegant pre-war classics to contemporary hypercars. A 1939 Packard took top honours in the Pre-1940 category, while a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing claimed victory in European Classics.
Other class winners included a 2000 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Le Mans V600 in British Classics, a 1994 Jaguar XJ220 in Modern Classics and a 2006 Porsche Carrera GT in Supercars. Giorgetto Giugiaro’s unconventional 1988 Italdesign Aztec took top honours in the Flat Tops category, while a 1997 McLaren F1 claimed the Hypercars trophy ahead of a GMA T.50s and Ferrari Daytona SP3.
The expanded field also saw the introduction of two new classes for 2026. Ferrari Big Six, celebrating the marque’s lineage of flagship supercars, was won by a 288 GTO, while an SLS AMG Black Series took top honours in the Mercedes-Benz Black Series category.
A 1985 Audi Sport Quattro received the Patron’s Award, and the Steering Committee Award went to a historically significant 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow two-door. Coachbuilt by HJ Mulliner Park Ward, the Rolls-Royce was originally delivered to Bahrain’s former Prime Minister, Sheikh Khalifa Al Khalifa, and still bears his personal crest.
Beyond the main concours, an expanded car club display featured more than 100 additional vehicles, with a Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray ‘Split Window’ taking the overall club award.
“My father and I are absolutely delighted to have been recognised for the second year running,” said Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim, son of the winning CLK GTR’s owner. “With such an outstanding selection of cars taking part, all of which would have been worthy winners, receiving this award is a tremendous honour and something that means a great deal to us.
“The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR holds a very special place in our collection, and we take enormous pride in the time and effort we devote into caring for these extraordinary cars. To see it recognised among some of the finest examples in automotive history is particularly rewarding.
“Having the award presented to us by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, made the occasion even more memorable. It was a wonderful privilege to be part of such a prestigious event, and this is an achievement that my father and I will look back on with immense pride.”
Full 2026 Royal Bahrain Concours results:
Best of Show: 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR: Built to homologate the AMG-developed GT1 racer that won the 1997 and 1998 FIA GT Championships, it is one of just 20 road-going coupés.
Patron’s Award: 1985 Audi Sport Quattro: Audi’s short-wheelbase Group B homologation special, one of only around 214 built.
Steering Committee Award: 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow two-door ‘Limited Edition’: Coachbuilt by HJ Mulliner Park Ward and delivered new on November 5, 1966 to HE Sheikh Khalifa Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s long-serving former Prime Minister, whose ‘KK’ crest the car still carries.
Pre-1940 Cars:1939 Packard: One of the last great American luxury cars built before World War Two.
Second: 1934 Horch 780 B.
Third: 1930 Ford Model A Phaeton.
Sports & Race Classics: 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR.
Second: 2005 Maserati MC12.
Third: 1985 Audi Sport Quattro.
American Classics & Muscle Cars: 1989 Stutz Bearcat II: One of only 12 built, hand-made in Turin and unveiled at the 1987 Geneva Motor Show.
Second: 1958 Buick Limited Convertible.
Third: 1954 Chevrolet Corvette C1 ‘Bubble Face’.
British Classics: 2000 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Le Mans (V600): One of 40 built to mark 40 years since Aston Martin’s 1959 Le Mans win, with a 600bhp twin-supercharged V8.
Second: 1957 Bentley S1 Continental Fixed Head Coupé.
Third: 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III ‘Chinese Eye’.
European Classics: 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing: Fuel injection, a spaceframe chassis and its famous upward-opening doors made the 300 SL an instant icon.
Second: 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster.
Third: 1967 Lamborghini 400 GT.
Flat Tops: 1988 Italdesign Aztec: Giorgetto Giugiaro’s twin-cockpit roadster, built in very small numbers.
Second: 2021 Ferrari Monza SP1.
Third: 2021 Aston Martin V12 Speedster.
Modern Classics: 1994 Jaguar XJ220: Once the world’s fastest production car, with just 281 built.
Second: 2013 Aston Martin V12 Zagato.
Third: 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato.
Supercars: 2006 Porsche Carrera GT: Porsche’s Le Mans-derived V10 supercar, one of around 1270 built.
Second: 2006 Ford GT in Gulf livery.
Third: 2008 Lamborghini Reventón.
Hypercars: 1997 McLaren F1: Gordon Murray’s central-seat icon remains the fastest naturally aspirated production car ever made.
Second: 2022 Ferrari Daytona SP3.
Third: 2024 GMA T.50s.
Big Six: Ferrari: Ferrari 288 GTO: The Group B homologation special that started Ferrari’s line of halo models.
Second: Ferrari F50.
Third: Ferrari F40.
Mercedes-Benz Black Series: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series.
RBC Car Club award winners:
Best Overall Car Club (selected by the Steering Committee): Chevrolet Corvette ‘Split Window’.
American Icons: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X.
Italian Icons: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster.
Japanese Icons: Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo.
German Icons (presented by Bapco Energies): Porsche 911 (997.2) Turbo S Cabriolet.
Viper Class: Dodge Viper ACR Black Edition.
4×4 Class: Mercedes-Benz 6×6.
Bahrain Motor Club: Porsche ‘Flatnose’ (white).
30 Under 30 (presented by BBK): Lancia Delta Integrale.
Best Manufacturer’s Car: YangWang U9.
Furthest-Travelled Car (presented by Gulf Air): Chevrolet Corvette Split Window.
Find out more about the 2026 Royal Bahrain Concours here.
