The obvious question that came to mind even while walking down the hill towards the entrance was: “Why have they not done this before?” The Royal Automobile Club‘s stunning Woodcote Park estate in Epsom, Surrey is surely the perfect location for a top-class concours.
This inaugural Royal Automobile Club Concours, held on Wednesday July 9, 2025, showcased more than 200 of the world’s finest road and competition cars, from pioneering Veterans (remember, the Club runs the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run) to modern-day supercars and Formula 1 legends. The presence of Mercedes-Benz Classic with both a 300 SLR and a W 196 topped an impressive line-up of cars.
Six feature displays formed the core of the concours, along with the Club Concours, the RM Sotheby’s Supercar Boulevard and the Lockton Members’ Paddock. The Club Concours – featuring selections from invited clubs – was split into seven classes: Grand Tourers; Riviera; Coachbuilder’s Art; Limousines Mille Miglia; Pioneers; Brighton; and Motorcycles. Winners in each of the classes were selected by a panel of judges that included Derek Bell MBE, Peter Stevens and even TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh.
The top honour was awarded in front of the Clubhouse to a unique 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Boat-Tail Speed Model, owned by the Jaques Family. This very car had previously taken joint first prize in the Restoration category at the Club’s Historic Awards in 2024 and was also the Magneto Award choice at the 2024 Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the jury’s decision,” said Ben Cussons, chairman of the Royal Automobile Club Concours judges. “This is a stunning example of 1920s coachbuilding, when owners would purchase a chassis, engine and gearbox, and then choose a bodystyle. Bentleys of the era are usually associated with Le Mans, yet this boat-tail body – complete with ensign flying at the stern and sculpted wings – is very different.
“The car also carries a powerful family story: it underwent nearly a decade of restoration, during which time its owner Chris Jaques passed away. His son has seen the project through to completion. I’m sure Chris is looking down on us all today, smiling.”
Other notable winners included the iconic Rolls-Royce Phantom V once owned by John Lennon, Carl Fogarty’s 2000 Ducati 996 F00 Superbike and a 1936 Packard Twelve by LeBaron that featured in The Godfather movies. A full list of winners follows below.
The feature displays included celebrations of the Royal Automobile Club’s own history. In 1900 – 125 years ago – the Club organised the 1000 Mile Trial, a pioneering event that gave many spectators their first glimpse of motor vehicles. Five years later, the Club launched the first Tourist Trophy road race in the Isle of Man. In 1950, it oversaw the first points-scoring Formula 1 World Championship race at Silverstone. Both milestones were honoured with dedicated displays, including the iconic Tourist Trophy and the British Grand Prix Trophy – newly engraved with Lando Norris’s name following his win at Silverstone a few days before.
Other feature displays at the Royal Automobile Club Concours 2025 celebrated the 75th anniversaries of both BRM and British Motoring – the former including the BRM V16 F1 from the 1950s, Graham Hill OBE’s 1962 title-winning ‘Old Faithful’ BRM P578, and the gas-turbine Rover-BRM that raced at Le Mans in 1965 with Hill and Sir Jackie Stewart.
Another display marked 100 years of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, which included the one-of-a-kind 1928 17EX Phantom prototype, complete with its original boat-tail design.
Complementing the Royal Automobile Club Concours 2025’s main displays was an impressive line-up of Club members’ cars, featuring numerous Aston Martins and Porsches, not one but two Zagato Bristols and even an Ariel Atom. Away from the cars, there was a strong focus on hospitality within the Clubhouse, but for those without guest entry, there was a good variety of food and beverage trucks to provide more than enough sustenance on the hot day. In all, it’s an event that we wish every success to, because this strong start promises an appealing extra attraction on the show calendar.
“I could not be prouder of what’s been achieved here at Woodcote Park,” said Club chairman Duncan Wiltshire as the Royal Automobile Club Concours 2025 concluded. “The fabulous grounds lend themselves perfectly to an occasion such as this, and everyone embraced the spirit of the event magnificently. That includes our enthusiastic partners, the groundskeepers, the banqueting staff, the owners of these incredible cars, our brilliant judges and, perhaps most of all, the Motoring Committee and team here at Woodcote Park. I thank and congratulate them all.”
More about the Royal Automobile Club Concours can be found here.
Royal Automobile Club Concours winners
Grand Tourers: There and Back
Judges: Vanessa Marçais & Andrew Hall
Winner: 1958 Bristol 406S owned by Gale Barton
Riviera: Great Rays of Sunshine
Judges: Michael Squire & Alan Titchmarsh CBE
Winner: 1938 Talbot-Lago T15 cabriolet owned by Felix & Toby Ross
Mille Miglia: 1000 Miles on the Clock
Judges: Katarina Kyvalova & Marc Newson CBE RDI
Winner: Ferrari 166 MM/53 Spider owned by Lord Anthony Bamford
Coachbuilder’s Art: Handmade Perfection
Judges: Georgina Wood & Derek Bell MBE
Winner: 1932 Bentley 8 Litre by HJ Mulliner owned by Mihai Negrescu
Limousines: The ‘Being Driven’ Big Beasts
Judges: Georgina Wood & Derek Bell MBE
Winner: Rolls-Royce Phantom V owned by Jody Klein
Pioneers: RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Cars
Judges: Allan Winn & Peter Stevens
Winner: 1902 Napier D45 Tonneau owned by Clive Boothman
Motorcycles: Looks a Pillion Dollars
Judges: Maria Costello MBE & Michael Quinn
Winner: 2000 Ducati 996 F00 Superbike owned by Henry Pearman
Spirit of the Show
Full judging panel
Winner: 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint owned by Keith Harrison
Royal Automobile Club Chairman’s Award
Duncan Wiltshire
Winner: 1936 Packard Twelve by LeBaron owned by Jack Boyd Smith Jr/JBS Collection
Royal Automobile Club Concours: Best in Show
Full judging panel
Winner: 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Boat Tail Speed Model owned by the Jaques Family
