St James's Concours of Elegance

ST JAMES’S IN CENTRAL LONDON NEW VENUE FOR 2013 CONCOURS OF ELEGANCE - HRH Prince Michael of Kent is Royal Patron -

The St James's Concours of Elegance will be held in St James’s in Central London in an area that encompasses the gardens of 300 year-old Royal Palace Marlborough House, adjacent to The Mall and St James’s Palace, official residence of the Sovereign.

Special permission has been granted for the Concours of Elegance to use this rarely accessible space and it will follow a similar format to last year’s flagship event: 60 of the rarest and most historic cars from around the world on display on the lawns of Marlborough House’s vast walled garden.

His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent has agreed to become Patron of the annual Concours of Elegance. A keen ‘hands-on’ motoring enthusiast, HRH is President of The Royal Automobile Club, Patron of Benjafields Racing Club and Honorary Member of the Bentley Drivers’ Club and the British Racing Drivers’ Club.

Prince Michael of Kent will officially open the Concours as well as attending the event and meeting the Owners and their guests.

First, the Royal lawns of Windsor Castle; now, the Royal gardens of St James’s. In just one year, the UK’s Concours of Elegance has become one of the most talked about events in the international historic car calendar and the St James’s Concours will offer Owners and visitors a unique experience. In addition to the display of 60 cars, numerous events and features are being planned including an “Ancient and Modern” display by leading manufacturers: alongside a rare classic from each marque’s heritage will be a new or prototype car.

A Celebration Dinner for VIPs and Owners of the 60 cars will take place in the State Apartments of St James's Palace, on Friday, September 6.

With the emphasis on style and elegance, the Concours is a highly prestigious social occasion. The event is open to the public on Friday, September 6 and Saturday, September 7. Admission tickets are only available in advance from www.concoursofelegance.co.uk or The Ticket Factory on +44 (0)844 338 8000 (www.theticketfactory.com); prices from £25.00. A limited number of hospitality places is available for all three days of the event; please contact Thorough Events Ltd below.

The event aims to raise money for a number of charities working in the field of cancer care, support and research. Our principal partner will be Marie Curie Cancer Care, the charity which gives people with terminal illnesses the choice to die at home, surrounded by the people and things they cherish. Last year’s event raised in excess of £250,000 for charities.

RM Auctions is also confirmed as the event's official auction partner. RM has a worldwide reputation for selling the market's finest cars, and it has moved its traditional London Auction dates to align itself with the Concours. The auction will undoubtedly add a fantastic new element to the other activities planned during the event and further reinforces the Concours' reputation as Europe's leading new addition to the calendar.

London’s historic St James’s has been home predominantly to Royalty and the aristocracy since the mid 17th-Century. Today, amongst the Royal Palaces and fine houses, St James’s is the exclusive address of major corporations, gentlemen’s clubs, tailors, wine merchants and fine art houses. Marlborough House was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and, apart from nearby Buckingham Palace, has one of the largest gardens in Central London.

Thorough Events Ltd collected two awards for last year’s debut Concours of Elegance at the 2012 International Historic Motoring Awards in London; Winner of the Best Motoring Event and Winner of Personal Achievement of the Year.

Note:
Concours d’Elégance dates from 17th century France where the aristocracy paraded their highly ornate horse-drawn carriages through the parks of Paris. In time the carriages became horseless and the gatherings became a competitive ‘beauty pageant’ for automobile owners.

The success of a concours ultimately comes down to the excellence of the cars entered. The rarer and more significant the examples on show, the better the concours. A car’s history and provenance will not only make it more collectable but also make it more exciting to see on show. In reality a concours is an exhibition of priceless art. Automotive sculptures that stand as a lasting testament to the brilliance of pioneering engineers, innovative designers and skilled coachbuilders. Uniquely, as this is a British event, we are calling it a ‘Concours of Elegance’.