Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014

Published 2. February 2014

Ferrari at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014

Posted: 10.06.2014
Source: Mitorosso.com

Ferrari 250 GTO - S/N 4675 GT - Lionshead West Collection - Concorso d`Eleganza Villa d`Este 2014 / Image: Copyright Mitorosso.com

Ferrari 195 Inter Berlinetta Ghia – S/N 0101 S

Ferrari 212 Inter Berlinetta Vignale – S/N 0163 E

Ferrari 250 Europa Berlinetta Pinin Farina – S/N 0305 EU

Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider – S/N 1203 GT

Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Pinin Farina Series 2 – S/N 1881 GT

Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Bertone – S/N 1739 GT

Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France – S/N 0677 GT

Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France - 0677 GT - Destriero Collection - Concorso d`Eleganza Villa d`Este 2014 / Image: Copyright Mitorosso.com

Ferrari 250 GT Interim Berlinetta – S/N 1519 GT

Ferrari 500 TRC – S/N 0658 MDTR

Ferrari 250 GTO – S/N 4675 GT

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014: Glorious tradition, radiant winners

Posted: 26.05.2014
Source: BMW

Munich/Cernobbio. The presentation of the Trofeo BMW Group set a glorious seal on the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 in Cernobbio, northern Italy, on Sunday. Visitors from around the world once again flocked to Lake Como in their thousands at the weekend to experience the parades of exclusive classic vehicles at the tradition-laden beauty contest for historic cars and motorcycles. The jury presented this year’s Trofeo BMW Group for “Best of Show” to the Maserati 450 S from 1956. The winner of the public vote, and therefore the recipient of the Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este, was an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS from 1931. In the Concept Cars and Prototypes category, the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award went to the Maserati “Alfieri”, and the highlight of the fourth Concorso di Motociclette was the presentation of the Trofeo BMW Group for motorcycles to the vintage 1929 Opel Motoclub Supersport.

Over three days, the parkland of Villa d’Este and the adjacent Villa Erba on the banks of Lake Como provided a magnificent backdrop for the historically rich and highly exclusive line-up of historic cars and motorcycles. The spectacular parades of competition models and array of special exhibitions shone a bright spotlight on the elegance and aesthetic appeal of classic vehicles, once again drawing attention to prominent milestones in design and technological development. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este eloquently reprised its role as an exclusive stage for two and four-wheeled rarities that capture the imagination with their flawless condition and fascinating backstories. Warm, summery temperatures greeted the thousands of visitors who came on Saturday and Sunday to track the progress of both the Concorso di Motociclette and the parade of historic competition cars, helping to turn the battle for the favour of jury and public alike into a highly atmospheric occasion.

Among the other highlights of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 were the special exhibitions laid on for the 110th anniversary of British luxury car brand Rolls-Royce and the centenary of Italian sports car maker Maserati. The two landmarks were also celebrated with special categories of competition for the two marques. Hailed as class winners by the jury were the Rolls-Royce Phantom II Boat Tail from 1934 and the Maserati V4 Sport, a Zagato-designed spider from 1929.

This was the tenth Concorso d’Eleganza to be co-hosted by BMW Group Classic and the Villa d’Este luxury hotel. A glittering support programme headed “The Great Gatsby” saw the organisers harking back to the Roaring Twenties and the roots of the event’s “Days of Elegance”. 85 years ago a beauty contest for cars took place here for the first time, and today the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este bridges the past, the present and the future of vehicle aesthetics. Nowhere is this role more clearly expressed than in the visionary designs included in the Concept Cars and Prototypes competition. This year, moreover, the BMW Group presented a trio of attention-grabbing concept studies out of competition.

The BMW Vision Future Luxury study vehicle offers a preview of how exclusive driving pleasure might shape up in the years ahead. Here, pioneering operating systems and driving comfort, innovative lightweight construction technology and a design that opens up a new dimension in automotive elegance come together to create a fascinating interpretation of luxury on four wheels. Elsewhere, and celebrating its world premiere at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014, was a roadster in the classical mould. Boasting a hand-made aluminium outer skin, electric drive system and minimalist interior design, the MINI SuperleggeraTM Vision study car fuses British heritage and Italian flair into a recipe for concentrated driving fun and pure emotionality. The Concorso d’Eleganza is also a committed advocate of beauty on two wheels, of course, and BMW Motorrad duly joined the fray with a second world premiere. The BMW Concept Roadster embodies a strikingly dynamic and emotionally powerful interpretation of undiluted riding pleasure. The signature features of this motorcycle study are its contemporary evolution of the classic roadster concept, the latest incarnation of the time-honoured boxer engine, a self-supporting rear structure fashioned from gloss milled aluminium, and innovative LED headlight technology.

Glittering past, fascinating future: Concept cars and prototypes at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014.

Posted: 12.05.2014
Source: BMW

Munich / Milan. The Concorso d’Eleganza is celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2014. The world’s most tradition-rich event for historic cars and motorcycles has been held in the same location since 1929, developing over the decades into a quite unparalleled occasion. Nowhere else do exclusive classic vehicles share the stage with trailblazing concept cars and prototypes in such stylish surroundings; the Concorso offers a compelling reminder of the enduring fascination engendered by motor vehicles on two wheels and four. Indeed, every year car and motorcycle aficionados from around the world flock to Lake Como to scrutinise the beauty of years past and compare those gifts with the design of the future. Over three days (23 – 25 May 2014) the Concorso d’Eleganza celebrates both the history of mobility and its future amid the beguiling grounds of the Villa d’Este luxury hotel and Villa Erba in Cernobbio. This year the BMW Group has contributed two fascinating concept vehicles to proceedings.

While the majority of the awards for the classic vehicles are bestowed by an international jury during the three-day event, the Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este on Saturday and the BMW Group Italia Trophy on Sunday are decided by public vote. The public also determines the destiny of the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award for the finest concept vehicle at the event. As the brand’s centenary would seem to demand, the list of entrants in 2014 includes a prototype from Italian sports car manufacturer Maserati.

Maserati Alfieri.
The concept car designed to mark the centenary of Maserati continues the stylistic heritage of the brand and offers a glimpse into the company’s future design direction. The 2+2-seater is an exciting and fully functioning prototype, and is named Alfieri in recognition of the most noted of the Maserati brothers. Alfieri Maserati was a talented engineer and set up the Officine Alfieri Maserati in Bologna 100 years ago. The Maserati Alfieri was created by a small group of young designers, headed by Marco Tencone, at the Maserati Centro Stile in Turin. The project was originally the brainchild of Maserati design chief Lorenzo Ramaciotti. The concept car recalls the company’s many years of racing experience and tradition of building exclusive GT cars. The Alfieri is powered by a Maranello-built 4.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine developing 460 hp and 520 Nm (384 lb-ft) of torque.

100 Years of Maserati.
The centenary of the famous brand with the trident logo will be celebrated at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 with a special category of competition. The list of entrants will include a Maserati 450 S. The 1956 racer is the second of only nine examples of the car ever made. Also on show will be a Maserati V4 Zagato from 1929 with its 16-cylinder engine. It is the sole surviving example of what was at the time the fastest racing car in the world.

Founded in Bologna in 1914 by five brothers – Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore and Ernesto – as the Società Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati, the company started out building only racing cars. Its first series-produced model, the Maserati A6, arrived in 1946. In 1957 Juan Manuel Fangio lined up for the Formula One World Championship at the wheel of a Maserati 250F, and promptly piloted the car to his fifth world title.

110 Years of Rolls-Royce.
In December 1904 the Rolls-Royce company, formed just a few months earlier, presented its models for the first time at the Paris Motor Show under a brand name which to this day remains a byword for automotive luxury around the world. 110 years on, the rotunda at Villa Erba will host a fascinating showcase devoted to the Spirit of Ecstasy, the winged figure atop the radiator of Rolls-Royce cars which has been part of the marque’s history since 1911 and has established itself as a globally recognised symbol for Britain’s automotive heritage. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will also honour the 110-year anniversary of the marque with the presentation of selected rarities from the Rolls-Royce past. These models, dating back to various periods in the company’s history, embody in their own individual ways the “strive for perfection” maxim declared by co-founders Charles Rolls and Henry Royce as their brand philosophy and guiding principle.

Concorso di Motociclette.
Since 2011 the Concorso di Motociclette has also been an established part of the three-day programme. In the parkland of Villa Erba visitors will be able to feast their eyes on an exhibition of extremely valuable and historically important motorcycles. This year these include a pair of four-cylinder motorcycles from the USA, both the work of designer William Henderson and both considered dream motorcycles of the 1920s. A group of five motorcycles from England, Italy and Germany likewise promise to be a popular draw – a quintet that moved the world land speed record for motorcycles on from 200 to 279 km/h (124 – 173 mph) between 1929 and 1937. Also sure to attract considerable attention are the first export models from Japanese brands Yamaha and Honda, not to mention one of the few motorcycles ever to bear the Maserati badge, a Maserati T4 Regolarità.

The competition classes for historic cars and motorcycles.

The vehicles nominated for prizes at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 will be split into categories – nine classes for cars and five for motorcycles. The various categories reflect, in impressive fashion, the extraordinary variety of two and four-wheeled rarities on display on the banks of Lake Como. The classic examples of motor car history will line up as below:

Class A: Rolls-Royce – 110 Years of Excellence

Class B: The Great Gatsby – Cars Fit for a Prince

Class C: Gone with the Wind – Streamlined Styles of the 1930s

Class D: Villa d’Este Style – Italian Automotive Culture

Class E: From St. Tropez to Portofino – Al Fresco Motoring for Two

Class F: Le Fuoriserie – Unique Flights of Fantasy

Class G: Maserati – The First Century

Class H: Gentlemen Drivers – From the Track to the Theatre

Class I: Da Corso – Racing for Glory

The historic motorcycles will be presented in the following categories:

Class A: The Great Gatsby

Class B: The Elegance of Sidecars

Class C: First Steps from Japan

Class D: Six Days in the Sixties

Class E: Top in Class

In addition, the “World Speed Records 1929 – 1937” category will recognise the finest representatives from the pre-war era in world speed record competition.

BMW Group Classic at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014.
No other beauty contest for cars and motorcycles worldwide can match the heritage and tradition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Since 1999 the event has been held under the patronage of the BMW Group, and this will be the tenth occasion that BMW Group Classic has hosted the exclusive event on the banks of Lake Como. This year’s Classic Weekend begins on Friday, 23 May 2014 with the arrival of the participants. The public days on Saturday and Sunday give the assembled car and motorcycle enthusiasts the opportunity to admire a line-up of rare and extraordinary models against the impressive backdrop of the Villa d’Este luxury hotel. The Concorso di Motociclette takes place at midday on Sunday in the grounds of Villa Erba.

The support programme at the event is more attractive and wide-ranging than ever. On the evening of the first day of the event, for example, the parkland of Villa Erba will be transformed into an evocative open-air cinema. Entry is free to enjoy the Hollywood remake of the classic movie The Great Gatsby on a big screen. A special class of competition at the Concorso d’Eleganza is also devoted to the theme. One of the vehicles entered is from the legendary brand Duesenberg, one of only 20 surviving examples of a classic model built between 1919 and 1926. And the Roaring Twenties also set the tone for numerous other items on the programme. For example, the parades of historic vehicles on both Saturday and Sunday will be accompanied by models dressed in Roaring Twenties style.

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 celebrates the Roaring Twenties and some compelling landmarks.

Posted: 18.03.2014
Source: BMW

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 / Image: Copyright BMW

Munich/Cernobbio. The glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties, an exquisite selection of vehicles, and anniversaries certain to capture the imagination will be the headline attractions at the Concorso d‘Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014. The 85th edition of the tradition-swathed event on Lake Como will take place from 23 – 25 May 2014, hosted for the 10th time by BMW Group Classic and the Villa d’Este luxury hotel. The organisers took the opportunity at the Geneva International Motor Show to reveal additional programme highlights which also tie in closely with some significant anniversaries.

Visitors to the grounds of Villa d’Este and the adjacent parkland of Villa Erba in the northern Italian town of Cernobbio will join the celebrations to mark not only the 110th anniversary of the Rolls-Royce brand, but also “100 Years of Maserati”. While the history of the British luxury carmaker is the theme of a special exhibition in the rotunda at Villa Erba, the Italian sports car brand’s landmark will be celebrated with a special competition class in the BMW Group Italia Trophy beauty contest and the Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este prize decided by public referendum. Among the entrants in this class is a Maserati 450 S. The 1956 racing machine is the second of only nine examples of this model ever made.

Another competition class at the Concorso d‘Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 is dedicated to the umbrella theme for this year’s event. The visual magnificence so central to the Hollywood dramatisations of the 1925 novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald sets the scene for the support programme covering the three days of the event. On the Friday evening, for example, the Villa Erba parkland will be transformed into an evocative open-air cinema. Entry is free for visitors to enjoy the latest remake of the classic movie The Great Gatsby – starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role – on a big screen. The gala dinner attended by guests of honour at Villa Visconti and the vehicle parades on the Saturday and Sunday will also reflect the grace and glamour that make the film such a feast for the eyes. “The Great Gatsby” class of the historic car competition will feature classic examples from the Roaring Twenties, including a model from the legendary Duesenberg brand, all of which will be vying for the favour of the jury and public alike.

2014 will mark the fourth year of the Concorso di Motociclette beauty contest on two wheels. And like the models in the car competitions, the line-up of historic motorcycles will also be immersed in the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. Among the models dating back to the era that forms the backdrop for The Great Gatsby are two four-cylinder models from US brands ACE and Henderson. Also on the list of entrants is a BMW R 32 bearing the serial number 26, the oldest known example of its type, with which the spectacular history of BMW Motorrad began 91 years ago.

A total of 35 classic motorcycles have registered for this year’s competition and the Concorso – now staged in even more spectacular style. On the Saturday of the event, the convoy of historic machines will be accompanied by a local police escort on its way from the Villa Flori hotel in Como to Cernobbio. This year, for the first time, the bikes will pause briefly at the showplace for the Historic Car Parade at Villa d’Este before heading on to the adjacent parkland of Villa Erba. There, the motorcycles will line up in front of the jury, who on Sunday will crown the winning entrants in five classes.

As before, an entry list of vehicles showcasing both their eye-catching beauty and the development of engineering and design in all its historically significant glory defines the unique appeal of the Classic Weekend on Lake Como this year. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este once again provides a bridge between the past and future of vehicle aesthetics, with visionary designs from various eras competing for the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award for concept studies and prototypes. Outside of competition, the BMW Group will again reveal a pair of concept studies created by its automotive and motorcycle design experts.

A number of additional special exhibitions will give visitors the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in areas such as the history of individualisation in motorcycle design. The “Customized Bikes” exhibition, for example, displays spectacular one-off creations based on boxer-engined BMW motorcycles. The MINI brand, meanwhile, turns its attentions to another anniversary: 50 years ago, the classic Mini won the legendary Monte Carlo Rally for the first time. And exactly 55 years have now passed since the presentation of the BMW 700, which went on to become the brand’s highest-selling model to date, paving the way for the company’s successful development over the years that followed. And at the gala evening at Villa Visconti, a BMW 700 from the BMW Group Classic collection will be auctioned – in cooperation with RM Auctions – with proceeds donated to a good cause.

Concorso di Motociclette 2014: Beauty contest on two wheels.

Posted: 28.02.2014
Source: BMW

Munich/Cernobbio. From 23rd to 25th May 2014, enthusiasts and collectors of historic vehicles will gather once again on the banks of Lake Como for the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The beauty contest co-hosted by BMW Group Classic and the Villa d’Este luxury hotel is the most history-laden meeting of its kind anywhere in the world and an increasingly important date on the calendars of classic motorcycle fans. This will be the fourth time that the Concorso di Motociclette takes its place as a firm fixture of the Classic Weekend in the northern Italian town of Cernobbio. And with time still remaining until the entry book closes, there’s no doubting that participants and public alike can look forward to a spectacular parade of two-wheeled beauty.

The Concorso di Motociclette was first held in 2011 and has since established itself as one of the most popular features of the three-day programme. Owners of historically significant motorcycles from various eras take the opportunity to present their collector’s items to a captivated audience both in stationary displays and on the move. The parade of classic two-wheelers promises to provide an even more beguiling spectacle this year.

On Saturday, 24 May 2014, a convoy of historic motorcycles will be accompanied by a local police escort on its way from the Villa Flori hotel in Como to Cernobbio, pausing briefly at the town’s piazza before heading on first to the showplace for the Historic Car Parade at Villa d’Este and subsequently to its final destination in the adjacent parkland of Villa Erba. There, the motorcycles will line up in front of the jury, who on Sunday will crown the winning entrants in five classes.

As well as historical authenticity and technically flawless condition, motorcycles registered for the event at www.concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com will also need to display exceptional aesthetic value. The aim of the organisers of the Concorso di Motociclette 2014 is to assemble a field of entrants which once again showcases the development of motorcycle engineering and design in all its fascinating and historically significant glory. The enthralling variety of two-wheeled vehicles is also the underlying theme of a special exhibition, which will likewise be held in the grounds of Villa Erba. Last year, the “90 years of BMW Motorrad” anniversary saw the key milestones in the brand’s history presented in the context of their time, complete with appearances from erstwhile competitors. And stealing the show at this year’s special exhibition will be eye-catching one-off creations from various periods. The “Customized Bikes” exhibition assembled by BMW Motorrad will guide visitors through the preferences and options for motorcycle customisation over the years – and bring us up to date with the BMW R nineT, which fuses the essence of 90 years of experience in motorcycle construction with state-of-the-art technology. Armed with an extraordinarily wide range of equipment and accessories, the pure-bred Roadster continues the company’s long tradition of made-to-measure riding pleasure.

Staged for the first time 85 years ago, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in 2014 remains true to its tradition of highlighting the aesthetic side of transportation on two and four wheels. The beauty contest will conclude on Sunday with the crowning of the BMW Group Italia Trophy winner and the class winners in the historic car categories. Other highlights on day three of the event include the presentation ceremony for the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award for concept vehicles and prototypes and the presentation of the BMW Group Young People’s Award for historic vehicles.

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 will also celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Rolls-Royce brand. In May 1904, British car enthusiasts Charles Rolls and Henry Royce set the seal on their partnership.

And at the Paris Motor Show in December that year the newly merged company presented its models for the first time under a name that remains a global byword for stylish aesthetics, automotive luxury and the pursuit of perfection to this day. A special exhibition in the inner area of Villa Erba sets out key milestones in the history of the marque.

This year will see BMW Group Classic hosting the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este for the 10th time. One of the event’s most notable signature highlights – alongside the high-calibre field of entrants in the various competitions and the exclusive backdrop of Lake Como – is the attractive support programme laid on for visitors on the Public Days at Villa Erba. On the evening of the opening day of the event, for example, the Villa Erba parkland will be transformed into an evocative open-air cinema. Entry is free for visitors to enjoy the Hollywood remake of the classic movie The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role, on a big screen. And the “Roaring Twenties” also set the tone for numerous other items on the programme, including the open-air vehicle presentations and the themed evening attended by guests of honour at Villa Visconti on Saturday.

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 celebrates the Spirit of Ecstasy

Posted: 31.01.2014
Source: BMW

Concorso d`Eleganza Villa d`Este 2012 - 250 Europa Coupe Vignale - S/N 0313 EU Heinrich Kämpfer / Image: Copyright Mitorosso.com

Munich/Cernobbio. Historic automobiles of the Rolls-Royce brand are among the highlights of any classic car event. At the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 these eternally fascinating ambassadors of British automotive prowess will take centre stage in a rather special way. The 110th anniversary of the Rolls-Royce brand will be celebrated from 23rd to 25th May 2014 as part of the tradition-swathed Classic Weekend held on the shores of Lake Como. It was in December 1904 that the company – founded just a few months earlier – debuted its models at the Paris Auto Salon under the brand name which to this day remains a global byword for automotive luxury.

For 85 years now, the parkland of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, northern Italy, has been the gathering point for all the automotive masterpieces that vie for the favour of the public and good marks from the expert jury. For the 2014 event, to which BMW Group Classic and the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este jointly invite fans of historic cars and motorcycles, around 50 select vehicles will once again take part in the beauty contest. In parallel with this, the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award for concept cars and prototypes will also be staged.

And, for the second time, the BMW Group Young People’s Award for historic vehicles will be presented – a special prize to reflect the growing enthusiasm among the younger generations for classic cars and motorcycles.

A firm fixture of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este since 2011 is the Concorso di Motociclette. Escorted by members of the local police force, a convoy of classic two-wheelers makes its way from Como to Cernobbio on the Saturday, stopping briefly at the Historic Car Parade at Villa d’Este before reaching its final destination in the neighbouring grounds of Villa Erba. Here, once again, an array of particularly valuable and historically significantly motorcycles will be on display. Last year marked “90 years of BMW Motorrad” with a presentation of the key milestones in the brand’s history in the context of their time and alongside their former competitors. This year’s special show will turn the spotlight on sensational one-off custom bikes.

The support programme for this year’s Classic Weekend will also offer greater appeal and diversity than ever before. On the evening of the first day of the event, the park at Villa Erba will be turned into an atmospheric open-air cinema. Entry is free to visitors, who will be able to enjoy the Hollywood remake of the classic movie The Great Gatsby on a big screen, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role. The spirit of the Roaring Twenties also sets the scene for numerous other items on the programme. The historic vehicle parades on both Saturday and Sunday, for example, will be accompanied by models dressed in the style of the era, while the themed evening for guests of honour at Villa Visconti will likewise take its cue from The Great Gatsby.

A riveting exhibition in the rotunda at Villa Erba will be dedicated to the Spirit of Ecstasy, the winged radiator figurine that has accompanied Rolls-Royce since 1911 and quickly became the world-renowned emblem of Britain’s motoring heritage. One of the ways in which the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 will pay tribute to the 110-year anniversary of the brand is with a presentation of select rarities from the Rolls-Royce past. The automobiles on display from the various eras all, in their own individual way, embody the “striving for perfection” which company founders Charles Rolls and Henry Royce made their guiding principle early on.

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este was first staged in the north Italian town of Cernobbio in 1929. Since 1999 this historic automotive gathering has been held under the patronage of the BMW Group. Each year, the grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and the adjacent Villa Erba provide a stage for motoring classics of outstanding significance, as well as for concepts and visions that have impacted on automotive design of various eras.

This awareness of tradition coupled with an outlook on the future is what defines the globally unique nature of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. This year marks the tenth time that BMW Group Classic will play the role of organiser of this exclusive show against the picturesque backdrop of Lake Como.

In addition to the high-calibre field of contestants vying for the trophies awarded by the jury and the public, the highlights of the Classic Weekend on Lake Como also include an exhibition and support programme organised by the BMW Group, which invariably delights competition participants and visitors to the Public Days at Villa Erba in equal measure.