STYLE Edit: Richard Mille’s Chantilly Arts & Élégance weekend offers fast and furious mix of supercars and fashion
A supercar rally and a showcase of rare cars – including McLaren P1 GTR and 720S, Ferrari’s LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 – were some of the attractions at the renowned chateau’s superb grounds in Chantilly
Elegance with strength. History with modernity. Thrilling concept cars and automotive classics. Now m ix in celebrities and 18,000 members of the public and a dash of high fashion. This was the 5th Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille 2019, at Domaine de Chantilly, a glorious setting with its renowned chateau, superb grounds and priceless collections of automobiles.
Things kicked off on Saturday, June 29, with a supercar rally on the Mortefontaine track with the McLarens taking the lion’s share of attention, especially with celebrities such as skiing champion Alexis Pinturault in a 720S Spider. Celebrities, as much fans and collectors of Richard Mille as automobile fanatics, were everywhere, appreciating the Rallye des Collectionneurs along with the public, thrilling to rare cars, such as the McLaren P1 GTR and 720S, Ferrari’s LaFerrari, Enzo and 288 GTO models, the Porsche 918 and various Mercedes SLRs.
The highlight was Sunday’s Concours d’Élégance, featuring 16 marques, 40 automobile clubs and 710 classic cars. Fashion and technology came together with each of the record nine concept cars accompanied by the creations of a fashion house: Aston Martin DB4-GT Zagato Continuation with Ronald Van der Kemp; BMW Vision M Next with Talbot Runhof; Bugatti’s ‘Black Car’ with Max Mara; DS X E-Tense with Eymeric François; Honda E Prototype with Yohji Yamamoto, Lexus Concept LC Cabriolet with Rochas; McLaren Speedtail with Paule Ka; Renault EZ-Ultimo with Guy Laroche; and the Volkswagen ID Buggy with Ann Demeulemeester.
The six-member jury comprised experts from France, the United States, Britain and Italy. Their choice for Best of Show at the Concours d’Élégance was Speedtail, McLaren’s concept car. The public voted Volkswagen’s ID Buggy the Prix du Public.
The Concours d’État was notable for some famous names and equally familiar cars. Celebrating a centenary was Ballot whose 5/8 LC set the fastest lap at the 1919 Indianapolis 500 Miles. Bentley marked its 100th year with prizes for its 8-litre Foursome Coupe (1931), Bentley Speed Six ‘Old No 3’ (1930) and Bentley Mark VI Cresta (1948). Bugatti celebrated 110 years, Porsche the 50th anniversary of its 917, Pagani marked the 20th year of its Zonda and everyone saluted the 50th anniversary of Jackie Stewart’s Formula 1 world title with the Matra.
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