The inaugural Auto Royale at Althorp promises to be a stunning event featuring some of the world’s finest and rarest automobiles set against the backdrop of the equally captivating grounds of the Spencer family home in Northamptonshire, England.
While the event is set to take place between 17-19 July next year, preparations are already well underway and this remarkable 1962 Ferrari 196 SP is the first car publicly confirmed for the event.
This car is the last of five surviving Scuderia Ferrari sports prototypes constructed for the 1961–62 seasons and was raced in period at the 1962 12 Hours of Sebring, Nürburgring 1000 km, Elkhart Lake and 1963 Nassau Speed Week. With such a superb racing history it is no surprise that the car received a valuation of $10-million at the recent RM Sotheby’s Auction in Monterey. This will be the first time it will be seen in the United Kingdom as it makes its debut at the inaugural Auto Royale in July 2020.
Paul Mathers, Event Director at Motorclassica in Australia for the past decade will be taking on a similar role at Althorp, having just been announced as Event Director and Concours Chairman of Auto Royale, “It’s such a pleasure to finally give car enthusiasts a vision of what will be an incredible line-up at our first Auto Royale at Althorp. This stunning Ferrari truly captures the spirit of Auto Royale and our mission to bring rare and spectacular machines to be enjoyed in the surrounds of this wonderful family estate at Althorp.”
Mathers concluded, “I am excited to bring all I have learned overseas to the world’s biggest classic and historic car market and create something very special for car enthusiasts around the country. As a passionate collector and an enthusiast of British motoring, I am genuinely privileged to have the opportunity to establish a new but traditional Concours d’Elegance that will bring people together, ignite their passions and get them talking.”
For further information on this exciting new event visit the organizer’s website below.
Images courtesy of Lou Johnson and Auto Royale Althorp
