InterClassics celebrates 100th anniversary of 24-hour Le Mans race during eighth edition of Classic Car Show Brussels

The eighth edition of the InterClassics Classic Car Show Brussels will be held from Friday, 17 through Sunday, 19 November 2023 in Halls 4, 5, and 6 of the Brussels Expo. Car enthusiasts will enjoy hundreds of unique classic cars, both young- and old-timers, at the 40,000 square metres dedicated to the event. The exhibition will place special attention on the 24-hour Le Mans race, the hundredth edition of which was held this year. Several car importers such as Aston Martin, Lotus and Donkervoort will also be represented on the show floor for the first time. In addition to automobilia, services and even privately offered cars, the filled show floor will also feature plenty of food and beverage options, offering visitors a complete day out.

100 years of Le Mans

The central theme of the eighth InterClassics at Brussels Expo this year is the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Le Mans. Exhibition manager Erik Panis explains: ‘We are pulling out all the stops and building a replica of the world-famous circuit at the Brussels Expo patio, including the grandstands and grid. I have already seen some photos and can assure you that it’s going to look fantastic. The Le Mans feeling is guaranteed to rise to the surface. During a virtual race on the Le Mans circuit using professional simulators, our visitors can discover whether a career as a professional race driver is something for them. That’s how much fun it will be!’

The organisation will present an impressive collection from the history of this race at the Brussels Expo patio. The oldest Le Mans classic that will be exhibited once stood on the starting line of the first edition in 1923: a Vinot Deguinand. A total of 24 Le Mans race cars will be on display, each with its own unique story. These include race winners such as the Jaguar D-Type (1957) and Peugeot 905 (1992), but also historically significant models such as the Howmet TX, a 1968 experimental racer with a gas turbine drive train. Crowd favourites such as the Porsche 917 (1970) and Audi R18 TDI Ultra (2011) will also be on display. This is just a small selection of the impressive collection of race cars that the organisation is getting on loan for this occasion from the collections of several international museums (including the Porsche Museum, Matra Museum, Le Mans Museum and the Louwman Museum) as well as from private collections. Erik Panis confirms that the combined (insurance) value of this lineup is by far the highest in InterClassics history. See the preliminary list of show cars at the bottom of this press release.

Signing session

Impressive race cars are one thing but the drivers who had to keep these – often savage – cars in check have achieved equally legendary status. Both Emanuele Piro, Jürgen Barth and Christine Beckers will be present on the Friday of InterClassics for a signing session. Together, these drivers account for six Le Mans overall victories and five class wins. Piro scored his wins driving the various iterations of the Audi R8 and later the R10 TDI. Barth drove various models but always remained loyal to the brand where he started working as an engineer: Porsche. Beckers caused a stir by becoming the first female Belgian driver to start at Le Mans.

Importers make appearance on exhibition floor

‘With more than 400 exhibitors spread over an exhibition space of over 40,000 square metres, InterClassics has grown in recent years to become “the largest indoor car happening in the Benelux”’. This is definitely the case now that the Brussels Motor Show (AutoSalon) has disappeared. With nearly 30,000 car enthusiasts, buyers and interested parties, it is a unique experience that continues to grow year after year. You won’t just find the very best classic cars, supercars, and youngtimers at the exhibition. Many car importers have already taken the plunge and are joining in the fun. Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Lotus and Donkervoort will all be represented at the event. This year, we are also working very closely with D’Ieteren Luxury Performance, the largest importer of luxury and sportscars in Belgium. It’s great to see how importers like these are also finding their way to InterClassics. The exhibition is also very appealing for people who really love all this shiny beauty since nearly all the cars on display are for sale. For many car enthusiasts, InterClassics is the highlight of the year,’  says Erik Panis.

Premiere of Team Feryn Dakar car

For years, Koen Wauters and Pascal Feryn of Team Feryn were a familiar sight at the Dakar Rally, but after participating in the event twelve times, including ten arrivals, they closed the book on their rally adventure in 2012. The passionate rally drivers attempted a restart in 2021 and participated in the Dakar Classic in 2022. In 2023, their car was declared undrivable, and the team decided to end their involvement with the French organisation. There is some good news now, however; Koen Wauters and Pascal Feryn of Team Feryn will be participating in the Africa Eco Race for the first time in January 2024 with a brand new car. This vehicle will be officially presented in Hall 6 during the InterClassics Classic Car Show. In addition to showcasing their new rally car, the team is also going all out with a mini bivouac, a race truck and several other objects that will give exhibition visitors an immediate and special insight into the rally world.

The InterClassics Classic Car Show Brussels will be held from Friday, 17 through Sunday, 19 November 2023 at the Brussels Expo. Tickets are available online at a discount via www.interclassics.events.