From October 18 to 22, Mallorca Car Week 2023 was once again the largest automotive showroom on the Balearic island. A spectacle as glamorous as a luxury yacht, as timeless as a Hemingway novel and as fast as a Porsche 911 on the highway. Here, Mediterranean elegance and automotive history merge into a dazzling happening. For the first time, the Steigenberger Hotel & Resort Camp de Mar will not only be hosting beautiful classic cars, but also racy sports cars and supercars for a breathtaking rendezvous.
Parked in beauty ...
Five days that will make the heart of every petrolhead beat faster, interweaving the charm of Mallorca with the unmistakable sound of noble engines from 100 years ago.
The centerpiece was undoubtedly the Concours d'Elégance, a show on the lush green of hole 18 of the "Golf de Andratx" in Camp de Mar, where 680 hp Lamborghini met classic cars. These automotive gems didn't just park here - they posed.
... and on the move
The historic roads in the west of Mallorca became the stage for a parade of vehicles during the popular excursions. A moving automotive history that shone with a wide range of vehicles, from exotic Lotus racing cars to an open-top Aston Martin, an early Jensen Interceptor convertible and cars from BMW, Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari. And all this under the Mallorcan sun.
The "humorous" tests of the traditional Crime Drive were the crowning finale of the week, a journey back in time through the winding streets and majestic coasts of the island. A BMW E21 driven by Prince Leopold of Bavaria rattled through the serpentines, followed by a Porsche 911 Turbo that dominated the bends like a dancer.
The roar of the engines mingled with the scent of pine trees and the salty tang of the Mediterranean, and the participants experienced a ride that they will remember for a long time to come, as will the numerous spectators lining the route.
In memory of a tragic event
Away from the roads, Mallorca Car Week became a glamorous ball of automotive extravagance. Culinary delights in golf clubs and marinas allowed guests to immerse themselves in a world of elegance and glamor. Not only stories about horsepower and torque were shared here, but also anecdotes about times gone by and the fascination for these rolling works of art.
The exclusive field of participants also paid tribute to Russell Stevens this year with the Memorial Drive named after him. The Englishman died at the age of just 53 on June 7, 2015 in a car accident in a Shelby Cobra 427 near Llucmajor. The tragedy also lies in the fact that the passionate motorist was a passenger on his last trip to the "Circuito Mallorca" race track. This time, the start and finish was at Motorworld, which is still under construction and is due to open its doors to the public next fall on the site of the former Coca-Cola factory, close to the airport.
For 7 years
Mallorca Car Week, which was still called Mallorca Classic Week when it was founded, has been running since 2016. However, locals, residents and visitors on the wealthy Balearic island are not only interested in classic cars, but also in sports cars, super sports cars and new cars in general.
And so the transformation from Classic Week to Car Week took place under the new motto "Showroom Mallorca - Driving Experience under the Sun". Incidentally, following prominent role models, such as in the USA on Amelia Island and at Monterey Car Week in and around Pebble Beach. And southwest of London in Goodwood at the Duke of Richmond's Festival of Speed. "This is how exhibitors and visitors are lured to the almost always sunny Mallorca by the ever decreasing number of car shows worldwide. World premieres, concept cars and numerous new vehicles for testing will complement the classic automobiles," MCW founder Roman Hummelt tells us.
To be continued
Passionately dedicated to the celebration of all vehicles, this event attracts collectors, enthusiasts and aficionados from all over the world and creates a fascinating liaison between the timeless beauty of historic cars and the breathtaking power of modern supercars. The next Mallorca Car Week is planned for October 16-20, 2024.
Further information can be found on the Mallorca Car Week website.
