The sixth edition of InterClassics Brussels, which will take place from November 20 to 22 at the Brussels Expo, will be dedicated to the 75th birthday of Jacky Ickx. The Belgian racing driver has an impressive track record as a six-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, eight-time winner of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, five-time winner of the 1000-kilometer race at Spa Francorchamps, winner of the 1983 Paris-Dakar Rally and much more.
All these victories earned the legendary racing driver the prestigious World Sports Legend Award in 2017. Some of the cars from the racing history of Ickx, still one of the greatest Belgian sporting heroes of all time, will be on display for three days at the Brussels Expo. The organizers of InterClassics Brussels are working closely with Porsche Belgium, the IMR Club (Jacky Ickx Club), the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart and several private collectors to put together this unusual exhibition of around 15 vehicles.
Monsieur Le Mans
Ickx won the 24 Hours of Le Mans no fewer than six times and achieved eight victories and 25 podium finishes in Formula 1. He drove for Cooper, Ferrari, Brabham, Williams, McLaren and Lotus, among others. He also won the Can-Am championship in 1979 and is a former winner of the Dakar Rally.
Ickx's most famous victory, however, was the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans, a legendary win in a Ford GT40 that is indelibly etched in the memory of many fans. Not only was it Ickx's first Le Mans victory, but it was also responsible for a radical change in the starting procedure.
For as long as anyone could remember, racing drivers would race to their lined-up cars, and the 37th edition of Le Mans was no exception. In 1969, when the starting signal was given, 44 drivers raced to their cars.
Due to his displeasure at the dangerous starting procedure, Ickx refused to take part in the sprint for the typical "Le Mans start" and instead strolled casually to his Ford GT40. Although Ickx was the last to leave, he crossed the finish line first.
"When you still have 24 hours to go, a start like that is ridiculous," he commented at the time. Thanks to Jacky Ickx's protest, the "Le Mans start" was abandoned from 1970 onwards. This was a huge step forward for the safety of racing drivers. Similar to Juan Manuel Fangio's victory at the Nürburgring in 1957, this victory was regarded as one of the greatest victories in the history of motor racing.
65 years of Elva - the birth of McLaren
In addition to the spotlight on Jacky Ickx's 75th birthday, InterClassics Brussels also looks back on the history of the British racing car brand Elva ("Elle va" = she goes). Although it may not be so well known to the general public, this brand, which began in 1955, played an important role in the birth of the car brand that makes every racing fan's heart beat faster: McLaren.
The last Elva built was also the first McLaren, the McLaren-Elva MK 1A and 1B. As a tribute to this classic, McLaren will launch the 800bhp McLaren-Elva Barchetta this year. In collaboration with the Minister of State Guy Verhofstadt (Elva enthusiast and collector) and McLaren Brussels, the short but fascinating history will be presented during the exhibition from November 20 to 22 at the Brussels Expo.
Large offer
The 400 exhibitors at the event will also offer a total of more than 1000 classic cars and related 'automobilia'.
InterClassics Brussels will take place from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22, 2020 in Halls 5, 6, 7 and 9 of Brussels Expo. The classic car exhibition traditionally attracts many buyers and enthusiasts. Tickets can be purchased online at a discount. Of course, InterClassics Brussels will adhere to all COVID-19 measures.
However, should InterClassics Brussels 2020 be canceled unexpectedly, all tickets will remain valid for the next edition of InterClassics Brussels.
More information about the trade fair can be found on the organizer's website.
