Next Wednesday, the 16th edition of the Zoute Grand Prix Car Week kicks off in Knokke-Heist. For the first time, the event will last five days instead of four, with a host of new initiatives. Below is an overview of some striking facts & figures that will make 2025 a true grand cru!
The expansion to five days paved the way for the brand-new Zoute Iconic Rally by Integra Private Equity. This one-day rally focuses on cars first registered between 1976 and 2005. This era produced a generation of iconic cars, such as the Ferrari F40, Bugatti Veyron, BMW Z8, Jaguar XJ220, and Lamborghini Countach. Despite their growing popularity, there are hardly any high-quality rallies for this category. Until now!
More than 900 unique cars will be on display throughout the entire event — the largest number ever! From the 225 cars participating in the Zoute Rally, the 70 Iconic Cars, 155 GTs, and 50 cars in the Concours d’Elegance, to the 80 BEHVA members’ cars (Belgian Historic Vehicle Association) crossing the finish line on Friday at 4 p.m., the latest models from 19 contemporary car manufacturers, and the 165 unique lots at Bonhams|Cars and Broad Arrow Auction. And if that wasn’t enough: on Friday evening from 6:30 p.m., more than 100 Ferraris will parade along the seawall at the Zoute Grand Prix Gallery by EY.
This year, Knokke-Heist will host not one but two auctions organized by prestigious international auction houses.
- On Friday, October 10, starting at 4 p.m., the Zoute Concours Auction by Broad Arrow takes place at the Approach Golf. For the American auction house, it’s only their second-ever car auction on the European mainland. With 75 collector cars, they’re making a strong entrance. A highlight: the 2023 Aston Martin Valkyrie from F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo’s private collection (estimated at €2.4 to €2.8 million).
- On Sunday, October 12, starting at 1 p.m., it’s time for the 13th edition of the Zoute Sale by Bonhams|Cars. This auction has grown into the highlight of the week and one of the most important sales for Bonhams|Cars worldwide. This year, over 110 lots will go under the hammer, including 85 cars and motorcycles. From classic gems and youngtimers to modern hypercars, expectations are sky-high.
For car enthusiasts, a beautiful car is often called “art on four wheels.” But this year you can take that literally with the arrival of the BMW Art Car World Tour, stopping in Belgium for the first time in its 50-year history. The BMW Art Car collection, now totaling 20 cars, reflects five decades of art history: from minimalism and pop art to magical realism, abstract art, and digital art. World-famous artists have used iconic BMWs as canvases, creating true rolling masterpieces.
These are the 10 cars that can be admired on Saturday and Sunday at the Approach Golf in Knokke-Heist:
- Art Car #1 – Alexander Calder / BMW 3.0 CSL / 1975
- Art Car #2 – Frank Stella / BMW 3.0 CSL / 1976
- Art Car #3 – Roy Lichtenstein / BMW 320i Turbo / 1977
- Art Car #4 – Andy Warhol / BMW M1 / 1979
- Art Car #6 – Robert Rauschenberg / BMW 635 CSi / 1986
- Art Car #10 – César Manrique / BMW 730i / 1990
- Art Car #12 – Esther Mahlangu / BMW 525i / 1991
- Art Car #14 – David Hockney / BMW 850 CSi / 1995
- Art Car #20 – Julie Mehretu / BMW M Hybrid V8 / 2024
The Zoute Grand Prix Gallery by EY spans no less than 11,000 m². This impressive beach pavilion, erected on the sands at Albertplein, forms the beating heart of the event.
No fewer than 19 of today’s leading luxury manufacturers will unveil their latest creations to the public:
ALPINE, ASTON MARTIN, BENTLEY, BMW, BUGATTI, FERRARI, LAMBORGHINI, LOTUS, MASERATI, MCLAREN, MERCEDES-BENZ, POLESTAR, PORSCHE, RANGE ROVER, RIMAC, ROLLS-ROYCE, RUF, TOURING SUPERLEGGERA, and CAPRICORN X ZAGATO.
This year’s lineup features 11 world debuts: nine Belgian premieres, one European premiere, and a much-anticipated world premiere. Highlights include the Polestar 5, BMW iX3 Neue Klasse, Ferrari Amalfi & 296 Speciale, Mercedes AMG Concept GT XX, Touring Superleggera Barchetta (European premiere), and the Capricorn X Zagato Hypercar (World premiere).
All vehicles set to go under the hammer during the Zoute Sale by Bonhams|Cars on Sunday will also be on display.
The return of the Concours d’Élégance
After a two-year absence, the legendary Zoute Concours d’Élégance by ING Private Banking returns to the scenic grounds of Approach Golf on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October. Here, visitors can admire 50 rare automobiles spanning nearly a century and a half of automotive history — from the dawn of motoring in 1886 to today’s cutting-edge hypercars. These masterpieces will compete across nine carefully curated categories for the coveted Best of Show title.
The nine categories include:
- Early Motoring Icons / Row Pre War (1886–1940)
- Early Motoring Icons / Belgian Pre War (1886–1940)
- Steel & Speed / Post-War (1950–1961)
- Steel & Speed / Post-War (1962–1975)
- Iconic Cars (1976–2005)
- Modern GT’s & Hyper Cars (2006–2025)
- Ghost Garage (forgotten brands)
- Anniversaire de la Citroën DS
- Nippon Stars (Japanese cars)
Among the highlights of this year’s Concours:
- Excelsior Albert I (1927) – a rare Belgian treasure, built as a tribute to King Albert I and a symbol of the nation’s proud motoring heritage.
- Ferrari 375 Plus (1954) – a legendary 1950s racer, famed for its raw performance and exclusivity, with only a handful ever built.
- BMW 507 (1956–1959) – the elegant roadster that became an icon of timeless design and rarity, with just 252 units produced.
- Aston Martin Victor (2020) – a unique one-off hypercar, blending modern engineering with the marque’s rich heritage and craftsmanship.
Edited and translated press release Zoute Grand Prix Car Week
