Early October saw a return of some of Europe’s finest classic cars to the island for the second instalment of the Moto Mallorca Classic Car Rally – an ultra-exclusive 3-day event organised by the classic car racing drivers, Katarina Kyvalova and Georgina King of the UK-based ‘Bentley Belles’ racing team.
Locally assisted by Hamish Goddard of Driving Mallorca and Amanda Butler of MJC Associates, the three days consisted of daring driving, exuberant exploration and indulgent relaxation for classic cars in the company of a select few.
Once again, the event brought the very best Mallorca has to offer in terms of roads, vistas, unlikely but spectacular coffee stops, accommodation, fine dining and much more. The long weekend became a spectacular social, gastronomic and motoring treat for all who took part.
The cars, which included among the 24 cars taking part no less than three vintage Bentleys and a Type 13 Bugatti from the 1920’s, were brought down to the island by specialist carriers Incarnation, and the event began with a reception (and an untimely heavy rain shower…) at the new Park Hyatt at Canyamel, before leaving in the morning for a drive up to the beautiful Emita de Betlem chapel in the hills overlooking the bay of Pollensa, and a classic guitar rendition of Stanley Myer’s Cavatina and Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World followed by lunch at the Can Simoneta.
After the first day, the rally navigated the many bicycles on the notoriously beautiful route to Cap Formentor before passing through Pollensa and Lluc to a coffee atop the Puig de Santa Magdelena and a return through the Campanet Valley to its primary base at the Son Brull Hotel.
Day three saw the rally head south with lunch at the waterside Port Verd restaurant, followed by a visit to the mountain top monastery at Sant Salvador and a drive back down to the organiser’s beautiful private finca near Porreres – and a Marc Fosh champagne reception, dinner and spectacular fireworks.
Mallorca is already home to many beautiful and important classic cars, and the status of the island, its fantastic roads and its options for first class hospitality have not gone unnoticed to owners and clubs on the European mainland. Aside from the spectacular 1920’s racing cars that came to the island especially for the event, were immaculate Porsche 356s and a Carrera 2.7 RS, an Aston Martin DB4, an Austin Healey 100m, a beautiful and rare Mercedes Benz 300SL, several E-Type Jaguars, a C-Tyre Jaguar, and a Ferrari 308 GTS Quatrovalvole – all with a collective value of several million Euros. A ‘photographer car’ – an AC Cobra – managed to keep up with it all..
Said Hamish Goddard of Driving Mallorca: “We were delighted to be able to assist in such a high-end event and to again show what this amazing island has to offer as a location for overseas visitors looking for the best in Europe – incredible roads, views, fine dining and accommodation. It’s all here on the island.” The 2017 Moto Mallorca event is now in planning and by invitation only. For more information on next year’s event, please contact Driving Mallorca.
Hamish Goddard: +34 626 107 775
All photos by Hamish Goddard except one by Chris Scholey.
