Lagonda V12 Wins Brooklands Festival

Inaugural event attracts 15,000 visitors

By Oli S / Wednesday, 2 July 2008 / Loading comments

The winning Lagonda V12

A Lagonda V12 Prototype beat 129 other cars to win the inaugural Brooklands Motoring Festival at the weekend. The event, called The Double Twelve, is a concours d’elegance combined with a series of driving tests based on the JCC Rallies of the 1930s.

Jonathan Oppenheimer was at the wheel of the Lagonda and received a gold laurel wreath and a magnum of champagne from McLaren Mercedes Formula 1™ driver Heikki Kovalainen. Also presenting the prizes was The Earl of March, whose Grandfather was a regular competitor at Brooklands.

Competitors in The Double Twelve participated in six tests based on and around the original Brooklands circuit: Test Hill, Steering Test, Wiggle Woggle, Parking, The Half-Mile and Quick Start. Vehicles were judged against the exacting criteria of a Concours d’Elegance by a select panel of experts with points awarded for both concours and test performances.

Peter O’Halloran, managing director of Mercedes-Benz World, which organised the Festival in conjunction with the Brooklands Museum, said: ‘The standard of entries in The Double Twelve was excellent – we had competitors travel from as far afield as Japan and California to enter the contest.’

Allan Winn, Brooklands Museum, added: ‘The judges all agreed Jonathan’s Lagonda was simply outstanding, and typical of the world-class standard associated with the vehicles exhibited at international Concours d’Elegance events such as Pebble Beach.’

CLASS: Austin – Healey Sprite Mk1, 50^th anniversary
First: Peter Renn, Austin Healey Mk 1 Sprite
Finalists: Alex Postan, AH Sprite; Hilary Stevens, AH Sprite

CLASS: Austin Martin DB4, 50^th anniversary
First: Bryan Smart, Aston Martin DB4 Series 1
Finalists: Damen Bennion, DB4 Series 2; Lord Harris of Peckham, DB4 GT Zagato

CLASS: The ‘Grand Tour’ Pre-War
First: Christopher Claridge-Ware, Lagonda M45 Tourer
Finalists: Michael Drakeford, Lagonda M45 Tourer; Derek Green, Lagonda M45 Rapide

CLASS: The ‘Grand Tour’ Post-War
First: David Gasken, Bentley R Type Continental
Finalists: Robbie Webb, Alfa Romeo 1900C SS; Dennis Simanaitis/MB Classic, MB 300SL Roadster

CLASS: The Triumph Roadster
First: Roger Pearce, Triumph Roadster
Finalists: Ron Cromar, Triumph Roadster; Andrew Morley, Triumph Roadster

CLASS: Prototypes and ‘One-Off’ Specials
First: Jonathan Oppenheimer, Lagonda V12 Prototype
Finalists: James Anderson, Ford Mustang Four Wheel Drive Prototype; Anthony Brazzo, Jaguar E Type by Frua

CLASS: Mille Miglia/RAC Rally
First: Anthony Hussey, Lancia Aurelia Spyder
Finalists: Simon Constable, Aston Martin DB2; Guy Loveridge, Morgan Plus 4

CLASS: Veteran and Edwardian
First: Robert Vincent, Panhard et Levassor
Finalists: John Dennis, Dennis Tonneau; John Dennis, Berliet-Curtiss Racer

CLASS: Historic Brooklands, Vintage
First: Christopher Jaques, Bugatti Type 35
Finalists: Adrian Stevens, Bentley 3-4½ Litre; John day Bugatti Type 35

CLASS: Historic Brooklands, Post Vintage Thoroughbred
First: Geoff Radford, MG Mk 3 Tigress
Finalists: David Naylor, MG L2 Magna; Richard Wadman, Alvis Speed 20

CLASS: Spirit of Brooklands, Pre-War
First: David Hince, MG K3
Finalists: Julian Grimwade, Bentley 4½ Litre Bobtail; Patrick Gardner, MG 18/80

CLASS: Spirit of Brooklands, Post-War
First: Paul Lovett, MGA Twin cam
Finalists: Nigel Tipping, Sunbeam Tiger; Michael Wooding, Jaguar XK120 Roadster