Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Royal Bahrain Concours returns to the Royal Golf Club in Riffa on 6–7 November for its second edition — and the line-up is nothing short of extraordinary.
Some 78 concours cars will be presented across ten classes, joined by more than 100 specially selected vehicles in the Royal Bahrain Car Club displays. Together they trace an unbroken line through automotive history, from the artistry of pre-war coachbuilding to the engineering frontiers of today’s hypercars. For collectors and connoisseurs across the Gulf, the event has quickly established itself as a fixture on the regional calendar — a rare opportunity to see, in one place, machines that are seldom shown and even more rarely gathered together.
The Headline Acts
At the heart of the collection sits the 1997 McLaren F1 — a car whose carbon-fibre monocoque, central three-seat layout and naturally aspirated BMW V12 redefined what a road-going supercar could be. Its enduring appeal reflects an era in which lightweight construction and engineering ingenuity mattered as much as outright speed. Beside it, the Mercedes-AMG ONE carries Formula 1-derived hybrid engineering from the circuit to the road, a striking contrast in philosophy and era.
Motorsport pedigree is equally well represented. The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, conceived in the late 1990s for GT1 competition, and the 2004 Maserati MC12 — built in a run of just 50 road cars on Ferrari Enzo engineering — remain among the most recognisable racing-derived supercars ever made. The CLK GTR’s dramatic proportions and V12 power have lost none of their impact, while the MC12 helped spearhead Maserati’s successful return to international GT racing.
Rarity defines the rest of the field: the Koenigsegg Regera, one of just 80 produced, whose direct-drive transmission combines a twin-turbocharged V8 with three electric motors; the Lamborghini Reventón, a fighter-jet-inspired V12 limited to 20 coupés; and the Pagani Zonda Aether, an intensely individual interpretation of Pagani’s celebrated V12. The Ferrari Daytona SP3, McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder add further depth to a collection that rewards the knowledgeable eye.
A Journey Through the Classes
Pre-1940 Cars: The 1930 Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK “Count Trossi,” with its extraordinary Art Deco bodywork, appears alongside the 1929 Bentley Demonstrator Blower — one of 50 road-going supercharged 4½-litre Bentleys built — with a 1939 Packard and 1934 Horch offering contrasting visions of pre-war luxury. This is the class that most rewards patience: coachbuilt bodies, hand-finished details and histories that stretch back nearly a century.
Sports & Race Classics: The Maserati MC12 and Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR lead a group that includes the Audi Sport Quattro S1, famed for its connection to the fearsome Group B rally era, and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. Together they illustrate the breadth of competition-inspired engineering on show.
American Classics & Muscle Cars: Classic Americana is represented by the 1954 Chevrolet Corvette C1, the elegant 1958 Buick Limited Convertible, a 1960 Chrysler New Yorker and the distinctive Stutz Bearcat II, spanning several very different chapters of American automotive design — from chrome-laden grand tourers to the first stirrings of the muscle car.
British Classics: An Aston Martin DB5 Coupé and DB4 Convertible join a Jaguar XK150 and a selection of Bentley and Rolls-Royce grand tourers, including the Continental S2 and the Silver Cloud “Chinese Eye.” It is a class that speaks to restraint and understated elegance — the very qualities that have made British classics enduring collector favourites.
European Classics: Highlights span the landmark Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, the BMW M1 and motorsport-influenced 3.0 CSL, alongside the Lamborghini 400 GT and a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT, drawing a line from elegant grand touring to high-performance engineering. The Gullwing, with its iconic upward-opening doors, remains one of the most recognisable silhouettes in motoring history.
Flat Tops: Minimalist, open-cockpit design is celebrated by the Ferrari Monza SP1 and SP2, McLaren Elva and Aston Martin V12 Speedster, with the uniquely styled Italdesign Aztec providing a very different interpretation of open-air motoring. This is design at its most confident — unapologetic, pared back and entirely focused on the experience of driving.
Modern Classics: The Jaguar XJ220, one of the defining supercars of the 1990s, anchors a class that speaks directly to the collector’s instinct — cars that were once the stuff of bedroom posters and have now matured into genuine blue-chip collectibles.
Beyond the Concours
Nine Royal Bahrain Car Club categories and the BBK 30 Under 30 Award celebrate the GCC’s thriving motoring community, recognising both established collectors and a new generation of enthusiasts. The programme is rounded out by Gulf Air and Lexus fashion shows, live music, speaker sessions, a Ladies’ Afternoon Tea and the new RBC TV — ensuring the weekend offers as much for the lifestyle connoisseur as it does for the dedicated petrolhead.
For Durrah’s readers, the Royal Bahrain Concours represents something increasingly rare in the region’s cultural calendar: an event where craftsmanship, heritage and design converge in a setting of genuine exclusivity. Whether one comes for the pre-war icons, the modern hypercars or simply the atmosphere, the second edition promises to be a defining weekend in Bahrain’s social and motoring season.
