Knokke-Heist’s classic car blowout was bigger than ever, but in a new format
WORDS AARON MCKAY PHOTOGRAPHY AARON MCKAY/ZOUTE GRAND PRIX
Having begun as a relatively small meeting of classic car enthusiasts, 14 years on Knokke-Heistʼs Zoute Grand Prix has grown to a scale that plants a four-day flag on the Belgian coastal townʼs calendar, as well as its historic seaside promenade of Het Zoute.
This yearʼs Grand Prix took place from 5-8 October, and the event has evolved once again from its previous formats. Now without its concours d’élégance segment, it nonetheless boasts five events in one: a historic rally and tour; a gallery of classics, which also incorporates the third, a Bonhams auction; a ʻPradoʼ new car show; and finally a tour for modern GT cars. More than 500 vehicles were assembled across the two huge tents and the 500m section of Knokke-Heistʼs scenic beachfront boulevard between them.
The centrepiece of the Zoute GP is undoubtedly the rally, which gathered 250 pre-1976 classics for a three-day run on a set route through local Flanders fields and the Dutch polders. Split into two groups – non-timed touring and competitive regularity – all the cars set off from the beachfront grandstand set up outside the Prado tent. As the carsʼ staggered starts were waved away by a microphone-wielding announcer, the teams filtered out of the driverʼs club café with variously highlighted and marked route books, back to their cars parked on the beachfront. Even from 8am, crowds assembled to watch their departure, and by the last at around 10am, throngs of people were being marshalled out of the entrantsʼ way by officials.
With tickets only required to access the two tents, visitors were able to amble over from the adjacent town centre and admire the competitors; once rally crews returned, most were happy to present and discuss their cars. One of the many Porsche 356s – more than 10 Speedsters were entered, for example – was the charming 1959 Reutter-bodied convertible owned by Gerard Paulussen and Liliane Rosé, who were taking part in the GP for the first time. “Weʼre only in the touring group,” explained Gerard. “Those driving in the regularity take it very seriously. Some call it the Belgian championship of regularity rallies.” Finished in the rare shade of Auratium Green, the 356 caught the local coupleʼs eye two years ago and was a must-buy wh
