ICONS Mallorca sets European standards and much more in its very first year! With the first edition of ICONS Mallorca, the new ‘Mobility Week for Good’ on the Balearic island ensured that Mallorca now has a permanent pinpoint on the international map of high-calibre classic car meetings.
Five parts of the meeting had it all at the premiere: classic cars, rally, culture and lifestyle enjoyment under the warm October sun on the so colourful island, a Concours d’Elegance with trend-setting new and exciting elements, a large charity evening in favour of the island and a highly frequented public day.
Conceived as an automotive week, the ICONS actually filled almost an entire week in its first year from 1 to 6 October 2024. Attracting collectors, aficionados, multipliers, brands and influencers. The ICONS deliberately wanted to bring a new format to the world of events that would inspire participants and cooperation partners with new elements, combined with traditions but also focus on the future.
The rallies were therefore deliberately broadly offered for inscriptions: super sports cars and hypercars – this was a rally option. It was called ‘Extravaganza’.
Then there was the rally for classic cars ‘On Tour’ and finally a rally ‘Lady-Teams-only’ with the furious title ‘La Vitesse’. ICONS opened itself up to modern and contemporary vehicles. Mobility of yesterday, today and tomorrow is the programme and thus the stage is also set for the collector’s vehicles of today. Young participants and a young audience were enthusiastic about a perfect identification for the actual taste and young classics. The format scored highly.
In general, everything to do with ‘driving dynamics’ is an important part of ICONS. Not to be static, not to show relatively monotonous presentations like at trade fairs, although these are of course always justified in our classic car world. But the focus was on high emotionality and activation!
That’s why all three rallies took place as well on the specially rented ‘Circuit Mallorca’ racetrack in Llucmajor. The track was available for a whole day with a view of the panorama of Palma, the world-famous cathedral and the harbour.
The initiators of the ICONS had therefore chosen the elaborate part of the complete use for almost 10 hours, because – in keeping with the innovative philosophy of the ICONS – the 36 selected vehicles of the Concours also took to the race track in a unique dymanic presentation – and this presentation was also scoredf by the Concours-Jury for the „Premio Movemiento“.
So a concours that showcases classic coachbuilt cars, prototypes, special bodies and one-offs in a driving-dynamic but curated way?
In terms of self-image and the history of automobility, this is quite clear and understandable: The bodies of almost all coachbuilding collector’s items ever built are characterised by aerodynamics, flowing shapes and the tangible expression of speed.
With a globally unique new introduction of a ‘Premio Movimiento’ – initiated by Villa d Este founder Urs P. Ramseier from Switzerland, the ICONS now show the vehicle icons of the thirties to sixties in a driving-dynamic presentation on a race track. This was one of three concours parts.
Not only the Lancia Asturia Pininfarina, the Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet A or the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato were given the opportunity to take part in contemporary performances full of elegance and speed. Spectacular images were created. The new idea staged the vehicles fantastically and was convincing.
In addition, the good talks and exchange in a shared Park Ferme at the racetrack led to exciting conversations between Concours participants and rally starters. Many of them already knew each other well.
The highlight of the ICONS week was the Concours d Elegance ‘The Grand’ on the world-renowned Son Vida golf course near Palma on the Friday of the event. Together with the Arabella Sheraton Hotel Son Vida and the brand Aston Martin, 36 carefully selected and curated vehicle-icons were presented in the automotive beauty contest.
The class and uniqueness of the selection delighted the collectors, guests of honour and, of course, the jury. The selection committee had put together seven classes of vehicles from collections in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, England, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Spain and even India. The cars were wonderfully layouted in their group-setting on the greens.
Once again typical of the innovative spirit of the ICONS: In addition to the jury with international experts such as Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Jürgen Lewandowski, Urs P. Ramseier, Victor Mueller, Henning Thomsen, FIVA Steward Francesco Manselli, designer Fredrik Burchhardt, Wim Van Roy and Rene Staud, there was a jury that aroused curiosity with the headline called ‘Next Generation’.
Without exception, the Next Generation jury consisted of young jurors from all over the world, some of whom were involved in judging-work at a Concours for the first time. This new, young jury awarded its own trophies in the seven categories at ‘The Grand’ according to its own fresh criteria. There was an intense exchange with the vehicle collectors and the traditional jury – and there were some surprises when the trophies were awarded. After all, the Concours history of tomorrow will be written by a new generation’s eye and taste. ICONS proved this.
This is a remarkable approach that will certainly not only be noticed, but also copied – which is certainly in the ICONS organisers’ intention, because wonderful, rare forms of coachbuilding should also inspire young target groups and talented judges of tomorrow with a high level of identification. This is also where the racetrack presentation came from as an idea…
The Rolls Royce Phantom I Experimental from 1928 ‘17EX’ was honoured as ‘Best of Show – Prewar’ and the pre-series Iso-Grifo received the award for ‘Best of Show – Postwar’.
Lifestyle, serenity, high quality and community were skilfully woven into all the events on the ICONS programme. The evening reception on the superyacht „LEL“ together with Ocean Independence – bringing all guest aboard the over 50 metres long luxurious motoryacht at the famour Pier7/8 in the port of Palma, rally stops at exclusive wineries in the Tramuntana mountains, a visit to a polo-session… and much more, the island and experiences skilfully combine to create unforgettable moments.
Part four of the ICONS is certainly worth more than a footnote, as the ICONS night at the impressive Castell de Bellver raised more than 43,000 euros for charity organisations with the help of celebrities and donors such as Rene Staud, Marnali Art, Christian Awe, Lidl and the Laureus Foundation. Of a total of eight NGOs, seven are based on the island and pursue projects on Mallorca. A very important driving force for ICONS is sustainability and the associated local charity support, which is tangible.
The ICONS concluded the vehicle presentations on Saturday with a public day in Port Andratx. Over 4,000 visitors, classic car clubs, interested parties and guests came to the harbour promenade on which the ICONS had rolled out a 250-metre-long icon blue cat walk.
The first time of such an event and being in one of the most beautiful charming harbours in the Mediteranian the venue ICONS was an immediate success in the first year. In the ‘Auto-Biography’ presentation – in front of an audience and the concours-judges – the stories and details of the rare exhibits worth telling were explained and conveyed in an entertaining way.
The day was rounded off with trips on two Frauscher yachts, which Michael and Stefan Frauscher had brought to the harbour of Port Andratx especially for the ICONS Saturday. Romantic sunsets and the Mediterranean atmosphere were irresistible images at the end of the day.
ICONS also always wants to stay for: Quality, Sustainability, Community and Charity.
After the ICONS kicked off on the first day with a warm-up barbecue at the new Motorworld Mallorca in Palma, which is due to open in spring 2025, the participants met up again at the end of the week. Teams and friends of ICONS 2024 came together at the Motorworld site near the Ma-19 airport motorway for a ‘Hello & Goodbye’ on departure Sunday and said goodbye until next year.
Next year?
Definitely – after this well-received opening success.
The ICONS Mallorca 2025 – Mobility Week for Good – will start from 7 – 11 October 2025 – www.iconsmallorca.com
Photos by Peter Singhof, Gudrun Muschalla, Denise Brauer & ICONS Mallorca
