The famous 1929 model triumphs in the 2026 edition of the British competition, among historic cars, motorcycles and vintage aircraft
The 1929 Bentley Blower No. 1 has won the prestigious Best in Show title at the 2026 Heveningham Concours, an annual event that brings together a particularly rich and varied selection of historic cars, motorcycles and aircraft in the Suffolk countryside.
Held at Heveningham Hall, concurrent with the traditional Heveningham Country Fair, the concours offered a journey through nearly 130 years of mobility history. The oldest vehicle in attendance was an 1898 Peugeot Type 15 Double Phaeton, flanked by racing cars, elegant post-war grand tourers, and modern super sports cars.
A selection without borders
One of the distinctive elements of the Heveningham Concours is the variety of vehicles on display.
Among the highlights were Richard Tuthill’s Porsche 911K, flanked by the Tuthill-built Porsche that recently won the Safari Rally Kenya, a preserved 1973 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 with just 400 miles on the clock, and a restored 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC that has seen numerous trips between Europe and South America over its history.
There was also great attention from the world of two wheels, represented by the 1978 Suzuki RG500 XR22A belonging to champion Barry Sheene and brought to the event by his son Freddie.
Automobiles and aviation in the same frame
The aeronautical component continues to be one of the most characteristic aspects of the British event.
Two Douglas DC-3s greeted visitors at the entrance to the estate, while air shows complemented the car-themed activities. The traditional Horsepower Hill was also a great opportunity to observe and listen to some of the competition’s protagonists in action.
The best result on the course was achieved by a Porsche Taycan Weissach, capable of reaching 127 miles per hour.
Bentley Blower No. 1 at the top
The international jury, coordinated by Max Hunt, included personalities such as Peter Stevens, Marino Franchitti, Mai Ikuzawa, Roger Bennington, Romulus Rost and Harry Charlesworth.
The cars were judged on historical significance, originality, provenance, build quality, and presentation. Ultimately, the highest honor was awarded to the 1929 Bentley Blower No. 1 .
The Blower represents one of the most fascinating chapters in Bentley’s history. Its imposing form, supercharged engine, and deep connection to British racing in the 1920s and 1930s made it one of the most recognizable and celebrated cars of the pre-war era.
All category winners
The class dedicated to pioneer and pre-war cars was won by a 1928 Bugatti Type 37A , while the prize reserved for cars built between 1946 and 1965 was awarded to a rare 1964 ATS 2500 GTS from the Audrain Collection.
Christy Chiltern-Hunt’s 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC won the Post-Modern category, which is awarded to models produced between 1966 and 1999.
Among the supercars and hypercars, the award was given ex aequo to Nick Mason’s 1989 Ferrari F40 and Chris Wilson’s 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 .
The Race & Rally category saw the 1973 Porsche 911 RSR Safari win , while the motorcycle category was won by Freddie Sheene’s Suzuki RG500 XR22A.
Special awards
The Chairman’s Choice was awarded to two very different cars: a 1932 Bentley 8 Litre Saloon , bodied by H.J. Mulliner, and a modern Singer DLS Turbo .
In the aeronautical field, the main trophy went to a 1944 De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide , ahead of a North American P-51D Mustang of the same year.