After a brief summer break, our racing season resumed earlier this month a the French Côte d'Azur with the annual Dix Mille Tours. Organised by Peter Auto, the event celebrated its 14th edition in 2024 and featured an action-packed schedule. In fact the weekend was so busy that the last race on Saturday finished close to midnight. All of the familiar Peter Auto grids were represented with the Endurance Racing Legends field for 1990s and 2000s prototypes and GTs split into two for the second time this season. Further highlights included a capacity grid for the Classic Endurance Racing 1 and a Group C race at twilight on Saturday. All the races were hotly disputed with many not decided until the closing stages. In addition to the on-track action there was also a spectacular display in the paddock, which featured no fewer than four McLaren F1 GTRs that were all part of McLaren's legendary 1995 Le Mans line-up.
Our photographers were on hand throughout the weekend and despite the very hot conditions captured all ten grids in this 190-shot gallery, which serves to illustrate our concise report.

A very busy month September will continue this weekend with the biennial Chantilly Arts & Elegance concours. Hosted in the gardens of the 16th century Chateau de Chantilly just north of Paris, the event will feature the latest show cars and a superb selection of classic road and racing cars. To get in the right mood, we have taken a closer look at the Talbot Lago T26 GS Motto Roadster that won one of the Best of Show awards in 2022. The unique T26 combined French underpinnings with a one-off barchetta that was built by Italian carrozzeria Motto. Raced in period, the Motto Roadster spent most of its life in French hands.
One of the new show cars due to be unveiled at Chantilly is this DS Automobiles SM Tribute. As the name suggests, it pays tribute to the legendary Citroën SM of the 1970s. Both the interior and exterior design were inspired by the Maserati-engined coupe. While the SM Tribute is slightly larger, the proportions of the original were retained.
Hot on the heels of the all-new Continental GT, Bentley has now introduced the fourth generation Flying Spur. Carried over from the two-door Continental GT is the hybrid drivetrain that can produce upwards of 771 bhp and a 1,000 Nm of torque. In addition to the impressive performance figures, the new Flying Spur can run as pure electric vehicle for up to 76 km and boasts a total range of 829 km.

Earlier this month, the Duesenberg SJ Gurney Nutting Speedster was named the 2023 Peninsula Best of the Best at the newly opened at the newly opened Peninsula London hotel. The Best of Show winner of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este was selected from a select group of finalists that had all won a major award during 2023. One of just a few dozen Duesenbergs clothed by a European coach-builder, this unique Speedster was commissioned by the Maharajah Holkar of Indore when he was just 28 years old. Equipped with a supercharged engine, it was one of the very last Duesenbergs built. Sympathetically restored, it has been part of General William Lyon Collection for many years.
American specialist manufacturer Hennessey has done its share to keep the manual alive by creating the Venom F5-M Roadster. Just twelve will be built as part of the limited run of 30 Venom F5 Roadster slated for production. Instead of the seven-speed, paddle-actuated automatic gearbox, the 1,817 bhp twin-turbo V8 is now mated to a conventional six-speed manual gearbox. All Venom F5-M Roadsters have all been spoken for.

During the film festival in Venice, Aston Martin revealed the third generation of the Aston Martin Vanquish. At a time where most manufacturers turn to hybrid drivetrains the spectacular Vanquish features an internal combustion engine only. The engine used is a twin-turbocharged V12 engine, which produces 823 bhp. The chassis used is a stiffer yet version of the familiar extruded and bonded aluminium space frame. Aston Martin limits production of the Vanquish to less than 1,000 examples per year and the first deliveries are expected for quarter four of 2024.
Californian broker Fantasy Junction has two remarkable V8-engined American race cars on offer. The earliest is a very rare full Competition AC Shelby Cobra 427. One of just 19 built, it was extensively raced in period and has since been cherished by its subsequent owners. Although it has been restored, chassis CSX3018 retains all the original Shelby components.
Very much a modern day interpretation of the Cobra was the Panoz Esperante GTR-1. The example now consigned to Fantasy Junction was the original prototype and it was shown at several motor shows in road-car specification for homologation purposes. Never raced in period, chassis 001 has been meticulously restored in recent years by many the of the period Panoz staff.

The Bonhams auction has been a set fixture of the Goodwood Revival since 1998 and this year will be no exception. The British auctioneer has consigned an eclectic mix of cars that will cross the block this Saturday. Among the most interesting is this 993-generation Porsche 911 Turbo. It is understood to be the very last air-cooled 911 to leave the factory, partly because its delivery was delayed to allow the company's Sonderwunsch department to carefully customise the car to the wishes of the original owner. Before it was delivered, it was fitted by the dealer with sill plates that fittingly read 'Last Waltz'. Cherished by its successive owner, the 911 Turbo has a mere 11,000 original kilometres on the odometer and is estimate to sell for £700,000 - 800,000.
From an historic perspective, the MG K3 Magnette included in the 90-strong list is arguably the most significant. It was one of the works cars and is believed to have been driven to a class win at the Mille Miglia by Johnny Lurani and George Eyston and later in 1933 to an outright Tourist Trophy victory by none other than Tazio Nuvolari. Owned for many decades by the late Peter Briggs, K3003 is offered during MG's centenary year.
A modern classic consigned is this Aston Martin V12 Speedster. One of a mere 88 built, this is understood to be one of only a dozen in right-hand drive. Like so many recent supercars, it has only barely been used but the V12 Speedster aches to be driven.

Californian auctioneer Gooding & Co. will return to the Hampton Court Palace for the annual London Auction. Headlining the sale are four formidable Bugattis consigned from the collection of Dutch enthusiast Jack Braam Ruben. Our absolute favourite is this beautifully preserved Type 43A Roadster. The Type 43 was a thinly disguised Grand Prix car for the road and the first production sports car with a genuine 100 mph top speed. Of the rarer still Type 43A only 19 were built and chassis 43309 is the most original of the ten survivors. Among the previous custodians were many distinguished collectors and a Type 43A is only very rarely offered for sale. The pre-sale estimate is accordingly set at £3,000,000 - 4,000,000.
Also due to cross the block are a trio of fascinating Type 57s. The earliest is this Type 57 Stelvio Drophead Coupe, which has also survived in highly original condition. Before Braam Ruben acquired 57181 in 2021, it had been in single family ownership since 1967. Another distinct Type 57 is this Atalante Coupe, which has benefitted from a comprehensive restoration to its original colours since joining the collection in 2019. Like the Type 43A, it should sell for over £3 million. The Type 57 Ventoux on offer holds the distinction of being the last new Bugatti sold in the United Kingdom. Another highly original survivor, 57724 should be slightly more affordable judging from its £550,000 - 650,000 pre-sale estimate.