Cartier Style et Luxe Concours – Goodwood Festival

Similar to the unique Festival of Speed, Goodwood’s Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ is a Concours d’Elegance unlike any other. Set on the lawn of Goodwood House, far from the throng of racing engines, the ‘Style et Luxe’ has become an esteemed stronghold of artistry and good taste.

The competition typically comprises around 50 cars in 10 classes representing the history of motoring. Unlike a conventional Concours d’Elegance, the judges of the ‘Style et Luxe’ are not car experts but personalities from the arts. Judging is not a scientific points-scoring process, but a consideration of each car as an object of beauty and practicality. While most of the panel may know little about cars, the artist’s intrinsic understanding of proportion, detail, texture and finish invoke some intriguing and often rather alternative opinions, and the judges bring a wide range of sympathies to the panel.

Judging was frantic in the 2009 edition of the Cartier “Style et Luxe” Concours d’Elegance, with Will Young, Jasmin Le Bon, James Martin and many other star judges finally declaring the stunning 1934 Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia the Best of Show against some very stiff competition. Additionally, on Festival Sunday, the Cartier Lawn had the added attraction of “The Magnificent Seven” – a collection of desirable Ferraris owned by presenter Chris Evans, with six of the seven resprayed in dazzling white to help raise funds for the BBC Children In Need charity.

2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance Photo Gallery