Fuori Concorso 2023 – Aero

THE NEXT BIG THING AT COMO

Long gone are times when the only automotive destination at the magnificent Lago di Como was the renowned Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este. Fuori Concorso is here to stay, and it became big! What started as a small gathering around a few Bentleys, with every edition matures so well, that it became an acclaimed brand of its own.

So, what is it? Fuori Concorso is now an event organised at three famous Como venues. Villa Olmo serves as an open-air museum with a free entry, followed by Villa del Grumello and Villa Sucota enclosing the best there could be around cars. What makes the event so special and unique in a way, is that all vehicles gathered have a common denominator. That results in a storytelling-alike experience. We have had Turbo, Porsche Sonderwunsch and this year…

It’s Aero!

A THEME OF THE CENTURY

What is perceived by many as a very recent trend only, celebrates a centenary on the 2nd of July 2023. It was exactly on that date a hundred years ago, when Ettore Bugatti entered four aerodynamically curvaceous cars to race the French Grand Prix in Tours. Nicknamed “the Tank”, Bugatti Type 32 were so streamlined, that at their top speed they almost took off the ground. Not bad for a vehicle powered by a 90-horsepower engine!

Those were the beginnings and from there the arms race commenced with no turning back. Parallel to the French manufacturer, in Italy Diatto unveiled model 20S, brought to Villa del Grumello by the Lopresto Collection. Not so far away from it, parked was an impressive Jaguar XK120 with an aerodynamic bubble enclosing the pilot’s seat. Keeping it in the 1940s, one of my favourites exhibits was the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Kamm Coupe – a unique combination of function and form.

Turn left and you come across another legend. Alfa Romeo Tubolare Zagato, or TZ1 if you like, proved to everyone that there is no need for a big engine to be fast. Enclose a 1600cc inline four in a lightweight and extremely aerodynamic ‘coda tronca’ body and the recipe for a racer is complete. Fast forward to 1990 and the tastes (and possibilities) changed. Lola T92/10 Group C featured a 650-horsepower 3.5-litre V10 granting the very photogenic racer, wearing Chintai Jutaku News livery, an astounding power-to-weight ratio of 0,9.

STUNNING STARS FROM MAUTO

Fuori Concorso excels at collaborations with brands and museums. Its long-fostered relationship with MAUTO in Torino brings real gems to the visitors every year. This edition was no exception and the centrepiece of the exhibition at Villa del Grumello was formed by two equally extraordinary vehicles – the Abarth 1000 Monoposto Record and Fiat Turbina. The stingy scorpion was shaped by Pinifarina in 1960 and powered by a naturally aspirated engine generating 108-horsepower. Combined with its extremely streamlined body, it enabled record breaking results. One of them was the 72-hours endurance record, when said racer covered – wait for it – nearly 13-thousand kilometres at an average speed of 187kmph.

Its pair – the Turbina – was styled somewhat differently. Low and blobby chassis was exchanged for a more aircraft-alike design, resulting in a drag coefficient of 0.14. That’s almost twice as slender as a Tesla Model 3! With lots of vertical fins and wing-inspired shapes one could almost mistake it for a plane… especially as it is powered by a gas turbine with a huge rear exhaust. The engine was no joke! This powerhouse produced 300-horsepower at an insane 22-thousand rpms, blasting the car to 250kmph in no time.

HYPERCARS AT VILLA SUCOTA

Having the premises of two magnificent villas gives a unique opportunity to combine two very different worlds in one event. Whilst Villa del Grumello focused on vintage classics, Villa Sucota put a more modern, contemporary spin on the Aero theme. Such a separation gives each of the eras sufficient space to breathe, without harsh contrasts. Well, a spark-orange McLaren Speedtail is not always the best background for 1920s relic.

Here, immediately upon arrival, visitors were welcomed by a black Aspark Owl, closely followed by a dark green Pininfarina Battista. Even though the hypercars are not my cup of tea, it is hard not to appreciate the technology that goes into each of these vehicles. Especially, as Fuori Concorso managed to gather the crème-de-la-crème of this world. The selection included an eccentric Pagani Zonda Revo Barchetta, Aston Martin Valkyrie and my personal favourite of the bunch from Maranello – Ferrari FXX K Evo.

Alongside the static display, the picturesque terrace atop the hill served as a presentation spot for insightful panels. There was Phillip Rathgen talking aerodynamics with exciting guests including Horacio Pagani, Paolo Dellacha from Pininfarina and Christian von Koenigsegg. The latter also presented his masterpiece – Jesko – explaining all the nitty-gritty details about how aerodynamic features work on this hypercar. What a show!

REBEL, REBEL

Villa Sucota hid also one more attraction – the Riocam exhibition. It was slightly hidden from the crowded pathways and car displays, which overflowed with excited chatter. It was well thought-through as after all, art requires tranquil contemplation, doesn’t it? Several rooms were filled with famous photography, blending the worlds of fashion, modelling and cars.

Camilo Rios White is doubtlessly one of the hottest artists of the automotive scene and his famous ‘leg shot’ forms a unique signature. At Fuori Concorso guests could admire large-format prints and experience yet another dimension to the artwork. Some of Riocam’s shots were printed on Alcantara – material immensely close to all automotive enthusiasts’ hearts. Touching the photograph changes its appearance, which then could be reversed with special brush. It was so cool and… apparently unique in the world.

Lots of photographers try to imitate Riocam’s style, but none succeed. During my visit at the exhibition few models randomly showed up and posed next to the artwork. I took my shot at being ‘a Riocam’ for a moment… how did I fare?

GARDENPARTY, WHAT ELSE?

In my book, the best part of the Fuori Concorso event is how casual the atmosphere feels. The cars are there, but without discrediting them (after all, they’re the absolute top of what the automotive industry has to offer) they merely serve as the conversation starters. From there, it is a fun garden party with an amazing bunch of people, brought together by their common passion.

The best possible example of such a vibe is the St. Mortiz pavilion at Villa del Grumello. DJ sets the tune, bartender aids with a drink and what follows is a lively chatter in the setting of… well, five Ferrari Berlinetta Boxers. People are laughing, new interpersonal bonds are formed and what is left in the background, is the story of these iconic racers celebrating their 50th anniversary. Perfect symbiosis, isn’t it?

CI VEDIAMO, FUORI!

I’ve been coming to Fuori Concorso from its second edition onwards. Unfortunately, despite being at Como at that time, I missed the very premiere and looking back… I feel a bit nostalgic I did not experience the first chapter of what with time grew into a phenomenal event you could have immersed yourself, through this article.

Leaving Villa del Grumello on Sunday evening, surprisingly, was not filled with the usual sadness of good things coming to an end. This year I realised that events such as Fuori Concorso are like a good book. When you wrap up one tome, the next brings yet another, unknown adventure. Let’s hope the next Fuori Concorso in 2024 is equally as exciting, as I am sure it will be!

Text & Photos: Adam Pekala ©