It’s hard to imagine having the confidence and financial backing to drift timeless pieces of automotive history around a snow filled track but that is exactly what THE ICE St. Moritz does, and in doing so goes against the grain of traditional concours events.
There are some prestigious Concours d’Elegance events that line the annual calendar, some of which are graced by priceless coach built one-offs and others have the unrivalled opportunity of debuting some novel automotive creations. What many of them lack is a sense of driving in an environment that is generally avoided by anyone with a powerful but rare automobile: snow.
THE ICE St. Moritz allows enthusiasts who like to show and exercise their cars rather than confine them to the comfortable confines of a climate controlled garage with an ingredient that would deter most with a faint heart, the presence of snow.
On Saturday the 26th of February, a foray of automotive marvels descended upon the frozen lake in the Swiss region of the Engadin. The likes of period correct Aston Martin’s to the blood red colour of Italy’s finest motorsport creations from yesteryear.
A prized gem in the form of a Ferrari 250 GTO also tackled the powdery surface with conviction akin to that of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in which it claimed podium positions in.
While affluent drivers get to flex their analog prowess on the frozen lake, public are afforded the opportunity to witness the peerless cars in a completely different setting.
Giorgetto Giugiaro, honorary member and winner of Car Designer of the Century stated that “watching the cars over the snow, without any distracting element one would find on the road, recreates the effect a designer achieves by drawing an automobile on a white sheet of paper…”
Maserati took the opportunity at the International Concours of Elegance to display their strong legacy, both old and new by bringing their latest unreleased supercar; the MC20.
The statement echoes the racing and luxury lineage bequeathed on other models present at THE ICE St. Moritz such as the MC12, A6GCS-53 Berlinetta Pininfarina and 3500 GT Vignale Coupé.
