It felt like any other Saturday at first, feeling the buzz of waking up for yet another event in the jam-packed month of May, but nothing could’ve prepared me for what was in stock for the annual Lanzante Charity Open Day. Prior to arrival, I hadn't checked any social media, so I had no idea what cars would be there. But as I made my way through the courtyard and into the workshop, I was lost for words...
Upon entering the infamous Lanzante workshop, I began to come to grips with what I was seeing, and it’s safe to say the team here do not mess about! From the likes of not one, but two Mclaren F1 GTR’s, chassis 10R owned by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, and Chassis 16R wearing its stunning 1996 24h of Le Mans Livery, in which it finished 11th overall. Standing parallel to this duo of F1’s, was a trio of Pagani’s with the likes of a Huayra R, Zonda R, and a C12 Zonda, certainly a very expensive and no doubt eye-catching lineup, it was particularly nice to have a second meeting with this specific Zonda C12 as the previous experience I shared with this car was one to remember.
Now, as I'm sure you are aware, Lanzante are renowned for their conversions of track monsters into road-going machines. This was evident as they were displaying two fairly mega Mclaren P1’s with one currently undergoing this road conversion process, and another in for a service. Seeing such cars like this with their bodywork stripped and their absolutely ridiculously modified 4.0L Cosworth V8s on display is truly something quite hard to beat. On the right of these two Mclaren’s was definitely the highlight of the day, it may look like a regular Porsche 911 from the front, but make your way to the rear and a race used 1.5L V6 Formula One engine will jump out at you, may I present to you the Lanzante Porsche 930 TAG Turbo. With this particular car being build 5 of 11, boasting one of Alain Prost’s engines from the 1987 season, truly something spectacular! Seeing one of these surrounded by some of the most outrageous cars ever made certainly topped off a day that was nothing short of outstanding, Kudos to Lanzante for putting on an event that exceeded all of my expectations.
Along with the cars, also on display were many pieces of heritage and history throughout their workshop and showroom, from race worn drivers suits to historic trophies and parts of race used cars. All of this giving the attendees of the event a fantastic example of what happens when you combine the two forces that are Mclaren and Lanzante together.
As I made my way out through the iconic main showroom, I had to take a moment to admire the three cars that were being displayed in this spectacular looking room, with two Mclaren P1’s, one being a HDK finished in Neptune Blue, joined in company by a Mclaren F1 Finished in Aubergine. These three cars rounding off what had been an implausible event. I eagerly await my next trip back to Lanzante and I am already thinking about what could be in stock for next years Open Day.
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