Sati Gata-Aura emerged as the overall winner of this year’s Africa Concours d’Elegance, held at the Ngong Racecourse on Sunday, 29th September. Gata-Aura’s meticulously restored 1977 Nissan 160J garnered 269 points, with his 1947 MG TA closely following with 264 points. Paras Shah rounded out the top three in the cars category with his MG TC, scoring 256 points.
In the motorcycles category, David Odhuno’s 1989 Yamaha Super Tenere, which placed third last year, took the top prize this year with 142 points. Dominique Antoine’s 1959 BSA claimed second place with 138 points, while Prateek Singh’s Yamaha Roadstar came in third with 131 points.
The Concours also honoured the oldest car in the competition, a 1928 Durant entered by Sachit Shah, which was named Most Elegant Car. David Odhuno’s BMW 1200 GS, manufactured in 2006, was awarded Most Elegant Bike.
Magnate Ventures’ gleaming 2019 Harley Davidson Triglide made a strong debut, winning multiple prizes including the TotalEnergies prize for Best Engine Finish and the coveted Victor Ludorum award for bikes. Kamene Wanday’s 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider won the equivalent award for cars. The roar of rally cars at the event added excitement, with the 1977 Porsche 911 securing the top prize in its category ahead of Farhaaz and Shakeel in their Ford Escorts from 1975 and 1968, respectively.
The Africa Concours d’Elegance, organized annually by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Kenya, is a renowned event celebrating the finest in automotive heritage and craftsmanship. This year, the event attracted 26 international entries from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe. The Uganda Bikers Association and Pearl Bikers Africa once again rode from Kampala, drawing admiration from the crowd. Leonard Were’s 2016 Yamaha Super Tenere was recognized as the Best Motorcycle Entry from outside Kenya.
In addition to the competition, attendees were treated to a wide array of activities, from the sale of classic cars and motorcycles to exhibitions of electric vehicles, including electric bikes and cars introduced by Loxea Kenya. These showcases reflect the growing trend towards sustainability in the automotive industry—a vision supported by Stanbic Bank, which is committed to championing innovation alongside preserving heritage.
“Our partnership with the Africa Concours d’Elegance aligns with Stanbic’s mission to drive a culture of preservation, savings and connection. We are proud to support an event that not only brings together competitors and enthusiasts from across Africa, but also elevates the importance of classic vehicles and motorcycles in our economy.’’ said Patrick Mweheire, Standard Bank Group Regional Chief Executive East Africa.
Other sponsors of the 2024 Concours included Safaricom, Home Boyz, Galleria Mall, and the Nairobi Embassy of Italy, among others, whose contributions ensured the success of this much-anticipated event.
