Us petrolheads are normally watching exciting races, with drivers pushing their roaring cars to the limit trying to be the very best at their job. And then there was the Essen Motor Show.
From the 25th November to the 4th December, the Essen Motor Show showed that all kinds of exhibited vehicles can be just as exciting as race cars out on a track. „The enthusiasm for performance-series vehicles and motorsports becomes tangible in Essen, due to highlights such as the special exhibition on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Ferrari.“
„I am already looking forward to 2017. Then, the ideal sponsorship of ADAC and the Essen Motor Show will celebrate its 30th birthday,“ said Hermann Tomczyk, Sports President of the General German Automobile Club (ADAC).
Asked about the reason for their attendance, the majority of the visitors answered: „The Essen Motor Show is something different for once, an experience.“ Even if the exhibition’s main topic is still tuning, hip tuning brands and fashion labels are showing that tuning is being perceived and lived as a lifestyle, the interest in the motorsport aspect is growing.
46 percent were enticed to Essen through motorsports, which is a strong growth in comparison with the previous year (in 2015: 39 percent). The mix of experience such as the BMW M4 DTM driving simulator in combination with race cars from past to present, along with race drivers like former DTM driver Martin Tomczyk available for autograph and interview sessions, created a very special atmosphere.
Another highlight was the ADAC’s motorsport programme with the presentations of ADAC Stiftung Sport, as well as the annual films of all their series available for the visitors in a cosy lounge. Additionally, a guy from New Zealand called Gordon Tronson – who has lived near Las Vegas in the state of Nevada for decades – caught a lot of attention with his „crazy passion“ as he called it himself, showing his 4,000 bhp pick-up, powered by four supercharged Ford 4.6-litre V8 engines.
„The Essen Motor Show has impressively proven its exceptional position amongst the worldwide automobile fairs: Here, performance vehicles and brands are veritably celebrated. That was strongly noticeable this year, too,“ summarised Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen.
Founded as the International Sports and Racing Car Exhibition Essen in 1968, the performance festival today unites performance-series vehicles, tuning, motorsports and classic cars into a unique range on offer for automobile and tuning fans.
In 2016, over 500 exhibitors showed numerous innovations and premieres – such as seeing new vehicles on the booths of Abarth, Peugeot, Porsche Motorsport and Renault Sport Germany – leaving the thrilled visitors of the exhibition in joyful anticipation for more in 2017.
To see the racing24-7.net gallery of the Essen Motor Show please visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/racing247en.