THE SECRET SUPERCAR SOCIETY

Some of the world’s rarest and greatest supercars gathered at Donington Park for the Supercar Driver community’s members-only Secret Meet. We blagged our way in, too

THE CONSENSUS IS THAT SUPERCARS ARE BOUGHT, WRAPPED AND papped on Instagram then flipped before the third month’s repayment is due. Which may be true for some, but for a great many owners the reality is that their cars get used. A lot. Such as at the recent (not so) Secret Meet event at Donington Park.

Exclusive to members of the Supercar Driver (SCD) community, each year Secret Meet brings together cars from private collectors, dealerships and manufacturers for a gathering like no other. While the big hitters from Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche are always prominent, members with keys to more eclectic machines add the likes of Koenigseggs, Paganis and Bugattis to the mix.

With this year marking the 35th anniversary of the launch of the Ferrari F40, SCD celebrated by assembling more than 20 examples in both roadgoing and LM forms. To make up the Ferrari ‘Big Five’, a handful of 288 GTOS (including the earliest surviving example, one of just six prototypes), six F50s, four Enzos and five Laferraris kept the F40s company.

A road-converted Mclaren F1 GTR (GTR14 to be specific, the 1996 Japanese Championship winner) would usually be the star of any gathering, but in the presence of a pair of Mercedes CLK GTRS (one roadgoing, one race-spec) and a road-converted Porsche 911 GT1, there was certainly debate to be had…

Amongst the many other Porsches, including almost the entirety of Britain’s Carrera GT inventory, the two attracting the most attention were none other than the 1970 Le Mans-winning 917 K (chassis 23) and a 2018 935 wearing matching Salzberg liveries. Representing Aston Martin was a track-only Vulcan joined by the wild Valkyrie AMR Pro, while other rarities included a Mercedes SLR Mclaren Stirling Moss, a Lamborghini Reventón Roadster and Lanzante’s recent one-of-six homage to the F1 GTR Longtail, the P1 GTR-18.

Secret Meet isn’t limited to static displays in the paddock and car parks, with attendees also savouring dynamic display that included a handful of 1990s and early 2000s Formula 1 cars hitting the circuit. To conclude the event on a high, Harrison Newey lapped Kimi Räikkönen’s 2004 V10 Mclaren MP4/19 (a car designed by his father, Adrian Newey) around the Grand Prix circuit faster than Ayrton Senna at the 1993 British GP with a time of 1.16.83.

Insurance companies can now breathe a sigh of relief that it’s all over… until next year. ☒

From top left: Aston Martin’s spectacular Valkyrie AMR Pro; F40s and 288 GTOS take to the circuit; Ferrari’s ‘Big Five’ were well represented; Le Mans-winning 917 K and matching-liveried 935 were among the standout Porsches; one-of-one track-only AMG CLK Tracksport was a special commission for a wealthy client, never before seen in the UK; Mclaren F1 GTR chassis no. 14 originally raced in the 1996 Japan GT series with David Brabham and John Nielsen at the wheel; road-going version of the fabulous Mercedes CLK GTR, one of a mere 28 examples built; ultra-rare Lamborghini Reventón Roadster