It was pure elegance at the 2025 Africa Concours d’Elegance as the new champions were crowned during the 52nd edition of the continent’s classiest motorsport showpiece that unfolded in memory of founder Bob Dewar.
The event, which drew a record field of polished classics, high-performance bikes, and returning stars, once again lived up to expectations.
In the Masters Class, Adrian Wroe’s 1930 Ford Model A Tudor took the top spot ahead of Sati Gata Aura’s 1977 Nissan/Datsun 160J and Veronica Duder’s 1934 Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, a line-up that blended American steel with British craftsmanship and Japanese reliability.
The overall bikes' award went to Dominique Antoine's 1925 Triumph 550 SD, while Rick Agagliate’s 1926 Triumph 550 SD and Douglas Kiereini’s 1980 Yamaha RD400G completed the podium.
The overall car crown fell to Sati Gata Aura again, this time with his immaculate 1947 MG/TC, holding off James Duder’s 1928 Ford Model A pick-up and Mike Duder’s 1930 Essex Super Six in a close contest judged on authenticity and finish.
Special awards added an international flair. Ugandan rider Allan Mitumba picked up the best foreign bike award with his BMW R1100 RT, while Ali Alam’s Mercedes-Benz 250SL topped the best foreign car category.
Kamene Wanday continued her Alfa Romeo mastery by clinching the best Alfa Romeo with her 1972 Spider. Iqbal Omar'sHarley Davidson (2003) and Mike Duder in his 1947 Essex Super Six, took the “Most Elegant” trophy — a pairing of muscle and grace.
Kevin Desai, a crowd favourite exhibiting his “fast” classic for the first time, stood beside his car and grinned: “People look at it and see a gentleman’s car — but it’s quick.
The acceleration still surprises you. I’ve rebuilt the engine to original spec and it’s like unleashing a piece of 1950s racing history on the Racecourse.” He added that winning in Dewar’s Memorial Year gave the moment more weight than a simple trophy: “This win means more than a title. It’s about showing what he lived for.”
The day’s atmosphere echoed that sentiment. Rows of Alfa Romeos, BMWs, Triumphs and Harley Davidsons lined the pedestrianised circuit, the scent of polish and fuel mixing with live jazz and vintage fashion parades.
Judges from Kenya and abroad inspected every seam, spoke to owners and placed score sheets into envelopes like referees at a major championship. Organiser Peter Wanday said the strong turnout and repeat entries confirmed the event’s momentum: “Bob Dewar’s legacy is the reason we are all here.
These entries from Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa and the UK show what he imagined had taken root.
Next year, we want to expand the bike classes and add a special display for first-time entrants.
” As dusk fell on Nairobi Racecourse, the champions rolled their machines onto transporters or revved them gently one last time for the crowd. With new winners crowned, old champions returning and a founder honoured, the Africa Concours d’Elegance looked both back and forward — a celebration of heritage and a promise of more speed, shine and passion in 2026.
