Our 2025 car show season ended with the International Racingshow, which proved to be a fitting way to conclude our event calendar. The focus changed, but the show still sports a considerable wow factor.
This year’s edition moved to the end of the year, so there were nearly two years between the two events. As last year, the event was hosted by Kortrijk Xpo, and it occupied three modern and well-designed halls filled with cars and lots of action.
We counted fewer vehicles but more extras, from art dealers to simulators and kart rides, the organisers secured a comprehensive set of entertainment. Even Santa was there… : )
This time, the cars followed a different layout, not by brand. The central hall was dedicated to open-wheel and endurance racing.
The absolute highlights were three Formula 1 cars, though each was familiar from similar events. The 1986 Arrows of Thierry Boutsen and an ATS from 1983, we already saw at this year’s InterClassics, similarly to the BMW F1 car from 2004.
In addition, we saw a couple of other open-wheel cars, including a McLaren in Marlboro red, and a Red Bull of local hero Max Verstappen was parked in the neighbouring room. Speaking of local heroes, the Formula E champion car of Stoffel Vandoorne was also featured in the same hall as Max’s car.
This second hall featured an exquisite selection of classic Rallye Lancias from the golden era. The sleek 037, the iconic Stratos and the Delta are all represented, along with a Lancia Beta.
The second lineup features another set of Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia race cars. The Fiats, we suspect, came from the Abarth Museum.
We especially loved the Alfa SZ, the first race version we ever spotted. The yellow Binaco SS was a mystery to us as well.
Jumping over the central hall to the one on your right, we arrive at a hall with various race car categories and a motorcycle track. Here we spotted a few more rally icons, like the Audi Quattro, the MG Metro 6R4, and a Lancer Evo VII.
As last year, we left the International Racingshow with positive impressions, and we will keep this event as a stable item for our future bucket lists. While a lesser car spotting bonanza, this year’s show also offered quite a few memorable vehicles, and the organisers assured reinforcements on the fun side.
