1996 Ferrari F50 GT1 Wins “Best of Show” at 2025 The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering returned for its 22nd year on the pristine grounds of The Quail Golf Club, where a 1996 F50 GT1 was named “Best of Show”. Owned by Art Zafiropoulo, the 1996 F50 GT1 was selected from a curated field of more than 200 entrants and stood out for its design, craftsmanship and historical significance. The winning vehicle was inducted into the prestigious Rolex Circle of Champions, a revered tradition celebrating the pinnacle of automotive excellence and its owner received a specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 presented by Luca Bernasconi, president and CEO of Rolex USA.

The 1996 Ferrari F50 GT1 is one of the rarest and most extreme Ferraris ever built, a prototype created to take the F50 into top-tier GT1 racing. Chassis number 001, the only factory-assembled test car, pairs a 750-hp evolution of Ferrari’s 4.7-liter V12 with a carbon-fiber monocoque, period-perfect aerodynamics and race hardware worthy of a Formula 1 grid. Built for the international GT1 class but never raced after Ferrari ended the program in 1997, it has remained with its first and only private owner, Art Zafiropoulo. With purposeful carbon bodywork, black Speedline wheels and timeless proportions, the F50 GT1 stands as one of the iconic brand’s most desirable and formidable sports racers.

This year’s other prestigious award winners announced at 2025’s The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering include:

Spirit of The Quail
1967 Shelby EXP500 Prototype Coupe
Owned by Mr and Mrs Craig Jackson

Hagerty Drivers Foundation Award
1967 Sunbeam MK2
Owned by Richard Thompson

The Quail continues to be a hub for the future of the automotive industry, as 18 of the most notable manufacturers and designers debuted their latest creations. Highlights of the show included global debuts of the Lamborghini Fenomeno, Guntherwerks Project F-26, Corvette CX Concept and CX.R Gran Turismo Concepts as well as a special edition Corvette ZR1x Silver Quail, Lexus Sport Concept, Cadillac Elevated Velocity, Superlegerra Veloce 12, Gordon Murray Automobiles GMSV Le Mans GTR and GMSV S1 LM, Bugatti Brouillard and the Ringbrothers 1971 Aston Martin DBS.

In addition to global vehicle debuts, exceptional entrants from this year’s four featured classes also took center stage. Entries in the four unique featured classes were among the highlights of the 2025 celebration. The 30th Anniversary of the Ferrari F50 honored one of Maranello’s most celebrated modern supercars, with the award going to the 1995 Ferrari F50 owned by Museo Carde, a class that had 17 entrants in total. The 60th Anniversary of the Shelby Mustang GT350 paid tribute to Carroll Shelby’s legendary American muscle icon, highlighted by John Dwyer’s white 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R Model #98. The 60th Anniversary of Iso Grifo showcased the Italian-American grand tourer’s distinctive blend of style and performance, represented by Peter Wilde’s 1963 Iso Griffo A3/L Prototype. Finally, the Liveries of F1 class celebrated the rich visual heritage of Formula 1, with J.R. Amantea’s 1997 Ferrari F1310B earning the award for its iconic period-correct livery. The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering also featured eight traditional classes that showcased vehicles from a variety of decades, brands and designs.

“From esteemed collectors showing the rarest vehicles in the world on the field to sponsors debuting the latest in automotive art and technology, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering is the epicenter of automotive culture,” said Kai Lermen, Senior Vice President of The Peninsula Signature Events. “The diversity of our show field, our focus on offering a fun, garden party atmosphere and the incredible number of global debuts that make this event truly unique. We thank our sponsors, guests, and the motoring community for their continued support making The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering the most exclusive impactful event of Monterey Car Week.”

This year’s event also featured an unprecedented reunion of IROC legends, as more than 20 historic IROC cars and legendary drivers made the journey from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to The Quail. For the first time, multiple generations of IROC champions, including Jeff Gordon, Jenson Button, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Danny Sullivan, Ken Schrader, Bill Elliott, Zak Brown and Bruce Canepa came together for an unprecedented display of racing heritage, where guests enjoyed a special parade lap and got an exclusive up close look of the racing machines and drivers.

In addition to celebrating world-class vehicles, guests enjoyed an array of gourmet cuisine across five distinctive culinary pavilions, complemented by a curated selection of award-winning wines and champagne. A highlight of the event, the annual Fireside Chat featured a spirited conversation with world-famous comedian and car collector Adam Corolla. Live music and entertainment capped off an exciting day for attendees, who also had the exclusive opportunity to experience the 28th Annual Bonhams “The Quail Auction,” the longest-running and most prestigious auction held during Monterey Car Week.

Next year’s The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering will take place on Friday, August 16, 2026. Please visit the event website for more information and follow The Quail Events on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the event activities and announcements.

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