Yohan Poonawalla’s Rolls-Royce 17EX Wins Back-to-Back ‘Best of Show’ Awards
Yohan Poonawalla's Rolls-Royce 17EX Wins Back-to-Back 'Best of Show' Awards
Indian billionaire and car enthusiast Yohan Poonawalla’s Rolls-Royce 17EX continues to make waves on the international stage, claiming prestigious awards in Spain and Malta.
Pune-based industrialist Yohan Poonawalla’s 1928 Rolls-Royce Experimental Sports Phantom ‘17EX’ has secured another major accolade, winning the, Best of Show award at the ICONS concours held in Mallorca, Spain. This comes shortly after the car claimed the same award at the Valletta Concours in Malta in June 2024.
At the ICONS Mobility Week for Good, which took place from October 1 to 6, the Rolls-Royce 17EX outshone fierce competition, impressing judges Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Jurgen Lewandowski and Rene Renger with its unique design and historical significance. The one-of-a-kind car, with coachwork by Jarvis of Wimbledon, also won several other accolades, including Best in Class in the Rolls-Royce 120 Years class and the Port d’Andratx Trophy during a public parade attended by the mayor of Andratx.
17EX is celebrated for its streamlined aerodynamic body and innovative features, including its enlarged 7.8-litre engine. Originally commissioned for Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir, the car has a rich heritage that adds to its allure. The Rolls-Royce 17EX has undergone expert refurbishment and remains a crown jewel of Poonawalla’s vast collection, which includes rare Phantoms and supercars.
Poonawalla expressed his delight at the win, remarking on the car’s historical significance and its role in celebrating Rolls-Royce’s 120-year milestone. Marcus Herfort, chairman of ICONS concours, praised the car’s aura and legendary status, making it a worthy winner among an elite field of competitors.
As one of the most significant coachbuilt Rolls-Royces in existence, 17EX continues to captivate audiences worldwide, solidifying Yohan Poonawalla’s status as a leading figure in the global classic car community.
