Hello. Welcome to another peek at my car-spotting adventures. The stories provide context to each memorable image – and maybe reveals a bit of my thought processes as I hunt down some of the most exciting performance cars.
Name – McLaren P1
Location – Dubai Autodrome, Dubai
Backstory – I only included this picture because of its connection to the Bugatti Chiron below. The P1 was spotted at the restricted drivers’ parking area during a race event in Dubai. Somehow, I was able to access the area and take a few snaps of the sinister-looking car.
Name – Bugatti Chiron
Location – Four Seasons Hotel, DIFC, Dubai
Backstory – This picture was taken past midnight with trembling hands! I remember getting set for bed when I got a tip that a Bugatti Chiron was parked outside a popular hotel in Dubai’s financial district. Hot tips like this required instant action as you never knew how long the car would be there. I drove as fast as I could, keeping in the mind the numerous speed cameras along my route. Imagine my joy when I got to the hotel and spotted the Chiron with Omani number plates. I later found out it belonged to a racecar driver who also has a McLaren P1 with similar number plates.
Name – Ferrari LaFerrari
Location – Bulgari Hotels & Resort, Dubai
Backstory – The first time I saw this car was when it was being towed on a trailer attached to a Benz G63 AMG 4 X 4 Squared (both cars owned by the same person). Here, it’s parked at the Bulgari Hotel, Dubai. I was among an interested group taking pictures of the car. Shortly after, the owner appeared and opened the doors so we could get a better view of the interior.
Name – Koenigsegg Agera RS
Location – Bulgari Hotels & Resort, Dubai
Backstory – Only 25 Koenigsegg Agera RS hypercars were reportedly built (excluding the one built for performance testing and a replacement for another that was damaged during testing). This is one of the few in the United Arab Emirates. I was not expecting to see it when I attended a car show with my wife (one of the very few she accompanied me to). Sadly, the car appears to be a proper garage queen as I never saw it anywhere after this day. I did hear rumours that it belongs to the current FIA chairman, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Name – Koenigsegg Agera RS1
Location – Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, Dubai
Backstory – I came across several online pictures of this one before I eventually got a chance to see it in person. This is the very popular uniquely-specced Agera RS1 that belongs to someone who goes by the name ‘Whitesse’ on social media. I was having lunch when one of my friends called me up that the unicorn had been spotted in town. I still remember how I parked discreetly beside a flower garden and took several pictures before I was called upon by one of the valets to move my vehicle. I sheepishly complied. Luckily, I saw the car on a few more occasions after this before it was shipped back to the United States.
Name – The Red lineup
Location – Bulgari Hotels & Resort, Dubai
Backstory – This impressive red lineup was parked up at the exclusive Bulgari Hotels and Resorts, Dubai. Can you recognize them all? For me, the standouts are the Porsche 911 GT2RS, Ferrari 458 Speciale and the Novitec Ferrari F12. The classic Ferraris are great too, but I’d rather have modern machinery.
Name – Rolls Royce Phantom
Location – Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
Backstory – You never knew what you would stumble into at the fashion valet parking area at the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. This colour scheme is definitely not for everyone. I personally find it a bit ‘too much.’ That did not stop me from taking a picture anyway.
Name – Lamborghini Aventador Roadster
Location – Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Backstory – I did see this car several times while I was in Dubai, from casual spottings to appearances at major car meets. Each sighting reminded me of just why the Aventador is my favourite car. The supercar boasts such an iconic design that will never age. Its replacement has big shoes to fill.
Name – Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport
Location – Els Club, Dubai Sports City, Dubai
Backstory – I heard about a car show taking place right on a golf course near my home. Of course, I knew I had to be a part of it. I had to cut short a prior engagement but was not disappointed when I arrived at the venue of the event. One of the first cars I saw was this Veyron Grand Sport, parked right on the green. This one is the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Middle East edition, 1-of-3. Now, how’s that for exclusivity?
Name – McLaren P1
Location – Dubai Autodrome
Backstory – It’s not my favourite member of the so-named hypercar trinity (the others are the LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder). However, public sightings of the P1 are not commonplace, even in Dubai. There was no way I would pass up a chance to take a picture (or several). This one popped up at a car meet, and I was fortunate to photograph it in different areas of the main venue.
Tolu Akinshete
