Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance is very proud of its international jury of car experts, under the astute guidance of Alessandra Giorgetti from Milan, who come from all over the world each year to decide which motor car will be Best in Show (in 2026 the honours went to the amazing 1936 Delage D6-70 Milord Cabriolet by Figoni et Falaschi pictured below).
In 2027 there will be a new member of the judging panel joining us from the United States of America, and we will certainly be taking advantage of his extensive knowledge with a new class for entries entitled Americana – In excess, as well as his expertise of Ferraris. He will also be taking part in our new Talk Slots (watch for this space for further updates) which will be held daily on Cockatoo Island.
Kip Wasenko began his 40-year Design Career at General Motors in June 1968. During this time his career included the U.S., Europe and Australia. He retired in May 2008. At GM Design Kip was Chief Designer of Saturn, Chevrolet Studio, Oldsmobile Studio, Cadillac Studio and several Advance Studios. He was Director of Design of the GM Performance Division and Specialty Vehicles.
In 1973 Kip received his first Design Patent on the Two-Rotor Mid-Engine Corvette Concept Car which is now on display at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. Kip also designed many Indy 500 and Daytona 500 Pace Cars. The most exotic was the Mid-Engine Buick Wildcat with its exposed Indy 500 Engine by Buick. This Mid-Engine Wildcat designed in 1984-85 was a true Supercar Concept that would rival today’s million dollar Supercars.
Kip is best known for the Design of the Cadillac EVOQ named “Best Concept Car” at the 1999 North American International Auto Show. He initiated the new Art & Science Design Direction which continued evolving thru 2022. The EVOQ was sold to the public as the Cadillac XLR-V. Kip applied the same Design Philosophy to the CTS-V, STS-V and the Cadillac LMP Race Car developed with Riley & Scott that raced LeMans. In addition, he designed the winning CTS-VR World Challenge Cadillac Race Cars by Pratt & Miller.
In February 2005, Motor Trend Magazine recognized Kip’s contribution on their Top 50 Power List for the Renaissance of Cadillac, “He’s made Cadillacs cool again.” In July 2025, the French-American Consulate honoured Kip for his 40-year International Design Career & Racing at the Meadow Brook Mansion in Rochester, Michigan.
Kip is a Ferrari enthusiast and has owned his 1970 Ferrari 246GT Dino Type L since 1975. Kip is an active Member of the Ferrari Club of America Michigan Chapter. Kip’s passion for Ferrari’s began in 1964 when he was studying to become an Automotive Designer. The designs of Ferrari were a great influence on his Design Philosophy and contributed to his success in his Design Career. Since owning his Dino he has shown and participated in many Ferrari Concours Events and has won many awards. He is an amateur race car driver and has just completed his 33rd season racing his GT Corvette in SCCA, Waterford Hills Club Racing and VSCDA Racing Events.
His judging experience dates back to 1985, giving him the qualifications to judge the most significant Automotive Concours Events. Meadow Brook Concours d’ Elegance; Concours of America St Johns; The Detroit Concours; The Arizona Concours; The Inaugural Audrain Concours Newport RI; Automotive Fine Arts Society at Pebble Beach CA; Eyes on Design – Ford Mansion Grosse Pointe, MI; The La Jolla Concours; Hilton Head Concours; Cobble Beach Concours – Canada; North Carolina Concours; Amelia Island Concours; The Amelia Concours; Las Vegas Concours; SEMA Las Vegas; Miami Concours; Boca Raton Concours; Radnor Hunt Concours; Chattanooga Concours; Heritage Invitational Concours – Charlotte NC; Cavallino Palm Beach at The Breakers & Boca Raton; Delray Beach Concours – FL; Keels & Wheels – Seabrook TX; Lake Mirror Concours – Grand Marshall; Atlanta Lake Lanier Concours – Co-Chief Judge; Concours DeVoue – Covington KY; Des Moines Concours – Iowa; Honorary Chief Judge: Santa Fe Concorso; Cincinnati Concours.
Kip has been invited as a Guest Speaker at many Concours’ and Automotive Events. Presentations: Hilton Head Concours Celebrating Cadillac & Collector Steve Plunkett; Lake Mirror Concours Eyes on Design; Cincinnati Concours Mid-Century Modern; Allante/XLR Invitational Designing the EVOQ; Sloan Museum Designing the Buick Wildcat; Cobble Beach Concours 100 Years of GM of Canada; Arizona Concours Elegance of Speed; Porsche Club of Detroit Having Fun With Cars; Corvette Club of MI Corvette; Corvette Club of Lake Tahoe History of Corvette; Denver Art Guild Cadillac Design Auto Week Design Forum GM Performance Division Design Detroit International Auto Show; UBS – Phoenix AZ Mid-Century Modern Design – Jet Age to Muscle; Hagerty – 10/10ths Heritage Concours Eyes On My Design Career; Des Moines Concours. The Art & Design of the Automobile.
Panel Seminars: Hilton Head Concours – Design & Collectables; Lake Mirror Lakeland FL – Cadillac Racing; M1 Festival of Speed – GTO Design.
The 2026 winner of Best In Show overall, the 1936 Delage with its splendid Figoni et Falaschi body, in front to the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
