Areal Bohler, Düsseldorf, Germany, 25th/26th April 2025: Archived Dreams; an automotive event structured around the present and the future, with an historic touch, to honor where the automotive industry came from. With that in mind, the Ultrace Club set its sights on the most iconic cars around the globe and brought them to one of the most historic locations to unite the entire automotive community. Areal Bohler, once a steelworks site, once again received the finest steel for one of the rarest exhibitions of all time. From the most modified JDMs to historic race cars, supercars, hypercars, and special builds.

Text: Benjamin Wefer,
Pictures: Benjamin Wefer,

The Areal Bohler was transformed into an art space! The venue was divided into sections: Mercedes-Benz, Future, Rennmeister, 143BPM, BMW, and present. But the collection of cars on display was truly breathtaking; it was unique to see some of these cars together in one place. It would be too much to mention all of them. But let us give you a glimpse of the highlights during the show.

Close to the entrance, the DTM M3 E30 in Weisteiner livery, which was very successful in the late eighties and the beginning of the nineties, is next to the standard road version E30. Another one was the iconic 1993 BMW M3 GTR E36, driven by Johnny Cecotto, which was displayed alongside a factory-stock 1993 M3, highlighting the similarities. This was all part of the 40th anniversary of the BMW M series. Also, the BMW lifestyle unveils the new “PUMA x BMW M3 40th anniversary collection.”

Also part of the M3 celebration, paint artist Rae Roberts, and M ambassador Imran Ashrad joined forces for Project Vaporwave. Where Rae Hand painted the G87 M2. The project started in the UK and was finished eight days later at the Areal Bohler during the Ultrace weekend.

Also, Mercedes-Benz was part of the racing memoirs during the Ultrace weekend. With iconic race cars in the Mercedes hall, like the legendary Sauber-Mercedes C9, which was used from 1987 to 1990 and delivered the Mercedes team a 1-2-5 win at the 24 hours of Leman in 1989. This particular number came in second and was driven by Mauro Baldi, Kenny Acheson, and Gianfranco Brancatelli. The top speed of the C9 was around 400 km/hrs! It’s truly amazing to see this car shining, miles away from the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

Next to the C9, three other iconic cars were exhibited in the Mercedes-Benz hall: the C112 and the C292, which were never officially raced on track due to Mercedes’ withdrawal from racing in 1992. And last but not least, the 1997 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, which marks Mercedes ‘ re-entry into racing.

Ultrace team brought so many emotions from different eras together that it was hard to decide where to go. We frequently consulted the location maps for guidance, and so did many visitors.

Also, the restmodders community was well represented. One that attracted a lot of attention was the HWA EVO in the 143BPM. The 143BPM was a soundproof artistic chamber created by Filip Popik. The idea was to remove the car from its natural context of speed, noise, and motion. The sound-absorbing walls, music, and lighting effects created a club-like atmosphere, giving the audience a unique experience.

The Evo is a tribute to one of the most iconic Mercedes models used in DTM, the 190E, and is limited to 100 pieces. The original 190E will be fully stripped, reinforced, and upgraded to the next level. The HWA EVO is powered by a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V-6 that produces around 450 horsepower. And for the old skool among us, yes, it’s delivered with a 6-speed manual gearbox, and it’s road legal!

Ultrace Düsseldorf attracted car enthusiasts from all over the world, including one in particular: Sung Kang (known as Han in the Fast & Furious franchise). Sung was at Düsseldorf to promote his movie, Drifter. Not only did Sung make room for autographs and pictures, but he also spoke to the wider public on the main stage, taking a moment to reflect on his career as an actor and what the car scene meant to him.

At the end, the audience had the opportunity for a Q&A, where the strongest question came from the youngest among the crowd. One of the questions was which era of cars Sung liked, as nowadays you have so many electronics. In which he replied: “I love the era of carburetors, as you have a more personal connection to the car. With a carburetor, you need to feel the car, so I would say I love the late sixties to the early seventies.” The young gentleman himself loves the seventies to the beginning of the nineties. The audience got a glimpse of “Drifter”.

Super- and hypercars were also part of the Ultrace package. One particular car that got our attention was the Bugatti Bolide. The Bolide is 1 of 40 track-only cars, powered by an 8.0-liter W16 engine producing around 1600 horsepower.

Another one was the Indecent 020, from the Polish company Indecent. The car is based on a Porsche 911, but fully customized with a wide-body kit, including the Swan neck wing, and painted in Incedent white, known as “The Whitest”. The car has a 3.4-liter flat-six, producing 600 horsepower.

Another eyecatcher during Ultrace Germany was the Hot Wheels Legends Tour Germany team. It was a perfect opportunity for the builders to enter the global competition and win the chance to have their car made into a real 1:64 Hot Wheels die-cast model.

And what is a car event on this level without some shine competition? In addition to the awards given by the Ultrace team, Gyeon Car Care also presented a best of shine award. The award went to a third-generation Audi 100 Sport Avant (Type 44), owned by Marcel (insta: mazze_typ44), painted in Porsche “Wimbledon green”. There are so many details to the car that you need the owner’s guidance to see them. Marcel not only got a goodie bag from the Gyeon team but also a full detailing appointment at Gyeon.

Ultrace Düsseldorf redefined the feeling one should have when attending a car event: the location, the atmosphere, and the interaction among car builders, tuners, and car enthusiasts. Two days of pure passionate adrenaline with an historic touch. The next Ultrace edition will be in Gdansk, Poland, on 27th and 28th June, 2026. Make sure you don’t miss it! Enjoy the Media Gallery.

 

 

 

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