As the world edges nearer to reopening, automotive calendar mainstays look poised for massive crowds. Bonhams recently held an online auction called "Supercars on Sunset" after hoping to allow in-person bidding, but nothing looks likely to get in the way of live auction action at May's Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. Meanwhile, pandemic boredom may have contributed to a collector car boom but it seems unlikely that new enthusiasts will suddenly lose interest as the restrictions and lockdowns fade. And so, it only makes sense that big-name players will get back in the game, as proven by McLaren Racing's recent decision to join Velocity Invitational for a historic weekend at Laguna Seca in November.
The Sonoma Speed Festival's Successor
The event comes courtesy of the same team that put on 2019's Sonoma Speed Festival, which drew thousands of guests and hundreds of racecars. This time around, McLaren Racing will surely serve as the highlight of the weekend, with a number of historically significant Formula 1 cars slated to appear including a 1998 MP4/13A chassis driven by David Coulthard and Mika Häkkinen, the latter of whom took first at the Australian GP in this very car.
Other impressive highlights include 2011 MP4/26A and 2012 MP4/27A racers that were driven by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. “We are delighted to partner with Velocity Invitational to showcase our McLaren Racing history on track," said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, "And contribute to one of the most exciting automotive lifestyle festivals in the United States."
A Two-Seat Formula 1 Demonstration Car, Too
For a few lucky fans, McLaren also plans to show up with a two-seat Formula 1 demonstration car, a 1998 MP4/98T that allows for passengers to take a ride around the historic curves and corkscrew at Laguna Seca.
“We have all missed racing and seeing these extraordinary and rare cars in the past year,” said Velocity Invitational Founder Jeff O’Neill. “So we’ve decided to make up for lost time with an event that is sure to please both drivers and spectators. With McLaren bringing cars not seen in years that showcase extraordinary technology Velocity Invitational will try to set a new standard for automotive lifestyle festivals in the United States.”
Sources: velocityinvitational.com and mclaren.com.