Velocity Invitational Takes Place of Sonoma Speed Fest

by Cyndi Paceley Share
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EmailPhoto: Velocity InvitationalSalinas, CA — After twice rescheduling last year’s Sonoma Speed Festival, its organizers have created a similar event with a different name — the Nov. 11-14 Velocity Invitational motorsports and lifestyle event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Sonoma Speed Festival founder Jeff O’Neill remains at the helm of the Velocity Invitational that promises to “reunite the world’s finest racing automobiles, preserving these car’s history by exhibiting them as they were meant to be seen and heard — on track.”

Vintage race cars in 9 race groups will meet in flat-out wheel-to-wheel competition at the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

And a special group of historic McLaren Formula 1 and Indy cars will challenge the Corkscrew of the classic circuit. Among them is the 1998 MP4/13A (chassis number 02), a V10-powered Formula 1 car driven by David Coulthard and two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen. It’s the same car that Häkkinen drove to victory at the Australian GP.

McLaren will also bring the 2011 MP4/26A and 2012 MP4/27A Formula 1 cars driven by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button in era, as well as the 1998 MP4/98T two-seat Formula 1 demonstration car — which will take a lucky few passengers on a ride around the circuit.

Velocity Invitational will build on the success of the inaugural Sonoma Speed Festival in 2019 with an event that combines wheel-to-wheel vintage racing, tastings from top California wineries and restaurants, as well as other historic and cultural exhibits.