A new motorsport festival created by the team behind the Sonoma Speed Festival announces the date, venue and a partnership with McLaren Racing for 2021, welcoming some of the iconic brand’s key race cars to the event.
Velocity Invitational will host its 2021 event November 11-14 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California.
The motorsport and lifestyle event, created by the team behind the Sonoma Speed Festival, includes a special exhibition of historic McLaren Racing F1 race cars from two-time F1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen, as well as hundreds of other rare and important historic race cars and fine wine , and gourmet food.
The Velocity Invitational builds 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, and other historical and cultural exhibits.
The 2019 event attracted thousands of spectators, over 300 race cars and dozens of local wineries and gourmet food vendors. What is new for this event is that all children under the age of 15 accompanied by an accompanying adult have free access to the event.
Just announced, McLaren Racing will bring the 1998 MP4/13A, chassis number 02, a 760 horsepower, V10 powered Formula 1 car driven by David Coulthard and Mika Häkkinen. This was the same car that Häkkinen drove to victory at the Australian GP and now it will drive through the historic corners of Laguna Seca.
McLaren will also bring the 2011 MP4/26A and 2012 MP4/27A Formula One cars driven by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button back then, as well as the 1998 MP4/98T two-seat Formula One demonstration car, which will host a lucky few Passengers on an exciting ride around the circuit.
“We all missed racing and seeing these extraordinary and rare cars over the past year,” said Velocity Invitational founder Jeff O’Neill.
“So we decided to make up for lost time with an event that will please drivers and spectators alike. With McLaren bringing cars that have not been seen in years and showcasing exceptional technology, the Velocity Invitational will seek to set a new standard for automotive lifestyle festivals across the United States,” added O’Neill.
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, said, “We are excited to partner with Velocity Invitational to bring our McLaren Racing history to the track and contribute to one of the most exciting automotive lifestyle festivals in the United States.”
All of the luxurious amenities guests experienced at the Sonoma Speed Festival will return at the Velocity Invitational, including a food and wine pavilion, wine tasting tent, luxurious spectator accommodations and more.
Ticket holders for the canceled 2020 Sonoma Speed Festival will automatically have their purchase transferred to the 2021 Velocity Invitational or may receive a refund by contacting [email protected]. Visit VelocityInvitational.com for more information
About Velocity Invitational
Velocity Invitational is dedicated to highlighting the best racing cars and collections from the international community and the United States. The main aim of the event is to showcase the best racing and sports cars in the world while enjoying the best local wines and food. For more information, visit Velocityinvitational.com or email [email protected]
About McLaren Racing
McLaren Racing was founded in 1963 by New Zealand racing driver Bruce McLaren. The team competed in its first Formula One race in 1966, since then McLaren has won 20 Formula One World Championships, more than 180 Formula One Grands Prix, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its first attempt and the Indianapolis 500 three times .
McLaren Racing currently competes globally in Formula 1 and in the USA with INDYCAR. The team will compete in the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo. In 2021, McLaren Racing will compete in the INDYCAR Series with drivers Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist, while Juan Pablo Montoya will compete for the team in the 105th edition of the Indy 500 in a third Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet.
