The first ever Sonoma Speed Festival is coming to Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California on May 30, 2019. The event will feature iconic historic racecars from decades past, from the Brass Era, to early ‘70s Trans Am cars, late ‘80s prototypes, and opportunities for show goers to fully experience not only racing car culture, but local culture as well. Off-track are wine tastings, vehicle simulators and virtual-reality experiences, autographs from racing drivers, live music, and a beer garden.
The event’s distant European cousin, the Goodwood Festival of Speed can be described as an English garden party with music provided by the sweet sounds of F1 cars, boosted V8 drift cars, fire-spitting exotics, and straight-piped vintage race cars, as rather than a four-string quartet. In addition to parade laps, there is a timed hill climb to the top of Goodwood Park, with no safety barriers, or fences.
The Sonoma Speed Festival differs in that it’s on the grounds of a full-fledged racing facility and features regional wares from Northern California. “The team organizing this event have attended the best motoring events in the world and want to bring that world-class level of execution and experience to one of the best race tracks in North America,” said Ryan R. Turri, General Manager of the Sonoma Speed Festival. “We’ve brought in teams that have worked on the most highly regarded automotive events and museums across the globe. This is an opportunity to see the most significant motorsports icons in action while enjoying the luxuries and comfort of a European-style motoring event.”
Sonoma Raceway’s 50th anniversary is this year, and to celebrate, the Trans-Am class will run a race on the track at the festival just as it did back in 1969. Nine other classes which are listed below, will run throughout that Saturday and Sunday. In total over, 220 vehicles are expected to attend the event with special guests to be announced.
Race Groups:
Race Group 1: 1949-54 Sports Production Cars
- Alfa-Romeo 6C-3000
- Allard
- Aston-Martin DB3
- Austin Healey 100S
- Cunningham
- Ferrari: 166, 195, 212, 250MM, 340, 375MM, Mondial, 750S
- Jaguar: C-Type, XK-120
- Kurtis
- Lancia B20, D24
- Maserati: A6GCS
- Mercedes 300SL
- Porsche 550
- Siata 208CS
Race Group 2: 1954-59 Sports Production Cars
- Ferrari 250TR, TdF, 500TR, TRC
- Jaguar D Type
- Maserati 200S, 250S, 300S, 350S, 450S, Birdcage
- Lister
- Mercedes 300SLS
- Porsche RSK, 550A, RS60
- Scarab
- Sportsracing cars under 2L
Race Group 3: 1959-65 Production/GT Cars up to 5 Liters
- Aston Martin DB4/GT
- Bizzarrini
- Cheetah
- Ferrari 250 GT, SWB, GTO
- Shelby American 289 Cobra, Daytona Coupe, GT350, GT350R
- Jaguar XKE/E type
- Porsche 904, 356 Carrera
Race Group 4: Masters Historic Formula 1 U.S.A.
Catering to 3-liter-engined Formula One cars from 1966 through to 1985
- Constructors such as Ferrari, Williams, McLaren and Lotus as well as Shadow, Tyrrell and Amon – all who played a part in the history of Formula One.
Race Group 5: 1964-73 FIA Manufacturers Championship
- Alfa Romeo T-33
- Ferrari 250LM, 250/330P, P3, P4, 312, 512, 312PB
- Ford GT40, MkII, MkIV
- Lola T70 Mk3
- Porsche 917, 906, 908, 910
Race Group 6 – 1966-72 Historic Trans-Am
- Ford Mustang
- Chevrolet Camaro
- AMC Javelin
- Dodge Challenger
Race Group 7: 1965-69 Under 2.5-Liter Production Cars
- Alfa Romeo GTA, GTV, TZ1
- BMW 2002
- Datsun 510
- Lotus 26R
- Porsche 911
Race Group 8: 1932-52 Pre-War Grand Prix Cars
- Alfa Romeo
- Auto Union
- Bugatti
- Delage
- Delahaye
- ERA
- Maserati
- Mercedes Benz
- Talbot Lago
Race Group 9: 1981-90 Prototypes, FIA Group C & IMSA GTP and Masters Engdurnce Legends U.S.A.
- Cars eligible to enter the Le Mans 24 Hours or any of its feeder series (FIA Sports Car Championship, IMSA, Sports Racing World Cup, International Sports Racing Series, FIA World Endurance Championship, LMES, ELMS, ALMS, ILMC) between 1995-2015 inclusive. Also, IMSA EXXON World Sports Cars (1994 to 2002), Grand-Am Road Racing Series, (2003 to 2013) & Group C (1982 to 1993):
- Daytona Prototypes
- Spice, Porsche 962, Jaguar XJR, March etc
- Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari, Corvette, Viper
- Peugeot 908, Audi R8 LMP, Oreca, Courage etc
Race Group 10: 1971-80 IMSA Camel GT
- BMW CSL
- Datsun 240Z
- Porsche 911 RSR, 934, 914-6GT
- Ferrari 365 Daytona
- Detomaso Pantera
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