Velocity Invitational, powered by Catalyst, celebrates its 5th annual event at Sonoma Raceway, Oct. 4-6. This year’s event will feature thrilling racing on the 12-turn wine country road course, as well as the ultimate weekend of multi-million-dollar cars, food, wine and family-friendly fun.
Here are 10 reasons you don’t want to miss this unparalleled event:
NEW FOR 2024:
Global Time Attack
Eight cars will hit the track in a Global Time Attack class throughout the weekend as these high-horsepower machines compete to set new track and class records. In addition to entries in the Unlimited, Limited, Street and Enthusiast classes, Northern California native Scott Speed will join the competition with Subaru Motorsports USA’s “WRX: Project Midnight,” while Formula Drift driver Ryan Tuerck will compete in his Judd 4GV V10-powered Mobil 1 Toyota Supra. Race Service’s James Kirkham will also hit the track in the Mercedes AMG GTS ‘Raw Spec.’ All three cars will be featured alongside a collection of Time Attack cars on track and in a main paddock display.
Group B and Rally Car Ride-Alongs
Velocity Invitational attendees have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride along with professional drivers in raucous rally cars during the motorsports festival. New for 2024, the lineup of DirtFish Rally experiences will include rides in Group B and modern-day rally cars. The lineup of Group B rally cars will include a 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2, a 1985 Lancia Delta S4 Corsa and the no. C206 1986 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. Gravel Rally Car experiences, which include a ride with a professional rally driver in a rally-tuned DirtFish Subaru BRZ on a complete gravel rally stage built on the grounds at Sonoma Raceway, are also available for purchase.
Sonoma Raceway Hill Climb
Nearly a dozen cars, including Subaru’s “Project Midnight,” will tackle a brand-new Velocity Invitational Hill Climb at 11:40 a.m. on Saturday. This challenging circuit, which travels counter-course from Sonoma Raceway’s start/finish line up to Turn 4, will host an all-out battle for supremacy as competitors tackle more than 10 stories of elevation change.
Featured Race Groups
In addition to eight popular historic race groups, Velocity Invitational will host two featured race groups: historic NASCAR stock cars and a celebration of 70 years of the Jaguar D-Type. The NASCAR group will include 18 stock cars ranging from 1980 through 2013, including Dale Earnhardt’s iconic No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet and Clint Bowyer’s Sonoma-winning No. 15 Toyota Camry. The Jaguar class will host eight cars celebrating the creation and racing success of the factory D-Types with a focus on the West Coast. Formula 1 champion Jenson Button will join the class with his 1952 Jaguar C-Type.
In addition, drivers from Arrow McLaren’s INDYCAR Series drivers Tony Kanaan, Christian Lundgaard (who will join the team for 2025) and Nolan Siegel will hit the track in historic McLaren race cars, including the 1974 M16C/D “Black Label” driven by David Hobbs, the Gatorade-sponsored 1975 M16E originally driven by Johnny Rutherford and the “Red Roof” 1978 M24. Formula 1 and INDYCAR driver Romain Grosjean will also compete throughout the weekend.
Drift Demonstrations
Professional drift drivers, including Travis Pastrana and Tuerck, will get smoky and sideways on the road course throughout the weekend. Pastrana will delight attendees with demonstration drift laps in the 1983 Subaru GL Family Huckster on Sunday, while Tuerck will drift his 650-horsepower 1966 Toyota Stout twice each day on Saturday and Sunday.
Tyler Florence Appearances
Celebrated chef and Food Network TV star Tyler Florence will join the event for food demonstrations and book signings on Saturday (2:30 p.m.) and Sunday (11:45 a.m.). Florence, who lives in nearby Marin County, will meet with guests and sign his cookbook “American Grill.”
Women in Motorsports Events, Presented by Mobil 1
Velocity and DirtFish will host a series of Women in Motorsport events presented by Mobil 1 on Saturday and Sunday. Trailblazing women in motorsports, including INDYCAR Series and sports car driver Pippa Mann, Trans-Am driver Michele Abbate, professional driver and mechanical engineer Sabré Cook, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America racer Ashley Freiberg and Josie Rimmer, head of strategy and women in motorsport coordinator at DirtFish, will take part in panel discussions, autograph sessions, on-camera interviews and special meet and greets at the Mobil 1 booth
RETURNING FAN-FAVORITE ELEMENTS
Autograph Sessions
Meet your favorite professional drivers at autograph sessions in the Event Plaza throughout the weekend. Sessions will feature Arrow McLaren INDYCAR drivers Kanaan, Lundgaard and Siegel, as well as Kirkham, Grosjean and Button, Subaru stars Speed and Pastrana and Rally legend Markko Märtin.
Sip & Savor Pavilion
The Sip & Savor Pavilion features tasting booths from local wine, spirits and food vendors, plus live entertainment, all in an incredible trackside location. Pair charcuterie and delicious snacks from Taylor Farms with wine tastings from 16 local wineries. Access to the Sip & Savor Pavilion is included in the Wine Experience and Driver’s Experience packages and is limited to guests 21 and older. The pavilion will be open on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Williams F1 Simulators Sponsored by Catalyst
Experience the iconic feel of racing a Williams F1 car from the cockpit of the Williams F1 e-sports simulator sleds. Located in the Catalyst booth in the Event Plaza all weekend, guests can virtually get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.
General admission tickets and premium packages for the 5th annual Velocity Invitational are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit SonomaRaceway.com.
