BRSomehow Race Retro’s pleasant rural Warwickshire setting captures the true nature of all historic and club motor sport facets that the popular annual Stoneleigh gathering personifies.
Porsche won its first of 19 Le Mans 24-hour victories in 1970 with a 917 driven by Hans Herrmann and British BRM F1 driver Richard Attwood, who anonymously sat next to me in the Media Centre silently enjoying his Americano. Race Retro is just that sort of cool, laid-back day out!
Throughout the 3-day show, stars of motorsport proliferated Stoneleigh’s capacious halls: current BTCC champion Tom Ingram, Swedish rally driver Kalle Grundel, retired WRC co-driver Nicky Grist, motor racing broadcaster Alex Brundle, British Rallycross champion Liam Doran and 2-wheel legend Maria Costello MBE, were just some who appeared on the Talk Motorsport stage to be interrogated by genial host Chaz Draycot in front of a knowledgeable audience.
Other celebrities included former F1 drivers Johnny Herbert and Karun Chandhok, along with past BTCC champion and team owner Matt Neal.
One hall was exclusively allocated to the diverse selection of road and competition cars, motorcycles and some 478 separate items of automobilia destined for sale over 3 days. Generally, this auction provides a barometer on the UK economy as well as Classic and Historic car market values. All expertly facilitated by official show partners, Iconic Auctioneers, formerly Silverstone Auctions.
Among 315 lots was a barn-find 2001, 28,000-mile Ferrari 360 Spider that sold for £58,500 and a time-warp 2000 Mini Cooper Sport with just 60 miles from new having lived in a temperature-controlled garage which sold for £36K.
Perhaps bargain of the weekend was a 1964 1071 cc Mini Cooper S, re-shelled years ago but not used since which sold for £15K including premium. 
Bidding was stronger in the racing category with a Schulze Motorsport Nissan GT-R Race Car, with debut Nürburgring 24h class win selling for an undisclosed sum, and a 1955 Lotus 6 with racing history back to Goodwood going for £47,500. In fact, auctioneers claimed 2026 as their most successful Stoneleigh event, generating over £7M in sales.
In the Hall of Fame, the main theme was ‘Martini Magic’ with a display of race and rally cars bearing the charismatic livery of the iconic Italian drinks company.
Other displays included Group B rally cars, Formula one, two and Formula Ford as well as a stunning tribute to the Le Mans podium, plus 100 years since the Brooklands British Grand Prix.
On Saturday and Sunday live action was provided by 120 iconic Group A, B and C rally cars competing over two mixed surface stages in Stoneleigh’s expansive grounds, always a spectator’s favorite.
When Race Retro finally closed its doors on Sunday evening, organizers reported the 3-day weekend had attracted 24,390 visitors, up once again on the previous years: 23,229 in 2025, and this year providing more trade stands including: Stilo, Radical, Caterham and HRX who all reporting great footfall.
Organized by Clarion Events Ltd who manage over 200 events of all types across the globe annually, Race Retro is now acknowledged as Europe’s premier historic motorsport show covering all disciplines of the sport and will return to Stoneleigh Park 19-21 February 2027.
© Words and images Ken Davies & Race Retro
