During the 2022 Velocity Invitational at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, I was passed in the corkscrew by Pato O’Ward in Ayrton Senna’s 1990 championship-winning McLaren MP4/5B Formula 1 car while I was in the (left-hand) passenger seat of a McLaren F1 GTR being driven by racer and stuntman Tanner Foust. It’s an experience that defied my ability to describe it, but if forced to try, I’d say it was something like: Whooosh, Slide, Squeal (tire), Squeal (me), Squeal (Foust), Vroom, Giggle, Cheerful Cussing, Hard Breathing, Total Blackout from Joy.
I can’t promise that you’ll get passed by an F1 car while in an F1 at the 2023 Velocity Invitational, but if it’s going to happen anywhere, this is the place.
The Velocity Invitational is everything that’s good about Monterey Car Week for those of us who most like the historic racing, with a side of hypercars. In 2022 we loaned Mario Andretti a Sharpie, saw a Zenvo active wing in full tilt on track, and got a walkaround of the championship-winning BRE Datsun from its driver, John Morton. We also got to sit overlooking Turn 2 at Laguna, enjoying a wine tasting while Ferraris and Cobras diced it up below. It’s an action-packed weekend.
John Morton receiving the respect he deserves as a championship driver and all-around wonderful person.
For 2023, Velocity goes north to Sonoma Raceway during the weekend of November 10–12. McLaren will be back with cars from Zak Brown’s personal collection as well as heritage cars to celebrate its 60th anniversary. O’Ward will be driving again, along with other IndyCar drivers, Brown himself, and F1 pilot Lando Norris. We’ve got interview plans for Norris, so leave your suggestions for questions in the comments.
Mario Andretti signs autographs with my pen.
McLaren isn’t the only manufacturer whose top executive will be on track. Ford will be in attendance as well, with plans to showcase the track-only GT Mk IV, mostly likely with Jim Farley behind the wheel. It’s not the first time Ford has brought cars out to the event. “The Ford GT and the GT40 predecessor have had great representation at Velocity,” says Ford’s global sports car marketing manager Scott Bartlett. “In 2021 Velocity Invitational hosted a reunion of seven Ford GT GTE race cars, alongside our Ford GT MkIV driven by Ford CEO Jim Farley.” He says his team appreciates the enthusiastic audience plus the opportunity to show the racing GT in action.
All ready for the Ford v Ferrari remake.
The rally school DirtFish is bringing out some of its collection of cars, and offering ridealongs, and the show-car paddock is sure to be overflowing with Ferrari F40s, 918 Spyders, McLaren Sennas, and bespoke brands you’ve never seen in person.
Can we beat our 2022 experience? Only if Pato O’Ward can squeeze us inside the actual F1 car. Either way, at $175 for the full weekend, it’s an easier ticket to get than the Vegas GP, and you don’t have to be a celebrity to get in the paddock.
Senior Editor, Features
Like a sleeper agent activated late in the game, Elana Scherr didn’t know her calling at a young age. Like many girls, she planned to be a vet-astronaut-artist, and came closest to that last one by attending UCLA art school. She painted images of cars, but did not own one. Elana reluctantly got a driver’s license at age 21 and discovered that she not only loved cars and wanted to drive them, but that other people loved cars and wanted to read about them, which meant somebody had to write about them. Since receiving activation codes, Elana has written for numerous car magazines and websites, covering classics, car culture, technology, motorsports, and new-car reviews.