Sonoma Speed Festival 2019 - Photo Gallery, Historic Race Results

The Sonoma Speed Festival 2019 took place on the weekend of May 31 to June 2 at the picturesque Sonoma Raceway (formerly known as Sears Point), in the heart of California’s wine country. The inaugural historic motorsports and culture event was highlighted by more than 300 street and historic racing cars in the paddock and on track, providing a memorable three days of historic racing, culture, gourmet food and wine.

Sonoma Speed Festival founder and vintage racer, Jeff O’Neill, wanted to create an event that had a more premium feel, where visitors and participants were treated to the best foods, wines and race cars. To that end, he succeeded in providing a motorsport gathering to match his vision.

Those who attended the Sonoma Speed Festival 2019 enjoyed unprecedented access to a selection of the world’s most historic and valuable racing cars both on and off the track, with notable cars that included Ferrari 250 GTOs; Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinettas; Talbot-Lagos; Ford GT40s; Porsche 917Ks; the Lotus Type 77 driven by Mario Andretti; a Jaguar D-Type; a Ferrari F40 LM; a Bugatti 37 Grand Prix; and a McLaren F1 GTR Longtail; just to name a few.

Ten race groups spanning from the Brass Era to cutting-edge modern racing machines took on the challenging hills of Sonoma Raceway during the 2019 Sonoma Speed Festival. In celebration of the track’s 50th anniversary, the event’s featured class was the 1966 to 1969 Historic Trans-Ams, highlighting the Trans-American Sedan Championship battle fought on the track between Mark Donohue and Parnelli Jones in 1969.

One of the highlights of the debut event were demonstration runs by Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in the 2016 W07/04 Formula 1 car. The most successful individual chassis in the history of Formula 1, the Mercedes F1 W07/04 Hybrid was driven by Lewis Hamilton to 10 race victories, 9 poles and 14 total podium finishes in 2016. In Sonoma, W07/04 was driven by team simulator and development driver Esteban Gutierrez, who set a lap time of 1:15.430 on the full-course configuration, the fastest lap ever recorded on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile track.

At the other end of the spectrum, but equally exciting, was the 1939 Mercedes-Benz W154 that also took to the track over the weekend. As the final iteration of the ‘Silver Arrows’ before the end of the European Grand Prix Championship and the beginning of World War II, the Mercedes-Benz W154 is a historic machine before even considering its racing performance. In the hands of German ace driver Rudolf Caracciola, however, the W154 became immortal. Caracciola and the W154 never finished off the podium during the 1938 season, winning the championship handily from his teammates.

The paddock area featured the Radwood display with a selection of ‘Rad’ icons from the 1980s and ’90s such as the Audi Quattro, Porsche 959, Nissan Skyline GT-R and several other unique cars. The Driver’s Lounge offered race competitors and VIP guests a relaxation area with an exclusive view of the race track, while Bring a Trailer hosted an Alumni Gathering for vehicles previously bought or sold on its website. Also in the paddock area was the a Sip and Savor Pavilion featuring exceptional wines from a wide variety of California wineries and distilleries, in addition to a Food Park that offered gourmet food and chef demonstrations.

“The inaugural Sonoma Speed Festival was a great success,” said Ryan R. Turri, General Manager of the Sonoma Speed Festival. “We’ve exceeded our expectations in almost every way, and we’re thrilled with the experience we were able to provide for our guests and participants. We’d like to send a huge thank you to all that attended this year’s event.”

Sports Car Digest documented the Sonoma Speed Festival 2019, with photographer Victor Varela offering up a fantastic selection of images from the impressive debut event staged in the Northern California wine country.

Sonoma Speed Festival 2019 – Photo Gallery (photos: Victor Varela)

Kurt Uzbay - 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 — Kurt Uzbay – 1963 Shelby Cobra 289

Chris MacAllister - 1969 Porsche 917K — Chris MacAllister – 1969 Porsche 917K

Johannes van Overbeek - 1971 Ferrari 312PB — Johannes van Overbeek – 1971 Ferrari 312PB

Ernie Prisbe - 1971 Ferrari 312pb — Ernie Prisbe – 1971 Ferrari 312pb

Joe Calleja - 1973 March 73S — Joe Calleja – 1973 March 73S

Cameron Healey - 1970 Porsche 908/3 — Cameron Healey – 1970 Porsche 908/3

Gunner Jenette - 1966 Ford GT40 — Gunner Jenette – 1966 Ford GT40

Denis Bigioni - 1962 Dailu Mk2 — Denis Bigioni – 1962 Dailu Mk2

Alex MacAllister - 1966 Ford GT40 — Alex MacAllister – 1966 Ford GT40

Ivan Zaremba - 1939 Mercedes Benz W154 — Ivan Zaremba – 1939 Mercedes Benz W154

Esteban Gutierrez - 2016 Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid — Esteban Gutierrez – 2016 Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid

Nick Price - 1953 Jaguar C-Type — Nick Price – 1953 Jaguar C-Type

Bill Rooklidge - 1952 Jaguar XK 120 — Bill Rooklidge – 1952 Jaguar XK 120

Jeff Abramson - 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial — Jeff Abramson – 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial

Alex Curtis - 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing — Alex Curtis – 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing

Wesley Abendroth - 1955 Mistral Special — Wesley Abendroth – 1955 Mistral Special

James Alder - 1952 Jaguar XK120 — James Alder – 1952 Jaguar XK120

Rob Manson - 1953 Kurtis 500S Dodge — Rob Manson – 1953 Kurtis 500S Dodge

Gregory Thornton - 1982 Lotus 91 — Gregory Thornton – 1982 Lotus 91

James Hagan - 1982 Tyrrell 011 Blue — James Hagan – 1982 Tyrrell 011 Blue

Chris Locke - 1976 Lotus 77 — Chris Locke – 1976 Lotus 77

Paul Christensen - 1956 Porsche 356 — Paul Christensen – 1956 Porsche 356

Michael Doyle - 1961 Jaguar E-Type — Michael Doyle – 1961 Jaguar E-Type

Sandra McNeil - 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, s/n 3647GT — Sandra McNeil – 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, s/n 3647GT

Jeffrey O'Neill - 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, s/n 4757GT — Jeffrey O\’Neill – 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, s/n 4757GT

Chris MacAllister - 1938 ERA R14B — Chris MacAllister – 1938 ERA R14B

Luca Maciucescu - 1928 Bugatti 37A — Luca Maciucescu – 1928 Bugatti 37A

Paddins Dowling - 1934 ERA B-Type — Paddins Dowling – 1934 ERA B-Type

Museum Mullin - 1950 Talbot T26C Grand Prix — Museum Mullin – 1950 Talbot T26C Grand Prix

Gunner Jenette - 1964 Alfa Romeo GTZ — Gunner Jenette – 1964 Alfa Romeo GTZ

Mark Nettesheim - 1969 Datsun 510 — Mark Nettesheim – 1969 Datsun 510

Joshua Feiber - 1964 Lotus 26R — Joshua Feiber – 1964 Lotus 26R

Ed Matsuishi - 1967 Porsche 911 S/R — Ed Matsuishi – 1967 Porsche 911 S/R

Jim Storer - 1966 Ginetta G4R — Jim Storer – 1966 Ginetta G4R

Nick Price - 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA — Nick Price – 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA

Greg Whitten - 1964 Lotus 26R — Greg Whitten – 1964 Lotus 26R

Ned Spieker - 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1 — Ned Spieker – 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ1

Howard Swig - 1968 Alfa Romeo Romeo 1300 GTA — Howard Swig – 1968 Alfa Romeo Romeo 1300 GTA

Rob Walton - 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ2 — Rob Walton – 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ2

Michael Malone - 1965 Lotus 26R — Michael Malone – 1965 Lotus 26R

Jim Froula - 1971 Datsun 510 — Jim Froula – 1971 Datsun 510

Johannes van Overbeek - 1992 Ferrari F40 LM — Johannes van Overbeek – 1992 Ferrari F40 LM

Kevin Buckler - 2003 Porsche GT3RS — Kevin Buckler – 2003 Porsche GT3RS

Spencer Trenery - 2006 Riley Daytona Prototype Gen 1 — Spencer Trenery – 2006 Riley Daytona Prototype Gen 1

Andrew Beaumont - 1974 Lotus 76 — Andrew Beaumont – 1974 Lotus 76

Stephen Romak - 1985 Tyrrell 012 — Stephen Romak – 1985 Tyrrell 012

Chris MacAllister - 1955 Jaguar D Type — Chris MacAllister – 1955 Jaguar D Type

Michael Malone - 1959 Ferrari 290 MM/250 TR — Michael Malone – 1959 Ferrari 290 MM/250 TR

Ned Spieker - 1957 Maserati 200SI — Ned Spieker – 1957 Maserati 200SI

1955 Mercedes-Benz W196 "Stromlinienwagen" Grand Prix Car — 1955 Mercedes-Benz W196 \”Stromlinienwagen\” Grand Prix Car

Cameron Healy - 1955 Cooper Porsche Special — Cameron Healy – 1955 Cooper Porsche Special

John Mote - 1950 Allard K2 — John Mote – 1950 Allard K2

Joe Calleja - 1952 Allard J2X — Joe Calleja – 1952 Allard J2X

Henry Schmitt - 1978 BMW 320i Turbo — Henry Schmitt – 1978 BMW 320i Turbo

Charles Wegner - 1981 Ferrari 512 BB LM — Charles Wegner – 1981 Ferrari 512 BB LM

Robert Bodin - 1957 Devin Ryan Special — Robert Bodin – 1957 Devin Ryan Special

Dennis Adair - 1955 Elva Mk1 — Dennis Adair – 1955 Elva Mk1

Julien Bronson - 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa — Julien Bronson – 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

Nick Colonna - 1958 Devin SS — Nick Colonna – 1958 Devin SS

Mark Sange - 1956 Lotus 11 Le Mans — Mark Sange – 1956 Lotus 11 Le Mans

Jeffrey O'Neill - 1960 Maserati T61 Birdcage — Jeffrey O\’Neill – 1960 Maserati T61 Birdcage

James Hagan - 2011 Oreca FLM09 — James Hagan – 2011 Oreca FLM09

Travis Engen - 2005 Audi R8 LMP — Travis Engen – 2005 Audi R8 LMP

Keith Frieser - 2013 ORECA LMPC — Keith Frieser – 2013 ORECA LMPC

Greg Whitten - 1954 Lancia D24R Spider — Greg Whitten – 1954 Lancia D24R Spider

Ned Spieker - 1961 Ferrari 250 SWB — Ned Spieker – 1961 Ferrari 250 SWB

Max Jamieson - 1957 Porsche 356 — Max Jamieson – 1957 Porsche 356

Charles Wegner - 1959 Ferrari 250 GT TdF — Charles Wegner – 1959 Ferrari 250 GT TdF

Tancredi D'Amore - 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Sophia — Tancredi D\’Amore – 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Sophia

Camilo Steuer - 1966 Shelby GT350 — Camilo Steuer – 1966 Shelby GT350

Pete Whitehead - 1964 Iso Rivolta GT — Pete Whitehead – 1964 Iso Rivolta GT

John Goodman - 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 — John Goodman – 1964 Shelby Cobra 289

Susan Patterson - 1962 MG MGA — Susan Patterson – 1962 MG MGA

Peter Reed - 1966 Shelby GT350 — Peter Reed – 1966 Shelby GT350

Rob Walton - 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale — Rob Walton – 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale

Martin Lauber - 1975 Porsche Carrera RSR — Martin Lauber – 1975 Porsche Carrera RSR

William Lyon - 1970 Porsche 914-6 — William Lyon – 1970 Porsche 914-6

Cameron Healey - 1977 Porsche Carrera RSR — Cameron Healey – 1977 Porsche Carrera RSR

Thor Johnson - 1974 BMW 3.5 CSL — Thor Johnson – 1974 BMW 3.5 CSL

Ranson Webster - 1976 Porsche 935 — Ranson Webster – 1976 Porsche 935

David Martin - 1976 Datsun 240 Z — David Martin – 1976 Datsun 240 Z

Steve Schmidt - 1974 Porsche RSR — Steve Schmidt – 1974 Porsche RSR

Bruce Canepa - 1969 Porsche 917K — Bruce Canepa – 1969 Porsche 917K

Dan Chapman - 1965 Brabham BT8 — Dan Chapman – 1965 Brabham BT8

Dominic Dobson - 1961 Cooper Monaco-Buick — Dominic Dobson – 1961 Cooper Monaco-Buick

Geir Ramleth - 1963 Lotus 23B — Geir Ramleth – 1963 Lotus 23B

Chip Fudge - 1961 1968 Bizzarini GT — Chip Fudge – 1961 1968 Bizzarini GT

Charles Warner - 1979 Shadow DN9 — Charles Warner – 1979 Shadow DN9

Chris Bender - 1983 Arrows A6 — Chris Bender – 1983 Arrows A6

Dalmo de Vasconcelos - 1980 Tyrrell 010 — Dalmo de Vasconcelos – 1980 Tyrrell 010

Dan Marvin - 1974 Brabham BT44 — Dan Marvin – 1974 Brabham BT44

Steve Cook - 1972 March 721G — Steve Cook – 1972 March 721G

Nicolas Colyvas - 1974 Tyrrell 007 — Nicolas Colyvas – 1974 Tyrrell 007

Ron Maydon - 1977 LEC CRP1 — Ron Maydon – 1977 LEC CRP1

Danny Baker - 1976 McLaren M23 — Danny Baker – 1976 McLaren M23

Brandon Adrian - 1966 Alfa Romeo GTA — Brandon Adrian – 1966 Alfa Romeo GTA

John Baird - 1967 Lotus Elan SE — John Baird – 1967 Lotus Elan SE

Jeff Lewis - 1967 Porsche 911 — Jeff Lewis – 1967 Porsche 911

Rick Jeffery - 1966 Alfa Romeo GTA — Rick Jeffery – 1966 Alfa Romeo GTA

Daniel Goldsmith - 1968 Chevrolet Camaro — Daniel Goldsmith – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro

Jere Clark - 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS RS — Jere Clark – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS RS

Jim Hague - 1970 Ford Boss 302 — Jim Hague – 1970 Ford Boss 302

Tom McIntyre - 1968 Chevrolet Camaro — Tom McIntyre – 1968 Chevrolet Camaro

Don Dimitriadis - 1969 Ford Boss 302 — Don Dimitriadis – 1969 Ford Boss 302

Ken Adams - 1969 Ford Boss 302 — Ken Adams – 1969 Ford Boss 302

Bruce Canepa - 1970 AMC Javelin — Bruce Canepa – 1970 AMC Javelin

Nick DeVitis - 1968 Ford Mustang — Nick DeVitis – 1968 Ford Mustang

Bill Ockerlund - 1969 Chevrolet Camaro — Bill Ockerlund – 1969 Chevrolet Camaro

Dick Jeffrey - 1936 Atnstrong-Siddel Special — Dick Jeffrey – 1936 Atnstrong-Siddel Special

Charles McCabe - 1936 ERA # R6B — Charles McCabe – 1936 ERA # R6B

Erickson Shirley - 1934 Alfa Romeo P3 — Erickson Shirley – 1934 Alfa Romeo P3

Michael Sweeney - 1997 Porsche 911 RSR — Michael Sweeney – 1997 Porsche 911 RSR

Art Hebert - 1999 Picchio SR2 — Art Hebert – 1999 Picchio SR2

Tony Hart - 1967 Chevrolet Z28 Camaro — Tony Hart – 1967 Chevrolet Z28 Camaro

Jeffrey O'Neill - 1969 Ford Boss 302 — Jeffrey O\’Neill – 1969 Ford Boss 302

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