F1, auto races, Jay Leno: Northern CA’s Velocity Invitational lights up Sonoma
Wafting odors of 100-octane gasoline and rumbling purrs of V8 engines punched through the overcast morning at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday as the Velocity Invitational car meet entered its second day.
The enormous racing event brought a wide variety of drivers and fans to the Northern California racetrack over a three-day festival, which kicked off Friday. In previous years, the event has drawn more than 20,000 fans to Sonoma.
Throughout Saturday, groups of cars ranging from the earliest 1910s race cars to the newest experimental hypercars took laps around the 2.5-mile Sonoma Raceway circuit as part of demonstrations and full-blown championship races. At the same time, fans marveled at display cars strewn around the track’s paddock area.
Race fans had no shortage of things to do and cars to spot, and the festival still has one more day to run.
Here’s what went on during Velocity Invitational on Saturday and what’s coming up on Sunday for those interested in going.
What is there to see at Velocity Invitational?
The Porsche Sprint Challenge kicked off Saturday’s festivities with a qualifying session to set the grid for two races over the weekend. As the earliest fans trickled into the track, the Bay Area’s famed fog layer hung over the hills surrounding the track.
Overcast conditions remained through the morning while Formula 1 cars, GT vehicles and racing sedans had their opportunities to run the track. However, the sun finally made its appearance just in time for the day’s most hotly anticipated event.
Former Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda met fans and signed autographs for an hour in the late morning right as the clouds parted and the track warmed up, energizing the whole raceway.
“I’ve never met an F1 driver before, and I’m glad I met (Tsunoda),” said Velocity Invitational attendee Jeremiah Ferrell, of Vacaville. “I never thought I’d see an F1 driver out in California, so yeah it’s really cool.”
Immediately after his meet-and-greet, Tsunoda hopped into a Ford GT MK IV for a guest on-track demonstration, his first time driving Sonoma’s circuit only months after drifting a Formula 1 car around the streets of San Francisco during a Red Bull Racing show run.
“It was amazing, I was really excited to meet (Tsunoda),” said Norah Blomberg, of Loomis, shortly after her meet-and-greet session.
Subsequent groups of vintage GT cars and historic NASCAR stock vehicles kept the track hot throughout the rest of the day, and a “Mini vs. Muscle” endurance race between Mini Coopers and heavier machines such as Chevrolet Camaros and Ford Shelby GT350s wrapped up Saturday’s event.
A stacked lineup
Fans traveled from all corners to get a peek at some of their favorite cars, including comedian Jay Leno, a well-documented automotive enthusiast who was seen viewing display vehicles and chatting with drivers.
Morgan Prince came to Sonoma from North Carolina for the Invitational as a graduation gift from his family. He said this was his first time visiting California.
“I love seeing all these cars driving around and all the other random things that I don’t get to see out in North Carolina,” Prince said. “The car scene there is completely different than out here.”
Luxury sport and race cars from top makers including McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Koenigsegg, Lotus and many others speckled the racetrack’s paddock lawn while vintage collector cars, GT racers, muscle cars and a variety of sports cars were prepped throughout the day for their track runs.
Prince had the opportunity to see his favorite car while at the show, a Ford GT40.
“I’m a Ford guy, Chevy guy, so seeing all the Ford cars around, all the Mustangs was pretty cool to see,” he said. “Watching the Ford GTs run around (the track) was cool too.”
Between each session, two Polestar SUVs and a Dallara EXP took groups of lucky fans on hot laps around the track.
“It was really awesome seeing all the cars at the track and just being here for a wonderful experience,” Blomberg said.
What’s next at Velocity Invitational?
The same groups of cars will run once again on Sunday, with a new special guest taking the wheel of a BBI Type 99 supercar.
Lia Block — rally car champion, former F1 Academy driver and daughter of the late rally legend Ken Block — is headlining Velocity Invitational’s final day of the 2026 festival. Fans will have an opportunity to meet Block after her track session in the early afternoon.
Single-day tickets for Velocity Invitational on Sunday were still available Saturday evening, costing $199 per adult ticket, with youth aged 15 and under entering for free with an adult. The first group of cars scheduled for Sunday — hypercars such as the McLaren F1 and Lamborghini Sesto Elemento — will hit the track at 8 a.m., according to Velocity Invitational’s website.
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