Wilton House Concours 2026
Wilton House
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
I have to say that I was feeling just a bit jaded as it has been so very busy this season, but I decided that I really should attend the first running of the ‘Concours des Legendes’ being held in the grounds of Wilton House just outside Salisbury Wiltshire, the ancestral home for more than 400 years of the Earl of Pembroke, and boy was I glad I did.
As the Earl says in his welcome message in the event daily newspaper “The concept behind this event has been a vision of mine for over a decade. I’ve always felt that the greatest cars deserve more than to be admired simply for their aesthetic. They deserve to have their stories told.” [Read more…] about Wilton House Concours 2026
Little Things Mean a Lot
By Pete Vack
“Back in 2015, VeloceToday’s editor Pete Vack came searching for that fellow Diggens, and in particular an illustration of Jean-Pierre Wimille. Seems that he remembered my work for the British magazine, Thoroughbred and Classic Cars. And that was many years ago, in the 1970s!” – Rodney Diggens
From this relationship developed a three-part series about Rodney’s life in the UK, published in 2024, from growing up in London during the Blitz, to becoming a very well known artist, to working with the great team at T&CC. [Read more…] about Little Things Mean a Lot
Classic Panoramic Headgear
Assuredly stiloso and with an exceptional product association; a 1970s safety helmet that owes its design inspiration to an iconic rally car. Image from Stellantis Media.
Many years…oh, say about 15…Simon Grand submitted a few good stories about life in Turin, where he was living and working for Fiat. Well, he still remembered VeloceToday, and recently sent us this interesting article about the Stratos Helmet. We didn’t forget Simon either, and we are happy to republish this article from Simon’s new Substack column, The Crafted Car.
By Simon Grand
Far from being merely an item of protective headgear, safety helmets are intimate to wear and, one can safely assume, purchased on the merits of their design and image as well as for the level of protection they provide. A mask, a glossy and imposing technical facade that represents our outward ‘face’ whilst riding a motorcycle or driving a racing car; Daft Punk have cultivated much of their image based on headgear that affords anonymity and projects a futuristic, humanoid aesthetic. [Read more…] about Classic Panoramic Headgear
About Time: Rodney Diggen’s Art
Gouache of Alberto Ascari Ferrari 500 British GP 1953.
Maybe we’ve done this backwards. Not the first time and we try to avoid it. But in the past months, Rodney and the editor have revealed to the readers a life of excitement, danger and art. We said he was an artist who worked for Thoroughbred and Classic Cars magazine, and we told of how the magazine was founded by Lionel Burrell and edited by Michael Bowler. [Read more…] about About Time: Rodney Diggen’s Art
Behind the Fence: Ferrari, 1960
London Concours 2026 Part 2
Ode to the Sportscar
By Robert Birmingham
Poet Laureate and Wisconsin’s 1960 Top Borgward Salesman
Photos by Glen Glendenning
24 Hours of Le Mans 2026, Hypercars
The three-time defending champions, representing the hopes of the Maranello firm thanks to the 499P, which is already making its fourth participation.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
This latest edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans posed a crucial question: would Ferrari achieve a fourth consecutive victory, following the wins of the #51 in 2023, the #50 in 2024, and the #83 last year?
24 Hours of Le Mans, LMGT3 and LMP2
The #74 of Kessel Racing for Blattner, Marschall and Lorenzo Patrese, another son of a former Grand Prix driver placed 9th at Le Mans.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
For the 2026 edition, 25 LMGT3s were entered, including the 18 competing in the full WEC championship. This represents nine manufacturers involved: Aston Martin, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche.
In the first two rounds of the WEC, McLaren particularly stood out, narrowly missing victory at Imola in the final hour due to a mechanical failure, but winning at Spa.
London Concours 2026
The Ups and Downs of the Sleeve Valve Engine
By Pete Vack
From the VeloceToday Archives, July, 2010
For the 1923 French GP, French car builder Gabriel Voisin and his ‘spiritual son’ André Lefebvre, entered four highly advanced race cars equipped with a 2 liter six cylinder Knight sleeve valve engine, which was a mainstay of his fabulous line of luxury cars. But what is a sleeve valve engine, who was Knight and why did Voisin choose such a layout, straight from the American heartland?