F1Weekly Podcast # 1161
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM…
MAX PREPARES FOR HIS LAST DUTCH GRAND PRIX!
PRETTY BOY GEORGE PREPARES TO GET HIS ASS WOOPED
CADILLAC PULLS OUT THE “YOUR FIRED” LOWDON GETS HIS PINK SLIP… AND
FERNANDO SAYS…I’LL SEE YOU IN 2027…
THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER….INTERVIEW WITH SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS AND, WE REMEMBER DANIKA PATRICK’S WIN AT MOTEGI JAPAN!
Ericsson Undeniable in Markham
to End 63-Race Drought.
MARKHAM, Ontario (Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026) – Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson wasn’t to be denied victory in the new Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham even as it meant tormenting a longtime rival.
Ericsson charged through the field late in the 90-lap Canadian race to hunt down and pass Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean for a victory.
SEE: Race Results
Ericsson scored his fifth career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory while denying Grosjean his first. Grosjean was trying to reach the top step of the podium only to come one step short for the sixth time. Coincidentally, Grosjean’s last win of any kind came in a GP2 series race in Hungary in 2011. Ericsson finished fifth in that race.
Ericsson’s victory here came 10 days after being confirmed to return to Andretti Global for a fourth season. It also ended his 63-race drought dating back to his 2023 season-opening victory in St. Petersburg.
“It’s been long enough,” Ericsson said. “It doesn’t come as much of a surprise. We’ve had such a good year. We’ve been working every weekend, getting stronger and stronger, qualifying up front every weekend. We might not have got the results we deserved every weekend, but I really felt we deserved (this).”
Ericsson’s voice cracked during the interview, which he blamed on screaming too much after taking the checkered flag. But he said it was a bold and aggressive drive over those challenging street-course laps.
“We were the fastest car all day, I thought,” he said. “Obviously, there were a lot of (cautions), so we had to stay out (longer on the final sequence). I wanted to show the pace and open a gap, so we gambled on staying out. I had the pace and we were lapping so quick (after coming out of the pits on Lap 69) seventh. It was a lot of work to get through the leaders.”
In that charge was contact in the Turn 5 hairpin with Andretti Global teammate Will Power for third place. Ericsson called the hard bump “unfortunate,” but Power said he understood.
Said Ericsson: “You never want that, but I had to get through. I knew I could win this race.”
Ericsson won another race like this. In 2021, he emerged as the winner of a trouble-filled first race on Nashville’s streets that included his car getting airborne vertically. The winner of the 2022 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge now has four street course victories.
Grosjean settled for second place – his best since finishing second at Barber Motorsports Park in 2023. Power finished third with series points leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing taking fourth and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward fifth.
“We did everything we could,” said Grosjean, who led 28 laps and scored his first top-five finish of 2026. “I wanted to (keep Palou in second place) – I knew (with that gap) it was safe. But then (Ericsson) came … unfortunately that (wasn’t our) day. But on to the next one.”
Several other drivers could say the same.
The race of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster had a tragic ending. He started from the pole for the second time in his career – the other was at Road America last year – and built a lead of nearly 3 seconds in leading the first 32 laps. But a caution spoiled that as all of the other frontrunners had pitted a couple of laps earlier, shuffling him to 12th place.
Foster wasn’t to be deterred, and he came charging back. He had moved up eight positions and was stalking Ericsson for third place when they approached Turn 3 on Lap 43. Foster went to the inside, but he clipped the left-side wall, contact which shot him straight into the concrete barrier on the right. The impact was virtually head-on, a major shunt. Fortunately, he was not injured.
That spot in the track similarly claimed Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, who was running third behind his two teammates. His impact was just as fierce.
Kirkwood’s 21st-place finish allowed Palou to pull even farther ahead in pursuit of his fourth consecutive championship and fifth in six years despite starting outside the top 10 for the first time in 30 races (nearly two full seasons). Now, with four races to go, Palou leads Kirkwood by a nearly insurmountable 133 points with Team Penske’s David Malukas third, 137 points in arrears. Malukas finished this race a lap down in 17th place.
The new 12-turn, 2.1-mile street circuit seemed to offer the right balance of action and reaction, with a fair amount of race-turning calamity. The track produced 258 on-track passes with 242 of those for position – the most on-record in the event, which dates back to 1986 when the INDYCAR SERIES made its debut on the Streets of Toronto. As expected, the Turn 5 hairpin was a hot spot, with several instances of cars coming together.
One of the most significant contacts in that corner featured rookie Dennis Hauger of Dale Coyne Racing bumping Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen and then O’Ward. That was Lap 20, and it was part of Hauger’s fade through the field.
Last year’s INDY NXT by Firestone champion started the race from the fifth position and was still there when his two-lap slide began. It started with Palou passing him, but then Malukas did and before he knew it, he was 20th. Later, Hauger clipped the rear tire of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, who hit Rasmussen, drawing a caution.
Another of the contacts in Turn 5 saw Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel charge too deep into the braking zone, where he struck the car of Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden. Siegel was penalized for avoidable contact.
It wasn’t a good day for first-year series drivers. AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet had contact with Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian on Lap 1, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher drew the race’s first caution on Lap 15 when he pounded the Turn 4 wall.
The turnaround is quick as the series sprints to season’s end. Next weekend, the 25 car-and-driver combinations make their anticipated appearance in the U.S. capital city with the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. The pre-race show on FOX begins at 11:30 a.m. ET with the race shortly after 1 p.m.
DS AUTOMOBILES CONCLUDES ITS INCREDIBLE FORMULA E ADVENTURE THIS WEEKEND IN LONDON
- The grand finale of Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship takes place this weekend in London
- Having maximised its electric technology learnings and built up an exceptional record over 11 years of competition, DS Automobiles will contest its final pair of Formula E races
- To mark the occasion, Maximilian Günther and Taylor Barnard will drive a DS E-TENSE FE25 featuring a special livery
On 15 and 16 August, the ExCeL exhibition centre in London’s Newham district will host the final two races of Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. For the fourth consecutive year, this remarkable circuit with its unique indoor section provides a dramatic backdrop to the twists and turns that characterise the all-electric racing series.
At this final weekend of the season, German driver Maximilian Günther and his British team-mate Taylor Barnard will take the wheel of an exclusive DS E-TENSE FE25 with a detailed gold livery especially created for DS Automobiles and PENSKE AUTOSPORT’s final event.
The DS PENSKE team’s last two events will also be the final Formula E races for DS Automobiles. Joining in Season 2 as the first premium brand ever to enter the championship, DS has built an exceptional sporting pedigree against some of the world’s biggest manufacturers to hold the most successful track record in the series, thanks to two double titles, 18 victories, 55 podiums, 26 pole positions and a record seven podiums in the Teams’ Championship. Now, after 11 years of electric competition and technology transfer, DS Automobiles closes its remarkable Formula E chapter at the end of Sunday.
To celebrate this final fling, DS Automobiles will display the three single-seaters that have showcased the brand’s championship history at the ExCeL centre. These Generation 1, 2 and 3 cars (DSV-01, DS E-TENSE FE19 and DS E-TENSE FE25) are set to delight both Formula E fans and passionate supporters of the French marque.
The races will take place on Saturday and Sunday at 16:00 CET (15:00 local time).
Bastien Schupp, Director of Marketing and Communications, DS Automobiles:
“This final event of the season also marks the end of DS Automobiles’ magnificent adventure in Formula E. After 11 seasons that have enabled the brand to establish itself as the manufacturer with the most successful record in the history of the series, we can feel proud to have fully achieved the objectives we set ourselves back in 2015. Today, we leave with major learnings in the fields of electrified powertrains, energy management, and overall efficiency of onboard systems. These intense years of electric competition, highlighted by records and standout performances, have always provided a tremendous accelerator for innovation at DS Automobiles. The technologies proven in the championship also help feed into research and development of our production models, as shown in particular by our latest creations: DS N°4, DS N°7 and DS N°8, offering up to 750 kilometres of electric range. Now we head towards a brand new era of innovation and emotion with SailGP!”
Key figures since DS Automobiles entered Formula E:
- 152 races
- 4 championship titles
- 18 victories
- 55 podiums
- 26 pole positions
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER OF OUR 2026 COMPETITION!
Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster Named Best of Show at the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
2026 Total Charitable Donations Surpass $50 Million!
Shown by Harry Yeaggy
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August 16, 2026) — The collector car world’s top prize, Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, was awarded today to a Duesenberg SSJ originally owned by Clark Gable. The 75th celebration also reached a major milestone, surpassing $50 million in total charitable giving.
This year, 218 cars—including 33 international entries from 14 countries and 185 US entries from 30 states—pulled onto the competition field. The winning 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster was shown by Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, Ohio.
“Duesenberg often tops the list of desires for people with a passion for American classics, and the iconic SSJ is the marque’s ultimate expression,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. “This Special Speedster, one of just two made, offers both style and performance—and has a fantastic Hollywood backstory.”
The SSJ embodies the dramatic styling of the era, with its sweeping hood line and rakish, aerodynamic windshield. It has been recently restored to its initial presentation, with a black lacquer finish and a light saddle leather interior.
“I won once before, 19 years ago, but I appreciate it a lot better now,” said Yeaggy. “I appreciate the hard work it took and the time it took to get here. People don’t realize how hard it is, how special it is, to win this award. It’s amazing.”
Yeaggy won Best of Show with the 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster known as the “Mormon Meteor” in 2007. Duesenberg retains its status as the Pebble Beach Concours’ winningest American marque, now having earned a total of eight Best of Show trophies.
In an interesting twist, today served as a homecoming of sorts: “I found out recently,” said Yeaggy, “that the second owner lived right here on the point in Pebble Beach. He owned the car for almost 12 years, so this car has come back home today.”
This year’s race for Best of Show featured several strong contenders, including the 1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet shown by The Pearl Collection of Baar, Switzerland; the 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta shown by the Heinecke Family Collection of Bangkok, Thailand; and the 1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet shown by RQ Collections of The Woodlands, Texas.
The Pebble Beach Concours has already raised more than $4.3 million for charity this year, bringing the event’s total charitable donations to $50,154,192 to date. More than half of that total has been raised in the past decade. Through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the primary charitable partner of the Concours, these funds will benefit more than 130 local nonprofits dedicated to improving the education, health, and well-being of children throughout Monterey County.
Gooding Christie’s, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for the 22nd year, concluded its highest grossing sale since the company’s inception. The auction house realized over $159 million in sales with a 94% sell-through rate. The top lot of this year’s car week, the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe set a record as the most valuable American car ever sold at auction. It also became the most valuable car ever sold by Gooding Christie’s at auction, achieving nearly $43 million.
The 76th Celebration of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, to be held at The Lodge at Pebble Beach on August 15, 2027, will celebrate the centennial of Delage’s Grand Prix–winning season with a stunning selection of cars from that marque, Prewar Open-Front Town Cars, 40 Years of the Ferrari F40, and an exceptional class of Delahayes. Additional special classes and further details will be announced this fall.
For more information on the Pebble Beach Concours visit pebblebeachconcours.net.
Complete List of 2026 Winners
BEST OF SHOW
1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster, Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati, Ohio
BEST OF SHOW NOMINEES
1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet, The Pearl Collection, Baar, Switzerland
1955 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta, Heinecke Family Collection, Bangkok, Thailand
1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet, RQ Collections, The Woodlands, Texas
ELEGANCE AWARDS
Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible
1935 Duesenberg J Rollston Convertible Coupe
The Singleton Collection, Costa Mesa, California
B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car
1937 Talbot-Lago T150 C-SS Figoni et Falaschi Teardrop Coupé
William E. (Chip) Connor, Hong Kong
Jules Heumann Most Elegant Open Car
1937 Bentley 4¼ Litre Vanden Plas Sports Tourer
Harsh Pati Singhania, New Delhi, India
Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car
1953 Fiat 8V Ghia Supersonic
Private Collection, San Francisco, California
SPECIAL AWARDS
Alec Ulmann Trophy
1934 Hispano-Suiza J12 Fernandez et Darrin Coupé de Ville
Anne Brockinton Lee/The Lee Collection, Sparks, Nevada
Ansel Adams Award
1931 Pierce-Arrow 42B Seven-Passenger Tourer
Nishant Dossa, Mumbai, India
ArtCenter College of Design Award
1974 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale Coupé
David & Erin Eichenbaum, St. Petersburg, Florida
Briggs Cunningham Trophy
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spider
Dr. Richard Workman, Windermere, Florida
Chairman’s Trophy
1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta
Jon & Kim Shirley, Medina, Washington
Charles A. Chayne Trophy
1938 Tatra T77A Limousine
Bruce R. McCaw, Bellevue, Washington
Classic Car Club of America Trophy
1934 Buick 98C Fisher Convertible Phaeton
The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Dean Batchelor Trophy
1954 MG R2 Ken Miles “Flying Shingle” Special
Bill Hart, Carnation, Washington
Elegance in Motion Trophy
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta
Revs Institute, Naples, Florida
Enzo Ferrari Trophy
1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa Scaglietti Spyder
Larry Solomon, Napa, California
FIVA Prewar Trophy
1930 Cord L-29 Murphy Town Car
Dano Davis, Jacksonville, Florida
FIVA Postwar Trophy
1963 Jaguar E-type Fixed Head Coupé
Buzz & Julia Lynn, Reno, Nevada
The French Cup
1937 Dubonnet Xenia Saoutchik Aerodynamic Coupé
Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, California
Gran Turismo Trophy
1961 Ferrari 250 GT Sperimentale Pininfarina Coupe
Bruce R. McCaw, Bellevue, Washington
The LAP of Luxury Award
1955 Lancia Nardi Blue Ray I Vignale Coupe
Private Collection
Lincoln Trophy
1942 Lincoln Continental Darrin Cabriolet
Kevin Bischoff, Vancouver, Washington
Lorin Tryon Trophy
Tom Peck, Irvine, California
Lucius Beebe Trophy
1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Hooper Tourer
OldiBox, Menzingen, Switzerland
Mercedes-Benz Star of Excellence Award
1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SC Pinin Farina Coupe
Fred & Donna Kriz, Monaco
Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy
1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Freestone & Webb Drophead Coupé
Bill & Adriana Hayward & The Hayward Family, Carmel, California
The Phil Hill Cup
1950 Jaguar XK120 Don Parkinson Special
Derek Hill, Ojai, California
Tony Hulman Trophy
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Scaglietti Berlinetta
David SK Lee, Walnut, California
Pininfarina Trophy
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Pinin Farina Cabriolet
Julio Grosso, Danbury, Connecticut
CLASS AWARDS
A: Antique
1st: 1904 Rolls-Royce 10 HP Barker Park Phaeton, Terry Bramall, Harrogate, United Kingdom
2nd: 1910 Glide 45 HP Scout Touring, Ross & Beth Myers, Boyertown, Pennsylvania
3rd: 1908 Packard 30 Four Roadster, Bill Parfet, Hickory Corners, Michigan
B: Early Speedsters (Pre-World War I)
1st: 1913 Mercer 35 J Raceabout, Steve Adler, New Vernon, New Jersey
2nd: 1913 National Semi-Racing Roadster, Jim Grundy, Horsham, Pennsylvania
3rd: 1912 Moon 30 Raceabout, Leland F. Powels, Cambria, California
C-1: American Classic Open
1st: 1942 Lincoln Continental Darrin Cabriolet, Kevin Bischoff, Vancouver, Washington
2nd: 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster, DuCoing Family, Anaheim, California
3rd: 1933 Cadillac 452C V-16 Fleetwood Convertible Sedan, Stephen Brauer, St. Louis, Missouri
C-2: American Classic Closed
1st: 1931 Packard 845 Deluxe Eight Dietrich Sport Sedan, Rob & Jeannie Hilarides, Visalia, California
2nd: 1932 Marmon Sixteen LeBaron Coupe, Nicholas & Shelley Schorsch of the Audrain Collections
3rd: 1931 REO Royale 8-48 Dietrich Newport Sport Sedan, A. J. & Pam SanClemente, Northborough, Massachusetts
C-3: 1933 Century of Progress Exhibition
1st: 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve “Car of the Dome” Dietrich Sport Sedan, The Bob Bahre Collection, Paris, Maine
2nd: 1936 Cadillac Series 90 V-16 Fleetwood Aerodynamic Coupe, Lehrman Collection, Palm Beach, Florida
3rd: 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow Sedan, Chris & Teresa George, Fremont, California
D: Packard
1st: 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Individual Custom Dietrich Convertible Roadster, John Groendyke, Enid, Oklahoma
2nd: 1941 Packard 1906 Custom Super Eight One-Eighty Darrin Convertible Victoria, George Myers, Saint Helena, California
3rd: 1930 Packard 745 Deluxe Eight Roadster, Craig Kappel & Meg McCarthy, Orlando, Florida
E: Streamliner (Pre-World War II)
1st: 1934 Hispano-Suiza J12 Fernandez et Darrin Coupé de Ville, Anne Brockinton Lee/The Lee Collection, Sparks, Nevada
2nd: 1932 Austro Daimler ADR8 Oeffag Alpine Sedan, The Nethercutt Collection, Sylmar, California
3rd: 1932 Duesenberg J Bohman & Schwartz Streamline Coupe, The Keller Collection at the Pyramids, Petaluma, California
F: Automobiles of Royal India
1st: 1929 Mercedes-Benz 630K Sports Tourer, Hemant Kumar Ruia, Mumbai, India
2nd: 1934 Packard 1101 Eight Seven-Passenger Tourer, Rajiv Kehr, Gurgaon, India
3rd: 1931 Pierce-Arrow 42B Seven-Passenger Tourer, Nishant Dossa, Mumbai, India
G: Duesenberg
1st: 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster, Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati, Ohio
2nd: 1932 Duesenberg J Murphy Convertible Coupe, Tom Maoli/The Maoli Collection, Mendham, New Jersey
3rd: 1926 Duesenberg A Schutte Roadster, Perry Pintzow, Albuquerque, New Mexico
H: Rolls-Royce Prewar
1st: 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Barker Tourer, Harry & Heather Clark, Paradise Valley, Arizona
2nd: 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall Tourer, Joe & Janice Conzonire, San Marino, California
3rd: 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Freestone & Webb Drophead Coupé, Bill & Adriana Hayward & The Hayward Family, Carmel, California
J-1: European Classic Under 4 Liters
1st: 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Speed Martin Walter Tourer, Edward Gregory, Bernardsville, New Jersey
2nd: 1937 Delahaye 135 Chapron Coupé des Alpes, The Sport Clips Collection, Georgetown, Texas
3rd: 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spider, Dr. Richard Workman, Windermere, Florida
J-2: European Classic Over 4 Liters
1st: 1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet, The Pearl Collection, Baar, Switzerland
2nd: 1925 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Castagna Cabriolet d’Orsay, Museu Carde, Campos do Jordão, Brazil
3rd: 1939 Lagonda V12 James Young Sedanca Coupé, Martin Moore, Englewood, Colorado
L-1: Prewar Preservation
1st: 1930 Cord L-29 Murphy Town Car, Dano Davis, Jacksonville, Florida
2nd: 1916 Crane-Simplex Model 5 Farnham & Nelson Dual Cowl Phaeton, Stephen & Susan Babinsky, Lebanon, New Jersey
3rd: 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C Gurney Nutting Sports Saloon, Susan & William Evans, Del Mar, California
L-2: Postwar Preservation
1st: 1974 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale Coupé, David & Erin Eichenbaum, St. Petersburg, Florida
2nd: 1973 Porsche 911 Carerra RS 2.7 Lightweight, HS Motorcars, Helena, Montana
3rd: 1954 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Berlinetta, Charals & Diana Haagen, Los Angeles, California
M-1: Ferrari Competition: Chinetti/NART
1st: 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta, Anne Brockinton Lee/The Lee Collection, Sparks, Nevada
2nd: 1961 Ferrari 250 TRI/61 Fantuzzi Spyder, Scuderia N.E., Stamford, Connecticut
3rd: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Sperimentale Pininfarina Coupe, Bruce R. McCaw, Bellevue, Washington
M-2: Ferrari Competition
1st: 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Scaglietti Coupe, David & Melissa MacNeil, Manalapan, Florida
2nd: 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Competizione/335 GT Scaglietti Spyder, Chris & Ann Cox, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
3rd: 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Scaglietti Berlinetta Competizione, Larry & Anne Page, Crozier, Virginia
M-3: Ferrari Grand Touring
1st: 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta, Heinecke Family Collection, Bangkok, Thailand
2nd: 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” Scaglietti Berlinetta, Michael Regalia, Sun Valley, California
3rd: 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Scaglietti Berlinetta, Chuck Akre, Washington, Virginia
M-4: Ferrari Vignale
1st: 1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet, RQ Collections, The Woodlands, Texas
2nd: 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Vignale Coupe, Anton J G Bilton, Gstaad, Switzerland
3rd: 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Vignale Berlinetta, Santiago Martinez, Madrid, Spain
N: Vignale
1st: 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 C Super Sprint Vignale Cabriolet “La Flèche”, Michelle & Steve Wolf, Wayland, Massachusetts
2nd: 1953 Siata 208 CS Vignale Coupe, Don Bernstein & Patt Taylor, Clark’s Summit, Pennsylvania
3rd: 1950 Abarth 205A2 Vignale Berlinetta, Wolfgang Biedermann, Hamburg, Germany
O-1: Postwar Sports Racing
1st: 1948 Cisitalia 202 Corsa Farina Coupé, Ed Godshalk, Newberg, Oregon
2nd: 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe, Juan J. Escalante/Carlos J. Acosta, Miami, Florida
3rd: 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS Coupe, Richard Mershad, New Albany, Ohio
O-2: Postwar Sports Touring
1st: 1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Coupé, William E. (Chip) Connor, Hong Kong
2nd: 1965 Iso Grifo A3/C Berlinetta, Thierry Halff, Gy, Switzerland
3rd: 1953 Fiat 8V Ghia Supersonic, Private Collection, San Francisco, California
O-3: Postwar Luxury Touring
1st: 1948 Tucker 48 Sedan, Matthew Katz, Los Angeles, California
2nd: 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SC Pinin Farina Coupe, Fred & Donna Kriz, Monaco
3rd: 1951 Bentley Mark VI Park Ward Drophead Coupé, Rajiv Kehr, Gurgaon, India
P: Japanese Motorsport
1st: 1985 Toyota 85C L Longtail Le Mans Coupe, Hisashi Kunie, Gifu-City, Japan
2nd: 2010 Honda HPD ARX-01c Le Mans Prototype, Robert “Bob” Neapole, Santa Clarita, California
3rd: 1990 Toyota Eagle HF89 IMSA GTP Coupe, Anthony McIntosh
R-1: Pebble Beach Road Race Production
1st: 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Vignale Spyder, The Cultivated Collector, New Canaan, Connecticut
2nd: 1955 OSCA MT4-TN Barchetta, Elad Shraga, Savyon, Israel
3rd: 1952 Jaguar C-type Roadster, Jack Croul Collection, Newport Beach, California
R-2: Pebble Beach Road Race Special
1st: 1950 HWM-Chevrolet “Stovebolt Special”, Simon & Pearl Taylor, London, United Kingdom
2nd: 1952 MG R1 Ken Miles Special, Hart Family, Redmond, Washington
3rd: 1953 Glasspar Mameco-Ardun Bill Tritt Special, Montse Andrade, Villafranca del Castillo, Spain
$43 Million Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe Comes Out on Top at 2026 Car Week Across All Auction Sales, Becomes Highest-Grossing American Car of All Time!
Gooding Christie’s conducts highest-grossing auction to date with over $159 million realized in total sales and the most valuable car ever sold by the auction house, the ex-Carroll Shelby 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, sold for $42.9 million.
Pebble Beach, Calif. (August 17, 2026) – Throughout an exceptionally successful week of transacting on the Monterey Peninsula, Gooding Christies, global market leader and official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, led the market with its highest-grossing sale of all time, achieving over $159 million on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15. The 22nd Pebble Beach Auctions saw a sales total indicating a 24% increase from the previous year, with 158 lots sold and a 94% sell-through rate. 28 lots were sold for over $1 million, and the average price per lot sold was $1,005,681 – a 19% increase from the previous year.
The uncontested standout of car week was the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, which set a new world record for American cars by a margin of over $20 million, selling for an all-in figure of $42.9 million. The previous record was set by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2018 with the ex-Gary Cooper 1935 Duesenberg SSJ, which sold for $22 million. The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe also became the most valuable car ever sold by Gooding Christie’s at auction – previously, this was the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold by the firm at Pebble Beach in 2025 for over $25 million.
Additional top-sellers throughout the weekend were a number of highly significant postwar European sports cars with notable period race history, important provenance, and lasting legacies in the world of motorsports. This included the record-setting 1963 Ferrari 250 P, sold for $18,705,000, the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione, sold for $8,090,000, and the 1968 Porsche 907 Langheck, sold for $3,305,000. World record prices were also commanded by the 1959 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage, which achieved $4,240,000, and the 1952 Ferrari 225 Sport ‘Tuboscocca’ Spider, which sold for $4,295,000.
Estates and collections performed spectacularly well at the sale, with 100% of offerings from the Brian Brunkhorst Collection and the Mullin Collection finding new homes. The top seller from the Brian Brunkhorst Collection was the elegant 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Lungo Spider, which sold for $3,305,000, and the 1930 Bugatti Type 43A Roadster led the sales for the Mullin Collection offerings, achieving $1,270,000.
The health of the market was proven across the entire range of offerings from various segments during the two-day sale, including modern selections, as evidenced by the 2020 Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Edition Noire’, which sold for $3,442,500, the 2024 Ferrari 812 Competizione, which achieved $2,535,000, and the 1989 Porsche 911 Classic Turbo Reimagined by Singer, which sold for $1,902,500.
Gooding Christie’s President, David Gooding, said: “Our continued trajectory of significant growth, with a solid increase each year in total sales, is one to be celebrated. This year, we saw not only our strongest auction ever – with our highest grossing sales total since inception – but also the single most valuable car we’ve ever sold on the auction block. The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe became the most valuable American car of all time by a 95% increase over the previous record, which we so memorably set at this same venue eight years prior.”
David Brynan, Gooding Christie’s Senior Specialist, said: “The results at Pebble Beach demonstrated that the market rewards substance. The quality of our offering, and the sophistication of the collectors who responded to it, speaks to the standards for presenting important, historic cars that we have established as a leader in a saturated market. At this uppermost level of quality and significance, the cars do not need to be over-sold; their histories speak for themselves, and the results they garner confirm their lasting value.”
Looking Ahead
Gooding Christie’s will debut its inaugural New York sale as the official auction house of Rétromobile New York, taking place November 19–22, 2026. Gooding Christie’s Rétromobile New York Auctions are set to take place on Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22 at the world-famous Javits Center. The auction house continues to welcome consignments for this upcoming sale, subject to availability.
In early 2027, Gooding Christie’s will return to Paris as the official auction house of Rétromobile, the foremost European automotive event, before its annual Amelia Island Auctions in March. For inquiries regarding consignment to any forthcoming Gooding Christie’s auction, please contact the specialist and administrative support team via goodingco.com.
DONINGTON PARK GP SETS THE STAGE FOR CRUCIAL WEEKEND IN 2026 CAMPAIGN.
Now or never for the chasing pack as Sutton looks to tighten title grip
The 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship heads to Donington Park this weekend (22/23 August), returning to the scene of the action-packed season opener, but this time around it’s on the iconic GP layout.
It was Adam Morgan, Ash Sutton and Tom Chilton who shared the victories last time out, with the middle man extending his championship advantage over Tom Ingram and Dan Cammish.
Now, the full Donington Park Grand Prix circuit awaits as the season begins its run towards the finale.
Familiar Ground, Different Stakes
Donington Park provides a familiar setting this weekend, but the 2.49-mile Grand Prix configuration offers a very different test to the National circuit which opened the campaign back in April.
The longer configuration returned to the BTCC calendar in 2023 after more than two decades away, adding the Melbourne section and its heavy braking zones to the familiar rush through Redgate, the Craner Curves and the Old Hairpin. Three years on, the GP circuit once again arrives at a crucial stage of the season, with just four events remaining in the 2026 title fight.
Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK – Ford) heads back to a layout where he won the opening race on its championship return three years ago and still holds the quickest Qualifying lap there of 1m33.154s. This time, however, the four-time champion arrives with an 81-point advantage and the opportunity to take another significant step towards a record fifth Drivers’ crown.
Tom Ingram (Team VERTU – Hyundai) is the driver with the clearest task of stopping him. The reigning champion sits second on 246 points and won around the Grand Prix circuit last season, while his 1m33.621s effort from the same weekend is the current race lap record. With opportunities to close Sutton down beginning to run out, Donington offers an important chance to turn proven pace at the venue into a championship gain.
Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK – Ford) has his own recent Donington success to draw upon, having taken victory on the GP layout in 2024. Just 13 points now separate the #27 from Ingram, meaning another strong weekend could move the Yorkshireman into second while simultaneously strengthening NAPA Racing UK’s hand at the top of the Teams’ standings. The trio at the top of the standings have each taken two triumphs around the GP layout, the joint-most of any driver on the 2026 grid.
The battle immediately behind the leading trio is even tighter. Ricky Collard (Team VERTU – Hyundai) arrives fourth on 180 points, with Charles Rainford (WSR – BMW) on 169 and Mikey Doble (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing – Audi) on 167. Doble also returns to Donington having taken victory on the National circuit at the opening event of 2026, although the extended GP configuration presents a very different challenge this weekend.
That fight extends further down the order too, with just 30 points covering fourth to tenth in the Drivers’ Championship. Doble also arrives at Donington at the head of the Independent Drivers’ standings, while Dexter Patterson (Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing – Audi) leads the way in the Jack Sears Trophy.
Saturday’s ‘Race to Pole’ means points are available before Sunday’s three contests even begin, adding another layer of importance to a weekend where recent Donington history, current form and an increasingly urgent title fight are set to collide.
TV, Timetables and Tickets
Complementing the tin top racing will be a sensational line-up of support series, as the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, F4 British Championship certified by FIA MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and the Caterham Seven Championship UK complete the schedule of exciting races.
BTCC will be wowing the crowds both trackside and at home, with Saturday’s ‘Race to Pole’ and the earlier qualifying session being streamed live via ITV Sport’s YouTube Channel from 1400, before ITV4‘s seven-and-a-half-hour race day broadcast gets underway at 1100 on Sunday.
Remember, continuing what started for the first time in the championship’s history in 2025, the BTCC is being broadcast globally with every race being streamed live in 2026 via the BTCC YouTube Channel, whilst fans in North America can watch the action on the Racer Network. Look out for the races on Sunday starting at 1145, 1445 and 1730 (BST).
