For true motoring enthusiasts, nothing beats the sight and the sounds of a particularly special, fast or rare car being driven on a track – particularly when the owner or racer is driving the car as it was intended to be driven.
Add into the mix one of the UK's fastest and most daunting racing circuits, and this becomes a truly mouth-watering cocktail.
Some say that track days are nothing new and that many of those fortunate enough to own some of the world's most amazing motoring cars have been using tracks for years. They're right, of course.
So, what makes Veloce different?
Veloce brings together former world champions and rare, incredibly valuable vehicles for a track day with a difference at the historic site of Goodwood. While the automotive aspect of the day is no doubt exciting, the main goal of the Veloce track day event is to raise money for its chosen charities: Hope for Tomorrow and The Halow Project.
Hope For Tomorrow provides mobile cancer care for patients, enabling them to receive treatment with as little disruption to their lives as possible. The Halow Project enables young people with learning disabilities to realise their potential via numerous projects ranging from social activities to support as they grow into adulthood. Find out more about the vital work these charities are doing here.
The Veloce event was created by car collector extraordinaire Peter Neumark with logistical support from Chris Bucknall and his team at V Management. Peter has spent many years involved with charitable endeavours and came up with the concept of a charity track day which could combine these efforts with an astonishing line-up of cars.
Since 2017, Veloce has raised over £350,000 for its chosen charities, including a staggering £95,000 in 2020 when both the charity and track day sectors, like so many, fell victim to Covid-19. During this period, we all had to re-focus and adapt to ensure that the charities did not suffer as a result of fund raising events having to be postponed.
During this time, Veloce partnered with www.collectingcars.com to create an incredible auction featuring items that money genuinely cannot buy, including an exclusive photoshoot with long-term Veloce supporters Damon Hill and Richard Attwood at Salon Prive.
Veloce was recognised at the prestigious Historic Motoring Awards in 2019, winning the coveted 'Breakthrough Event' category.
The organisation and logistics for Veloce are managed by Chris and his team at V Management, making sure that cars, drivers, event partners and guests have the best day possible.
What about the event itself?
We can't write about Veloce without talking about the cars and the people who support the event, whether it's providing a car or giving up their time to drive them (although the latter is a job we suspect many are only too happy to undertake…).
Where else can you find former world champions across various motorsport arenas driving cars as exciting and diverse as the Ferrari 250 GTO, McLaren P1 and pre-war Mercedes GP car? The 2019 event featured these and many more wonderful machines, assembled at the historic Goodwood circuit and with a collective value of at least £100 million.
And of course, the venue. Goodwood has been the backdrop to countless important motorsport moments since it was created shortly after the Second World War. Almost every driver of the golden era of post-war motor racing raced there and it's not fanciful to imagine Hawthorn, Hill, Moss and of course McLaren at this Mecca of all things petrol-powered.
Since it was carefully and painstakingly restored by Lord March during the 1990's, it has hosted the Revival and Members' meetings and it's fair to say that the former in particular is a step back in time to a pre-1966 era, such is the attention to detail employed by the Goodwood team.
This brings us to 2021. With lockdown easing and a gradual return to the motoring events we all know and love, Veloce is no exception; the track day date has now been confirmed as the 8 September. The cars and drivers are already being lined up, and if previous years are anything to go by, this won't be one to miss.
It doesn't end here however. V Management have confirmed details of a further two truly amazing events which will also raise money for Veloce's charities.
The first is The Derek Bell Tour. Hosted by the legendary sports car racer across five days, this event starts in Casino Square, Monaco, and will see 20 cars and their occupants drive through the timeless landscapes of Provence. The event combines the finest hotels, cuisine and wine, with roads that rank among the best in the world.
The tour culminates at the Saint-Tropez Polo Club, where guests will be invited to the inaugural Rendez-Vous Riviera. Co-hosted by Derek Bell and Jodie Kidd, this one-day event will bring together the finest cars, fashion, music, food, drink, and style. It also coincides with the annual classic yacht regatta – Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez and guests will be able to extend their stay to take part in this event.
Entry to Veloce and The Derek Bell Tour is now open, and tickets for Rendez-Vous Riviera (strictly limited to 600) will be on sale shortly. You can find more about these amazing events here.
Lockton is immensely proud to have sponsored Veloce since the beginning and we have committed to further support in 2021. Simon Ambler, Head of Lockton Performance, says:
“Veloce truly is a track day like no other. You won't find the same mix of cars and drivers anywhere else and the work the event has done for charity is genuinely amazing, particularly during the incredibly tough climate of 2020. We at Lockton can't wait for September and the 2021 Veloce track day and we look forward to meeting our guests and event partners again”.
For more details of Veloce, see here or contact Chris Bucknall and the team at V Management. chris@v-management.com
Event Details:
Veloce Track Day
Date: 8th September 2021
Venue: Goodwood Historic Race Course