Lime Rock Park’s Historic Festival 44 to Celebrate Alfa Romeo in 2026

Historic Trans Am and Formula Junior announced as Featured Race Groups for HF44

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (15 October 2025) — Following a record-breaking year that drew the largest Historic Festival crowd and participant entry in recent history, Lime Rock Park is already looking ahead to 2026. The 44th running of Historic Festival will return Labor Day weekend (Sept.3-7, 2026), celebrating Alfa Romeo as the featured marque and showcasing Historic Trans Am and Formula Junior as the event’s featured race groups.

“Historic Festival continues to be one of Lime Rock Park’s signature events, celebrating the beauty, competition and camaraderie that define vintage racing,” said Lime Rock Park President and CEO Dicky Riegel. “The growth we saw this year reflects the passion of our community and the dedication of everyone who helps bring this weekend to life. It’s inspiring to see new generations experience and appreciate the past in such a vibrant way. As we look ahead to 2026, honoring Alfa Romeo and welcoming back Historic Trans Am and Formula Junior will make the Festival even more special.”

Historic Festival 43 (HF43) was one for the record books. With 36 races across nine groups, three special exhibitions from the Ragtime Racers, more than 300 race entries representing 32 states and three countries, 125 parade participants and featured collections from Rob Dyson, Ernie Boch, PCARMarket and the Hemmings Experience, the legendary Connecticut circuit hosted its largest gathering of vintage cars in modern history. Nearly 1,000 rare and classic automobiles and motorcycles participated in Sunday in The Park, drawing thousands of fans to the property and also setting a new modern-day attendance record for the event.

The five-day weekend began with the sold-out Historic Festival Vintage Parade presented by NBT Bank and Falls Village Inn. More than 300 entrants applied to participate, narrowed down to 125 by Skip Barber, for the 17-mile procession through the Litchfield Hills that ended with a street fair in Falls Village where NEFT Vodka, the Park’s Official Vodka, and Foolproof Brewery served the signature HF43 Märzen-style lager, Analog.

Competition across the weekend included the return of the Toyo Tire Turn of the Century World Challenge class, the addition of the Del Monte Trophy Group to the War Era class and memorable lunchtime exhibitions from the Ragtime Racers, a pre-war IndyCar group. Triumph’s running of The Kastner Cup added even more excitement, while Grand Marshal Rob Dyson and Honored Guest David Hobbs joined fans and drivers throughout the weekend’s celebrations.

Friday night’s Competitor Dinner featured a standing-room-only panel hosted by Mike Joy, Dyson, Hobbs and Bob Varsha, where John Finch and Sam Posey were inducted into the Legends of Lime Rock Park.

“What a weekend it was, we had much to be grateful for in 2025,” said Historic Festival Event Chairman Skip Barber. “Our competitors filled nearly every race group, our fans came from around the country and the support from our staff, volunteers and partners helped us deliver an event that truly captured the spirit of Lime Rock Park. It’s because of our community that the Historic Festival continues to grow and thrive.”

The 2026 edition promises to carry that momentum forward. With Alfa Romeo taking center stage, the Festival will honor 116 years of passion, innovation and racing excellence that have defined one of the world’s most storied marques while spotlighting the Historic Trans Am and Formula Junior classes in two can’t-miss race group features.

Racing legend Dorsey Schroeder, a former Trans Am competitor and current Vintage Sports Car Club of America (VSCCA) Racing Director for the Historic Festival, shares a unique connection to the event. One of his original Trans Am cars is expected to be on the grid when the series returns to Lime Rock Park next year.

“It’s awesome to hear that Historic Trans Am is returning to Historic Festival,” said Schroeder. “The last time they were here, they put on a fantastic show. It’s the cars I drove and how I made my career. It’s very special to Lime Rock, it’s very special to the fans who remember that time and it’s very special to me. I don’t feel historic though, but Trans Am has a special place in my heart and always will. To see my old car still running is really special.”

Historic Festival 44 will once again combine five days of on and off track action with the region’s most anticipated vintage racing traditions.

Registration details, schedules and additional features will be announced in the months ahead.

For more information about Lime Rock Park and Historic Festival 44, visit limerock.com