Image courtesy of Bonhams|Cars
For nearly three decades, Bonhams|Cars has been a defining presence during Monterey Car Week, anchoring the collector-car calendar with a sale that consistently draws the world’s most serious enthusiasts. Now, the auction house is entering a new era: Bonhams|Cars has signed a multi-year agreement with WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, extending a 15-year partnership and officially relocating its Monterey Car Week sale to one of the most storied circuits in motorsports history.
Beginning in August 2026, the Bonhams|Cars Monterey Car Week sale will become an integral part of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, one of the most prestigious events on the global historic racing calendar. The auction will take place on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, with public preview days held Aug. 11–12, coinciding with the Pre-Reunion race weekend that launches Monterey Car Week.
The move marks the first new venue for the Bonhams|Cars Monterey auction in 29 years, following its long-standing association with The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, in Carmel Valley. More significantly, it brings the worlds of elite collecting and historic competition closer than ever, offering a setting where provenance, performance, and pageantry intersect naturally.
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, named Motorsports Event of the Year at the 2025 International Historic Motoring Awards, is widely regarded as one of the world’s most respected historic racing events. Beyond its cultural significance, it delivers substantial economic impact to the Monterey Peninsula and draws a global audience of collectors, drivers, manufacturers, and tastemakers.
Bonhams|Cars’ relocation to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca places the auction directly within that atmosphere. Collectors will have the rare opportunity not only to acquire historically significant automobiles but also to experience them in motion at the legendary circuit – an increasingly important consideration for today’s enthusiast, who values experiential luxury as much as ownership.
“I’m delighted to confirm the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as the new home for the Bonhams|Cars sale in Monterey Car Week,” said Whitney Maxwell, Global Managing Director at Bonhams|Cars. “Monterey is one of our flagship global sales in the calendar and the location of the auction is hugely important. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is an outstanding venue that has seen significant investment in recent years and gives us almost limitless space to grow and develop our sales as the quality and volume of cars we consign for our Monterey Car Week sale develops.”
That sense of growth is central to the move. Laguna Seca’s expansive grounds and recent infrastructure investments allow Bonhams|Cars to scale its Monterey presence while maintaining the exclusivity expected at the top of the collector-car market. The partnership also builds upon Bonhams|Cars’ longstanding involvement with the Reunion, which dates back to 2011 and already includes support for the Drivers Lounge and other premium trackside activations.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bonhams|Cars as our official auction partner during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,” said Mel Harder, President and General Manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “Bonhams|Cars’ unparalleled heritage in the collector car market enhances the experience for our fans and participants, bringing world-class auctions to the iconic setting of Laguna Seca. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to celebrating automotive history and delivering exceptional experiences during one of the most anticipated weeks of the year – both here on the Monterey Peninsula and among automotive enthusiasts around the world.”
For Bonhams|Cars, the move reinforces its position as a global authority in the collector-car space. The auction house hosts 17 live auctions annually, participates in all major concours worldwide, and operates across live, online, and private-sale platforms. Its presence spans marquee events such as Goodwood, the Zoute Grand Prix, and the Formula 1 Paddock Club™, where Bonhams|Cars serves as the official auction partner.
As Monterey Car Week continues to evolve, the integration of Bonhams|Cars within the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion reflects a broader shift in luxury collecting – one that values authenticity, access, and experience as much as rarity. At Laguna Seca, the sound of historic engines, the gravity of motorsport history, and the theater of the auction block will now unfold in one unified setting, signaling a bold new chapter for one of the most important weeks in the automotive world.
