Classic Nostalgia 2026 drew crowds from across the UK to Shelsley Walsh on July 18-19 as the Worcestershire hillclimb – the world’s oldest motor sport venue still in use – hosted its 15th celebration of historic competition machinery.
The event paid tribute to the 25th anniversary of Richard Burns’ World Rally Championship title with demonstrations of the Englishman’s cars on the 1000-yard course. Leading the selection was X20 SRT, the very Impreza Burns drove alongside co-driver Robert Reid to championship glory. Richard’s 2000 Safari Rally-winning Impreza was also present, alongside the Talbot Sunbeam he campaigned as a teenager. All three came courtesy of Prodrive, the Banbury company that ran the Works Subarus for Burns, Colin McRae and Petter Solberg.
The honour of driving X20 SRT was granted to Burns’ godson Tom Williams, whose father David mentored the 2001 champion. Williams currently competes in the American Rally Association National Championship and hopes one day to reach the WRC himself. Adding further poignancy at Classic Nostalgia 2026 was the presence of Richard’s sister Jo Burns, who gathered with former Prodrive personnel for a startline photograph.
Rally fans had plenty more to savour thanks to the Ralli22 contingent, which fielded more than 30 Group A, Group B and World Rally Championship cars. These included a trio of Audi quattros, a Lancia Stratos, an MG Metro 6R4, an ex-Carlos Sainz Ford Escort RS Cosworth and ex-McRae machinery including a Subaru Impreza and a Ford Focus WRC.
Grand Prix history was represented by the Durex-liveried 1976 Surtees TS19, Rubens Barrichello’s 1997 Stewart SF1 and Michael Schumacher’s Benetton B192, the last of which was driven by Lorina McLaughlin, president of the British Women Racing Drivers’ Club.
The Jensen CV8 known as ‘The World’s Fastest Jensen’ appeared fresh from Bonneville, joined by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust’s Group 44 E-type plus Chaparral 2 and Lola T160 Can-Am cars, their V8s trading decibels with the visiting NASCARs. The gas turbine-powered Mannic Beattie Sports Libre consistently pulled big crowds, while the four-wheel-drive Hepworth FF returned to the venue where David Hepworth first broke the 30-second barrier in 1971.
Sunday’s Classic & Sports Car Concours attracted almost 100 pre-1985 entries. A panel comprising Simon Taylor, Hagerty’s John Mayhead and Classic & Sports Car‘s Ryan Standen named David Whyley’s 1950 Austin A90 Atlantic Best of Show, with Judges’ Choice going to a 1971 Datsun 510 and Spirit of the Show to a 1968 Morris Traveller. The Morgan Sports Car Club took the Best-Presented Car Club award.
A new addition for 2026 was the Historic Racing News Live Stage, which saw the likes of Le Mans winner Richard Attwood, John Fitzpatrick, Howden Ganley and former F1 racer Mike Wilds recall tales from their remarkable careers.
Classic Nostalgia returns to Shelsley Walsh in summer 2027.
