From a pre-war Citroën Traction Avant to Group B homologation specials and modern Porsche 911s, the latest Hagerty Hillclimb – held on May 17, 2025 – was a vivid showcase of the UK’s varied and enduring passion for cars.
The event took place at Shelsley Walsh in Worcestershire – the world’s oldest motor sport venue still in operation, having hosted its first competitive event back in 1905.
One hundred and twenty years later, more than 100 vehicles were once again charging up the same 914-metre course in a day defined by informal competition and camaraderie.
Hagerty’s organisers kindly invited me to take part in the ‘run-what-you-brung’ format, which I gladly accepted. Driving the near-kilometre course felt oddly evocative – especially as I sat on the start line, watching a marshal chock my rear-right tyre in my mirror.
Attempting the hill in my daily driver, a 2013 Audi TT TDi, certainly made me more cautious about the barriers lining the narrow track. I set a best time of 40.80 seconds on my second run, and called it a day. Age, after all, has taught me that it’s often best to quit while you’re ahead. You can see my run – rather amateurly filmed from my dashboard – below.
The relaxed format gave me ample time to explore the bevy of hillclimb cars gathered in the paddock, as well as the equally impressive display in the nearby field. Highlights included a pair of thunderous Ford GT40 replicas, a Lotus Elise powered by a supercharged Honda K20 engine (280bhp, if you’re wondering), a De Tomaso Pantera, and a smorgasbord of rally icons – among them a Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, Lancia Stratos and Lancia Delta Integrale.
Equally striking was the diversity of participants. It was heartening to see just as many young drivers in hot hatches and modern classics as seasoned enthusiasts in traditional sports cars and replicas. People of all ages bustled between Race Control and the paddock, checking their times and chatting.
The Hagerty Hillclimb is a brilliant example of the sort of grassroots motor sport that needs to be encouraged, when even karting is now so incredibly expensive and inaccessible to so many. We hope cars continue to charge up Shelsley Walsh for another 120 years, and we hope to see you there in a year’s time.
Dates for the 2026 Hagerty Hillclimb will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, click here.
