Bonhams has confirmed that its long-running Monterey auction will move to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca from 2026, ending a 29-year association with The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. The change will see the sale staged directly within the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, placing the auction at the heart of one of the world’s most important historic racing events.
The auction will take place on Thursday 13 August 2026, with public previews held during the pre-Reunion race days on 11-12 August. The move forms part of a new multi-year agreement with Laguna Seca and builds on Bonhams’ existing 15-year relationship with the circuit.
By relocating trackside, Bonhams aims to align its Monterey offering more closely with the historic motorsport culture that underpins the week. Consigned cars will be displayed within the circuit environment, surrounded by period competition machinery racing throughout the Reunion.
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion has become a cornerstone of Monterey Car Week, attracting an international field of historically significant racing cars, manufacturers, collectors and drivers. The event was named Motorsports Event of the Year at the 2025 International Historic Motoring Awards.
Bonhams Laguna Seca also offers greater physical flexibility than the auction’s former home. The expanded space allows Bonhams|Cars to improve logistics, presentation and scale, while supporting continued growth in consignments as demand for top-tier collector cars remains strong across both competition and road-car segments.
The sale will sit within a broader Bonhams|Cars presence at the circuit, where the auction house already supports several elements of the Reunion, including hospitality and paddock activity. Positioning the auction within the race meeting is intended to strengthen the connection between the cars offered for sale and the historic racing community that gathers annually at Laguna Seca.
The relocation forms part of a broader period of change for Bonhams’ motoring division. In September 2025, former McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt joined the company as global motoring chairman, strengthening senior leadership as the auction house refines its strategy across live and private sales. In January 2026, Bonhams’ annual Paris auction was successfully staged at the Polo de Paris rather than its traditional Grand Palais venue, while its Goodwood auctions will now take place during the Members’ Meeting and Revival weekends. Although Bonhams will retain a presence at the Festival of Speed, no sale will be held there.
Whitney Maxwell, Global Managing Director, at Bonhams|Cars, said: ‘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. 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 sale as the quality and volume of cars we consign for our Monterey Car Week sale develops.’
‘We are thrilled to welcome Bonhams|Cars as our official auction partner during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion,’ continued 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 further info, see cars.bonhams.com
