A fascinating line-up of celebrity guest speakers has been revealed for this year’s Audrain Concours and Motor Week, scheduled for 2-5 October, 2025.
The speakers – who range from globally renowned racing drivers to major collectors and industry leaders – will hold seminars in the historic Casino Theater, set in the grounds of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport from 3-4 October.
Among the highlights is ‘Ford Total Performance Returns’, hosted by comedian, collector and Octane contributor Jay Leno. He will be joined on stage by Ford CEO Jim Farley, Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook and Bob Tasca III, who recently piloted a Ford Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car to a record-breaking 341.68mph.
The seminars begin on Thursday 3 October with ‘Form & Function – Designing for Purpose on the Road & Wrist’ (2:30pm-3:30pm). A. Lange & Söhne’s director of product development, Anthonie de Haas, and former GM design chief Michael Simcoe will explore the parallels between watchmaking and automotive design in a discussion moderated by Audrain consulting director and noted collector Donald Osborne.
Later that afternoon (4:30pm-5:30pm), attorney John Draneas will outline cautionary tales from the world of car collecting with Jay Leno in the ‘Cars and the Law’ seminar. Best known for his long-running ‘Legal Files’ column in Sports Car Market, Draneas’ talk is a must for collectors seeking to avoid the legal pitfalls that can arise when passion for cars collides with the complexities of the law.
Urban Outlaw Magnus Walker and rare-car consultant Steve Serio host the opening talk of Friday 4 October ‘Form & Function – To Mod or Not to Mod’ from 12:30-1:30pm. Moderated by Jay Leno, the discussion promises spirited debate as the session explores the merits of originality and personalisation.
At 2:30pm, the focus shifts to motor sport with ‘Behind the Driver – Running a Winning Race Team’. The seminar will see IndyCar champion and Arrow McLaren team principal Tony Kanaan join NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham to discuss leadership, teamwork and strategy involved in top-level motor racing with Donald Osborne moderating.
Later that afternoon, the headline Ford Total Performance Returns discussion rounds of the seminar series from 4-5pm. The talk will explore the parallels between the Blue Oval’s iconic 1960s Le Mans campaigns with its renewed motor sport push of today.
For tickets and more information head to the Audrain Concours and Motor Week website here.
