Mecum Auctions Returns as Sponsor of the Monterey Motorsports Festival

The Monterey Motorsports Festival has announced that it is assembling its most ambitious vehicle lineup to date for Monterey Car Week 2026, anchored by Italian marque Kimera Automobili, a first-ever Builds and Prototypes showcase, and the return of longtime sponsor Mecum Auctions. The festival takes place Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds.

“The Monterey Motorsports Festival was created to celebrate the passion, energy and culture that surround the automotive world,” said Paolo Manca, founder and CEO of the Monterey Motorsports Festival. “This year’s vehicle lineup is the strongest we’ve ever assembled — from world-class hypercars to one-of-a-kind builds you won’t see anywhere else. It reflects everything this event stands for: real cars, real builders and the community that brings them together.”

A Showcase of Car Culture

Leading the 2026 vehicle lineup is Kimera Automobili, the festival’s marquee brand for the year and one of the most talked-about names in modern car culture, celebrated for reviving rally-bred design through meticulous, modern engineering, noted the release.

Joining Kimera on the grounds is a roster of vehicles spanning the automotive world:

• Totem Automobili, known for its painstakingly reengineered classic Alfa Romeo designs
• The Scarbo HyperTruck, a high-performance custom build
• A classic Pininfarina-designed Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto
• A curated JDM (Japanese domestic market) section
• The Hypercar/Supercar Drive-In, a rolling showcase of exotic machinery
• A 1980 Nissan Skyline in a bold orange livery and a blacked-out Liberty Walk widebody Lamborghini Aventador — two ends of the build spectrum, vintage JDM heritage paired with modern, aggressive widebody styling, with additional details to be announced

Builds and Prototypes

New this year, the Builds and Prototypes category gives a small, curated group of builders the chance to showcase a vehicle that’s still in progress. Limited to just 10 spots, it’s a stage for builders to share their process, their inspiration and the story behind what they’re creating.

Builders interested in one of the 10 spots can apply here.

The SAFE Rig

Among the most distinctive vehicles on display is the SAFE Rig, a fully custom-built Peterbilt designed by Johnny Buscema, president and CEO of SAFE Structure Designs, a U.S. defense and aviation manufacturing company known for engineering custom support equipment for the U.S. military.

At the center of its design are custom-fabricated exhaust stacks inspired by the Barrett .50-caliber rifle — a striking detail that ties the rig’s industrial precision back to Buscema’s roots in defense manufacturing. Beyond its engineering, the SAFE Rig serves as a mobile platform to connect with people across the country.

Mecum Auctions Returns for a Fourth Year

Mecum Auctions is returning as a festival sponsor for a fourth consecutive year. A supporter since the festival’s first year, Mecum’s deep roots in collector-car culture mirror the spirit of this year’s lineup of hypercars, custom builds and rare classics, event organizers said.

“Mecum Auctions has been with us since day one, and that kind of loyalty means everything,” said Manca. “Their passion for the cars and the people who love them is woven into the spirit of this event.”

“Mecum Auctions is excited to continue our sponsorship with the Monterey Motorsports Festival for a fourth year,” said Breeann Poland, Mecum Auctions’ director of marketing and communications. “As one of the premier gatherings during Monterey Car Week, the festival provides an incredible opportunity to connect enthusiasts with the cars, brands and experiences they love. We look forward to once again being part of an event that celebrates every corner of the automotive world.”

2026 Nonprofit Partners

The festival continues to pair car culture with community impact through its Nonprofit Partner Program, anchored by Northern California Special Olympics, the Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation and the Monterey County Family Justice Center (Holding On To Hope). Applications remain open on a rolling basis; nonprofits interested in participating can apply by emailing [email protected].