After turning heads at Lime Rock HF42, the 1992 Lotus Esprit X180R is back for Historic Festival 43. Presented and driven by David Nagler, this factory-built race car is one of just five produced for competition in the SCCA World Challenge and IMSA Bridgestone Supercar Championship.
Chassis Type 105/106 was a front-runner from the start, campaigned by Doc Bundy, Scott Lagasse, and even Paul Newman, whose deep ties to Lime Rock make this car’s return all the more special. It helped deliver Lotus the 1992 IMSA Manufacturer’s Championship.
“At HF42, the fan response was incredible,” said Nagler. “Some remembered seeing the X180R race at Lime Rock back in ’91, others knew it from video games. It was amazing to see how this car connected across generations.”
The X180R will compete in the TOYO TIRES Turn of the Century World Challenge run group at HF43.
Styled by legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro—who will be honored at this year’s Sunday in the Park Concours—the Esprit X180R is a true fusion of performance and design.
| For the First Time Ever—Ragtime Racers at HF43! |
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| | These pre-1920 race cars usually live in museums—but they were built to run. Now, you’ll see them on track, just as they were over a century ago—at speed, with all the grit, gear whine, and glory of the Heroic Age of racing. Don’t miss this rare chance to witness motorsport’s earliest legends in motion. |
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| Britain’s Fastest Cat: 1951 Jaguar XK-120 |
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| When Jaguar unveiled the XK-120 in 1948, it wasn’t just a showstopper—it was a shot across the bow of every sports car manufacturer in the world. With its curvaceous body and advanced twin-cam straight-six engine, the XK-120 was the fastest production car of its day, capable of 120 mph straight from the factory (hence the name). This 1951 Jaguar XK-120, driven by Lars Mapstead, carries the legacy of postwar British performance and elegance onto the track at Lime Rock. Mapstead is based in Aptos, California, and has campaigned his XK‑120 extensively in vintage events, logging over 130 races in the car with the Del Monte Trophy Race Group. While not a factory works car or an international race winner, this example has lived a second life on the vintage circuit—earning its stripes through consistent participation and passion. It thrilled at Le Mans. Turned heads in Hollywood. And now it storms through Lime Rock. See the Jaguar XK-120 race at HF43. |
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| From Fire to Villa d’Este: The Comeback of a Henna Red M1 left to right: Fabrizio Giugiaro, owner Neal Heffron, and Giorgetto Giugiaro. |
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| Neal Heffron discovered this M1 the old-fashioned way—by spotting it in the blurry background of a Hemmings Sports & Exotic article about a Chicago shop that restored BMW 2002s. He called the shop, got the brush-off, and figured that was the end of it. A day later, the phone rang—they connected him with the owner of this 1980 Henna Red M1, BMW’s famously misnamed, unmistakably orange hue. Neal bought the 1980 M1 sight unseen. The paperwork revealed that Grammy-winning musician Christopher Cross originally owned it. It had been sitting for 20 years. On its first drive under Neal’s ownership, it caught fire. Fortunately, Neal managed to extinguish the flames before any damage was done. Today, the once-forgotten M1 is back in the spotlight. It won its class at the Audrain Concours. It earned an invitation to the prestigious Villa d’Este, where legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro—who penned the original M1 design signed the door sill. See it up close at Sunday in the Park world-class Concours. Have a car that makes your heart race? Park it on the track and be part of the show—register now and join the fan-favorite Gathering of the Marques. |
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| The Hemmings Experience Two days of premium access, infield car corral parking, exclusive perks and up to 40 percent savings from Hemmings.com. |
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| This exclusive experience invites you right into the action at HF43, including hospitality at the races, infield parking access, on-track parade lap sessions, raffles, and more. Click the button below to learn more & get your tickets to the Hemmings Experience before they sell out! |
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| Spend an Hour with Skip at the Hotchkiss Library |
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| | On Sunday, August 10, from 4-5 PM, the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon welcomes Lime Rock Park founder Skip Barber for a lively Q&A about the track he built, the legends who raced there, and the community it helped shape. Don’t miss this special conversation moderated by David Moore. |
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| Your Car Could Be the Star of the Concours. |
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| | The Lime Rock Sunday in the Park Concours is a juried showcase of rare and significant automobiles. Concours entries are still open, and the team is especially seeking vintage Stutzes, Rolls-Royces, Postwar Triumphs, and Prewar European classics. |
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| Parade and Party! The Historic Festival Vintage Race Car Parade Takes Over Falls Village August 28 |
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| | The Historic Festival Annual Parade rumbles out of Lime Rock Park at 5 PM on Thursday, August 28. Watch as 125 vintage race cars roar through Lakeville, Salisbury, and Noble Horizons before arriving in Falls Village at 5:45 for a street party with food, drinks, and music by Wanda Houston! |
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| Rob Dyson Named Grand Marshal of Historic Festival 43 |
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| | Rob Dyson, a champion team owner and lifelong supporter of American road racing, returns to Lime Rock Park, his home track, as Grand Marshal of Historic Festival 43. From Trans Am to IMSA, Dyson Racing’s legacy runs deep. Meet Rob, see cars from his collection, and hear stories from an icon. |
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| The BMW That Conquered Daytona Comes Back to Lime Rock |
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| | The legendary 1975 BMW CSL returns to Lime Rock for Historic Festival 43. This factory-built Group 4 racer claimed overall victory at the 1976 24 Hours of Daytona and was driven by icons like Redman, Gregg, and Stuck. See it up close on display all weekend at HF43. |
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| Meet a Legend: David Hobbs Returns to Lime Rock |
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| | Racing legend David Hobbs returns to Lime Rock Park this Labor Day weekend as Guest of Honor at Historic Festival 43. His iconic 1974 Carling Black Label McLaren IndyCar will be on display, and fans will have the rare chance to meet Hobbs in person and get his autograph. |
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| Le Monstre crosses the Atlantic to race at Lime Rock Park Historic Festival 43 for the first time. |
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| | British builder Derek Drinkwater’s faithful replica of Briggs Cunningham’s 1950 Le Mans Cadillac is more than a showpiece—it’s a fully functional race car, and it’s coming to Historic Festival 43. See it on track this Labor Day weekend at Lime Rock Park, where this American racing legend comes full circle. |
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| Honoring Kas Kastner: The Kastner Cup Comes to Lime Rock |
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| | The Kastner Cup—one of vintage racing’s most celebrated all-Triumph events—is coming to the Historic Festival for the very first time. Watch a 33-car grid of Spitfires, TRs, and GT6s battle it out in honor of Triumph legend R.W. “Kas” Kastner. It’s a can’t-miss moment for British sports car fans. |
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After turning heads at Lime Rock HF42, the 1992 Lotus Esprit X180R is back for Historic Festival 43. Presented and driven by David Nagler, this factory-built race car is one of just five produced for competition in the SCCA World Challenge and IMSA Bridgestone Supercar Championship.
