Petter Solberg stars at the spectacular Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival
Pembrey Circuit was alive with the roar of engines and the buzz of excitement as it hosted the second annual Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival on Sunday 21 September 2025.
Petter Solberg, Daniel Elena and Phil Mills – with 13 FIA World Championship titles between them – make it a star-studded Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival
Thousands of fans and a carnival atmosphere, as motorsport greats and the world’s rarest and most expensive supercars appear at Pembrey Circuit
World track day car debut, 1000bhp electric 4WD VW Beetle, classic racing TT motorcycles, tractor pulling demos, Super Touring Cars, a Group B Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2 and historic F1s showcase the huge variety of vehicles on display
The event drew thousands of enthusiasts, who were treated to a full-throttle celebration of automotive excellence and a touching tribute to the sport's enduring heroes.
The atmosphere was electric, blending the nostalgia of historic racing with the adrenaline of modern motorsport.
Petter Solberg - A fan favourite
One of the highlights for many was the appearance of rally legend and three-time FIA World Champion Petter Solberg.
He was there to present the Michael ‘Beef’ Park Trophy, alongside nine-time FIA World Rally Champion co-driver Daniel Elena and 2003 FIA World Rally Champion co-driver Phil Mills, posthumously to local co-driver Dai Roberts. Dai’s brother Gareth ‘Jaffa’ Roberts was the first recipient, and their father Mike Roberts collected the award.
Petter also unveiled a new 300bhp / 700kg track day car, built by Viking Motorsport. Looking like a crazy Ford Escort Mk1 on steroids, with wide wheel arches and a massive rear wing, the silhouette body sits on a high-tech spaceframe – with the car making its world debut at Pembrey!
“It was a fantastic day at Pembrey Circuit in the beautiful Welsh sunshine,” said Petter.
“It was wonderful to be reunited with Phil Mills and try his brand-new car, which was actually lovely to drive, and meet so many amazing fans. I love being in Wales and always have a good time there.
“It was also very special to remember ‘Beef’ with the Park family and the memorial trophy. It was a very emotional day presenting Mike Roberts with the trophy alongside Phil and Daniel. The Roberts family are proper rally people, and we will never forget Jaffa or Dai, and send all our strength and best wishes to their family and friends.
“It was also an honour to meet Beef's family - including his brothers David and Brian, his niece Kirsty, her husband Ryan and their daughter Ella. A lot of emotions, a lot of memories and a lot of love for our rally family.”
Rally highlights
Two of Castrol Toyota’s most iconic cars – a GT-Four ST185 and GR Yaris Rally2 – were there, thanks to the Castrol MEM Rally Team and Nicky Grist.
Darrian Cars celebrated it 40th anniversary with a stunning display on and off track, David Appleby Engineering came with an asphalt and gravel spec TR7 V8, Sam Touzel (the 2025 British Open and Protyre Asphalt Rally Champion) demonstrated his latest spec M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2, 2022 British Rally Champion Osian Pryce put on a spectacular sideways display in the Wales Motorsport Escort Mk2 that he’ll contest this year’s Roger Albert Clark Rally in (an event which comes to Pembrey Circuit on Thursday 20 November) and Martin Roberts thrilled the crowd in his Group B Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2.
Racing cars in action
Racing fans were treated to some amazing track action from the likes of the unique 1960s Netuar F1 car, Lola F3000, GP2 McLaren, and ex-Jan Lammers race-winning Reynard 94D F3000 – plus Super Touring Cars (including an ex-Anthony Reid Prodrive-built Ford Mondeo and an ex-Andy Rouse Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth) and an original 1960s Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione.
The Pembrey pit garages were open to the public, giving unprecedented close-up access to 1990 Formula 1 cars like a Minardi M198 and Jordan-Peugeot 195.
Also on track were classic and modern motorbikes, spectacular drifting displays, motorcycle stunt teams and a supercar parade – while tractor pulling demonstrations continued throughout the day on Pembrey’s new track.
Displays
The infield paddock was full of supercars, including cars from the Ferrari Owners Club, Porsche, Carrs Ferrari, Alpine, Lotus and Driven Cymru, plus a £2.5M Mercedes AMG-Project One, a Bugatti Chiron, a Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato, a genuine James Bond Aston Martin DB5, a ‘unicorn spec’ Honda NSX and an MGA Le Mans Twin Cam Roadster – to name but a few!
Other cars included the Subaru Impreza S7 WRC (X19 SRT, chassis #25) that Markko Märtin/Michael ‘Beef’ Park contested the 2001 Sanremo Rally in, BugZappa – the 1000bhp 4WD VW Beetle from Electric Classic Cars that contested this year’s Pikes Peak Auto Hillclimb in Colorado (USA) – and the sensational Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition (chassis 01).
Stunt Shows & Smoke Shows
The festival’s live stunt programme was a huge crowd-puller. Two Brothers Stunt Show packed a section of the main circuit with precision wheelies, stoppies and bar-to-bar formation riding, mixing showmanship with inch-perfect control.
Wayne Jacobs’ Psycho FMX dialled the danger up again with big ramps, bigger airtime and a steady stream of whips and no-handers that had phones in the air and jaws on the floor.
Out on circuit, the drifting display brought tyre smoke and sideways theatre to Pembrey. Twin-car battles, long-held slides and flamboyant corner entries gave fans a taste of pure slide-angle artistry.
2026 Plans
The Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival will return in 2026. Building on this year’s momentum, Pembrey Circuit plans to increase on-site car parking and improve access and traffic flow to make arrival and departure smoother for everyone. Further enhancements to visitor facilities and the event layout are also being explored—more space, easier movement, same great atmosphere.
“In just two years, the Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival has developed into a must-see event and a firm favourite on the Pembrey Circuit calendar,” said Phil Davies, Pembrey Circuit Manager.
“The variety of vehicles on display – from the amazing South Wales Autograss League racing machines to historic Formula 1s, the world’s most exclusive supercars and some truly amazing motorbikes – was stunning, and there was entertainment for all the family with live music, a funfair and a food village. We opened Pembrey Circuit to the public like never before, even allowing well-behaved dogs in for the very first time, and it all made for an incredible carnival atmosphere.
“I’d like to thank everyone who attended, both exhibitors and fans, and hope they had a great time. We’re already looking forward to the 2026 Welsh Motorsport & Supercar Festival – the dates and details of which will be announced as soon as possible.”
