Author: Antony Ingram
The Hagerty Hill Climb is one of the highlights of Hagerty’s events calendar, right up there with Festival of the Unexceptional and RADwood.
It has a very different feel to the two big shows however, mainly because you get to see the cars in action at the historic motorsport venue – and if one thing beats admiring cars parked in a great location, it’s getting to see them driven flat out on a fiendishly narrow course.
While the Hill Climb has a ‘run what you’ve brung’ element, it’s also a great spectator event with general admission tickets at only £30 per car, so if you pile family or friends in, it’s great value. Below we’ve rustled up five reasons to pop along to this year’s event, on May 17th, as a spectator.
Visiting a Historic Venue
Shelsley Walsh has hosted the Hagerty Hill Climb on several occasions now, but it never gets any less special. Part of that is down to the incredible history of Shelsley Walsh itself, which opened in 1905 and is therefore one of the oldest motorsport venues in the world, and the oldest of all to still be using its original course.
In other words, you can stand alongside the same start line that competitors have been using for 120 years (give or take a few breaks during wartime), and know that the cars climbing the hill during Hagerty’s event can be more or less directly compared with well over a hundred years of course records.
And while the facilities are undoubtedly a little more up-to-date than they might have been at the turn of last century, there are no modern advertising hoardings, wide runoff areas, or other modern trappings to spoil the illusion. It really is like going back in time – an experience you won’t get at many other venues.
The Best Car List Yet
We couldn’t go too long without mentioning the cars you’ll see at this year’s Hagerty Hill Climb. There has been some spectacular metal in recent years, but 2025’s rundown might just be the best yet.
There are too many to list on this page – over a hundred, in fact – but we’ll cherry-pick a few you can expect to see, to whet your appetite. Naturally, there are the all-time classics: Minis, E-Types, Porsche 911s, and a handful of Lotus Elans. Then there are the modern-classics, with a smattering of Mazda MX-5s, a few Audi TTs, a Porsche Boxster, and the odd Lotus Elise and Vauxhall VX220.
But you’ll also be able to watch a 1966 Ford Mustang brawl its way up the hill, a beautiful Triumph Italia, a classic 1973 Alpine A110, and a stunning resto-modded Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA. Not enough? How about a De Tomaso Pantera, a Honda NSX Type-R, or a 1970 Ferrari Dino 246GT?
Scalextric Charity Challenge
If you’ve been around the car scene a while you’ll probably have heard of Mission Motorsport, a motorsport charity that aids in the recovery and rehabilitation of those affected by military operations. The charity’s slogan is “Race, Retrain, Recover”, helping military veterans find work in the motorsport industry – in everything from F1 to the WRC.
At the Hill Climb, Mission Motorsport will have a Scalextric track set up, so even if you’re not going up the hill yourself, you can get the competition buzz. For a donation to Mission Motorsport, you’ll be able to have a go on the track, and see whether you can beat your family members. We can’t be held responsible for any falling-out or bragging on the journey home, though…
Spectacular Rally Cars with Ralli 22
Ralli 22 returns to the Hagerty Hill Climb for 2025. Its dozens of members offer their historic rally cars for competition and demonstration at events all around the country, and the organisation’s roster includes everything from WRC Imprezas and Focuses to bellicose Group B machines like the Peugeot 205 T16 and Audi Quattro.
One of Ralli 22’s stars this year is a stunning Bastos and FINA-liveried Group A Ford Escort Cosworth – a spectacular example of perhaps one of the best-looking machines to compete in the Group A era of the World Rally Championship.
It’ll be joined by a Lancia Delta, MG Metro 6R4, Renault 5 Maxi Turbo (sure to be of interest, given Renault recently confirmed it would build an electric homage to the old rally car, in the Renault 5 Turbo 3E) and even a Rover SD1 rally car. It’s your chance to get up close to some true rallying hero machines.
Fun for All the Family
To top everything – the venue, the hill climb, the cars, and the charity fun – the Hagerty Hill Climb is just a great day out. As we type this, the weather’s currently looking pretty good, which instantly brightens the mood, and that’s before you hear the first roar of an engine. Lined with trees for shade, Shelsley Walsh is also great if you need to get out of the sun for a bit – important if you’re bringing young kids along.
If you’ve got a classic, then make sure you tick that box when you’re ordering a ticket too as there’s dedicated classic car parking at the event, even if you’re not going up the hill. And for only £10 per adult you can get access to the Hagerty Drivers Club members area, with a free drink from the bar, complimentary snacks, and a special viewing area – and kids go free with a paying adult.
And why not make a weekend of it? Camping is free, for tents, camper vans, or motorhomes, so if you want to catch the action bright and early, you can rock up on Friday 16th and camp overnight to beat the crowds the next morning – provided you’ve bought an entry ticket, of course.
To purchase tickets to the Hagerty Hill Climb, click here.
