Louis Vuitton Is Driving a Fleet of Multi-Million-Pound Vintage Cars Onto the F1 Grid
Because nothing says "the art of travel" quite like driving a multi-million pound vintage vehicle through the Dolomites on your way to the Italian Grand Prix.
Louis Vuitton is bringing back its legendary vintage car rally for the first time in over a decade. Running from 1 to 4 September 2026, the Louis Vuitton Dolomites Classic Run marks the return of a high-society tradition that the French fashion house started back in 1993, which has previously seen elite car collectors navigate everything from the Malaysian jungle to the ancient forests of Bohemia.
The 2026 itinerary is peak Italian luxury. The four-day regularity race kicks off in Venice before sending an ultra-exclusive fleet of classic cars ,sourced from the world’s most important private collections, on a grueling 600-kilometre trek. Drivers, including a notably high number of women collectors this year, will push their vintage machinery through the winding roads and dramatic mountain passes of the UNESCO-protected Dolomites.
The route isn’t just about scenic views, as it doubles as a massive cultural heritage tour. Vuitton is partnering with several major Italian institutions to fund museum and villa restorations along the way, including Villa Pisani in Stra and Venice’s MUVE. The road trip wraps up on 4 September at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, where the entire classic fleet will parade around the iconic track to open the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix weekend.
While the cars are the main event, the fashion house is keeping its own heritage front and centre. The tie-in dates back to 1897 when Georges Vuitton designed the first flat-topped car trunk, followed by the perfectly round 1905 ‘Sacs Chauffeurs’ made to sit inside a vehicle’s spare wheel.
Naturally, a luxury rally requires a luxury trophy. The final winner will be crowned at Milan’s historic Castello Sforzesco, taking home a glass prize designed by Sabine Marcelis and crafted by Venetian glassmakers Venini. True to form, the trophy will travel inside a bespoke, custom-built Louis Vuitton trunk, continuing a sporting tradition that has seen the house package everything from the FIFA World Cup to the Monaco Grand Prix.
Credits:
Images courtesy of Louis Vuitton
Words: Roisin Teeling @roisinteeling
LouisVuiton.com
