Lympstone Manor Celebrates Record-Breaking Celebration of Speed

Lympstone Manor has celebrated another record-breaking Celebration of Speed, with attendance increasing by 18% on 2025 and an incredible £33,000 raised for charity during the annual festival of motoring, music and gastronomy.

The Celebration of Speed has become a signature event for Lympstone Manor, reflecting Michael Caines' lifelong passion for motorsport and creating a unique crossover between luxury hospitality and automotive culture. Now firmly established as one of the South West's most anticipated lifestyle events, the festival transforms the Michelin-starred hotel's parkland into a showcase of automotive excellence, bringing together world-renowned motorsport personalities, exceptional cars, live entertainment and outstanding hospitality against the backdrop of the Exe Estuary. 

Bringing together Formula One World Champion Jenson Button, television presenter Ant Anstead, broadcaster Jennie Gow, Formula One engineer Rob Smedley and Aaron Shelby, grandson of automotive legend Carroll Shelby, Jason Plato Double British Touring Car Champion, Ben Collins, better known as the Stig, and Gemma Fisher Formula1 Oesteopath the event welcomed enthusiasts from across the UK for a day unlike any other. 

Throughout the estate, visitors explored an exceptional collection of automotive icons, from Jenson Button’s Brawn GP BGP 001, the legendary Ferrari F40 to the newly unveiled Radford Type 62-2 Roadster, a Lamborghini Countach and the Ferrari owners Concours winning 812 Competizione; alongside modern supercars, competition machinery, motorcycles from Bridge Motorcycles and historic classics. The Porsche Paddock, sponsored by Porsche Centre Exeter showcased a wide range of the Porche’s including the standout GT3RS. 

The skies were decorated with a spectacular Spitfire display flown by Jim Schofield who was the lead Harrier and F-35 test pilot for the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Empire Test Pilot School chief instructor and finally the wing commander in charge of UK F-35 requirements. And he was one of the first pilots to land a Lockheed-Martin F-35 on a ship at night.

The Parc Ferme was celebrated with The Celebration of Speed Concours; judged by the Motoring hosts themselves and sponsored by Robson Financial who were celebrating their 10 year anniversary. The Concours winners took to the Car Parade to celebrate the very best in the show. 

One of the standout additions for 2026 was the Performance Lounge sponsored by Motorsport to Business, where guests experienced a genuine Formula One pit stop challenge using the Force India car that secured Sergio Pérez a podium finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix, alongside interactive reaction challenges and inspiring discussions exploring how the principles of elite motorsport translate into business performance.

Across two stages, guests enjoyed conversations with leading names from the worlds of Formula One, engineering and high-performance business. Ben Collins, best known as the former Stig, and broadcaster James Chubb hosted a programme featuring Jason Plato, powerboat world champion Drew Langdon, Formula One osteopath Gemma Fisher, Team BRIT and Supacat Group, amongst many others.

As the sun set over the estuary, the celebrations continued with the much-loved Party in the Paddock; sponsored by Greendale, featuring live performances from Leigh Coleman, REEF, Noasis and MistaJam, bringing the festival to a memorable close.

The event, together with its Charity Gala Dinner sponsored by NFU Mutual held the previous evening, raised £33,000 for a number of deserving causes. Guests were welcome by a Veuve Clicquot Champagne reception before indulging in Michael’s famous cuisine with a four course menu and matched wines. The Chairty Auction Funds will support Cornwall Air Ambulance, Different Strokes, READLEY – Asbestos & Mesothelioma Support Group.

"The Tuesday evening Charity Auction and Dinner at Lympstone Manor’s Celebration of Speed was a truly exceptional occasion and one that perfectly captured the spirit of British automotive excellence. From the warm hospitality at the magnificent Lympstone Manor to the incredible generosity shown in support of multiple charities, the entire evening was unforgettable.

We were incredibly proud to unveil the Radford Type 62-2 Roadster during such a prestigious event. To reveal the car in front of an audience of passionate enthusiasts, collectors and industry leaders made the moment even more special, and the reception it received exceeded all of our expectations.

Michael Caines and his team created an atmosphere that was both elegant and welcoming, bringing together world-class hospitality with a genuine passion for motoring. It was a privilege for Radford to be part of the celebration, and we're grateful to everyone who made the evening such a success. We look forward to supporting Celebration of Speed for many years to come.”  Ian "Red" Readman, COO, Radford Motor Company

Michael Caines MBE, Chef Owner of Lympstone Manor, said: "Celebration of Speed has grown into something incredibly special. It brings together people from across the worlds of motorsport, hospitality and business in a way that feels completely unique, while creating an unforgettable experience for our guests.

"To see the event continue to grow year on year while raising £33,000 for charity is something we're enormously proud of. I'm incredibly grateful to our guests, hosts, partners, sponsors and our fantastic team, whose passion and hard work made this our biggest and most successful Celebration of Speed yet."

The 2026 Celebration of Speed was supported by headline sponsor Dolcetti Ice Cream, alongside The Robson Group, sponsor of the Podium Lounge; Greendale, sponsor of Party in the Paddock; NFU Mutual Exeter, Tiverton & South Molton, sponsor of the Charity Gala Dinner, Porsche Centre Exeter sponsor of the Pitlane, together with the event's many valued sponsors, partners and food and beverage collaborators.

For more information visit www.thecelebrationofspeed.com and www.lympstonemanor.co.uk