Cars for Smiles Barcelona – 9 May 2026

Last Saturday, May 9, a special and moving event was held that left an unforgettable mark on the lives of teenagers and their families, who face various challenges on a daily basis. In collaboration with institutions such as Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, the Ànima Foundation, and the Johan Cruyff Foundation—which facilitated the registration of their patients—an exclusive group of 31 young people had the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable experience as co-pilots in high-end vehicles. For this edition, patients from the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and the Monlau Foundation also joined the event.

The opening ceremony took place in the elegant setting of the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, where participants were warmly welcomed to begin the registration process.

The opening ceremony began with a welcome address by Martijn Elvers (founder and president of Cars for Smiles), marking the milestone of the tenth event in Barcelona. He invited the director of the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona and general manager of Hilton in the Iberian Peninsula, Mr. Roger Brantsma, to join him on stage to welcome the participants. He also explained the transformation the hotel is currently undergoing as part of a comprehensive renovation of the facilities.

Following a presentation on Aston Martin’s 113-year history, video messages were shown from legendary Cars for Smiles ambassadors such as Pedro de la Rosa and Luis Moya. Both addressed the young co-drivers via a pre-recorded video message, in which they offered some tips for co-driving during the event, as well as words of encouragement. VIP guest Eric Gené took the stage and explained that this year he is driving for BMW Spain Motorsport, showing a video of him pushing a BMW M4 to the limit on the track.

It was a true honor and privilege to have these professional drivers at our event. Thank you very much, gentlemen!

On the stage in the main ballroom of the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, featuring a large screen, two Aston Martin vehicles were on display. The first car was an Aston Martin Vantage Coupé, and the second was also an Aston Martin Vantage, but the Roadster version. The first was provided by Menkes Racing, and the second by the DME GT Club sponsor. Both cars had a co-driver on board. Next, a video was shown of the “Visit to Drive Me” event, held on January 31 with a group of co-drivers at the Drive Me facilities in Barcelona, as a token of appreciation for the fantastic collaboration between the Drive Me Group and Cars for Smiles. The opening ceremony continued with the deputy director of the Johan Cruyff Foundation, Mr. Sander Waare, winners with their “Adapted Tennis” project in the Cars for Smiles Barcelona 2025 edition. Sander explained what happened with last year’s donation funds and all the activities carried out. The winning project of Cars for Smiles Barcelona 2026 was “Humanizing Spaces” by the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. The head of the User Experience Unit, Ms. Iría González, explained what this project entails and the importance of improving the patient experience upon entering the hospital.

Next came the moment the co-drivers had been waiting for: the team assignments. Each co-driver was paired with a vehicle and its owner, forming teams that would remain together for the rest of the activities. Each team received a distinctive plaque for their vehicle, marking the 2026 Cars for Smiles Rally – 10th edition, courtesy of sponsor AURA Identidad Visual.

The vehicles and teams prepared to depart, and after an exciting transfer to the Eurostars Sitges, a culinary experience began with lunch prepared by the Terrassa la Punta restaurant, offering incredible views of the Garraf Natural Park. At the end of the day, hosted by the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, an awards ceremony and the official closing of the event took place. A meal at Puro Beach, provided by the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, was raffled off, along with automotive-themed gifts provided by brands such as Motorsol Gallery (Bentley Barcelona and Lamborghini Barcelona) and Quadis Gallery (Aston Martin Barcelona, Maserati Quadis Gallery, and Ferrari Barcelona). Before leaving, the teams had the opportunity to pick up their printed photos from the morning, courtesy of the T&T Gestión Patrimonial team, which took the photographs and quickly prepared a photo booklet for each team.

The event not only provided a day of fun and excitement, but also gave the participating teenagers a valuable reminder of their inner strength and the unconditional support of their community.

Cars for Smiles would like to express its sincere gratitude to the partners and sponsors of this year’s event: Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, Real Federación Española de Automovilismo, Aston Martin Barcelona, Bentley Barcelona, Official Ferrari Dealer Quadis Gallery Barcelona, Lamborghini Barcelona, Maserati Quadis Gallery, DME GTCLUB, Aluminios Valverde, Events & Technology Production, Eurostars 5* Sitges, Aura Identidad Visual, Masa i Masa Seguros, Aquila Films, T&T Gestión Patrimonial, Aston Martin Owners Club Spain, Porsche Club España, Funtastic events, Avidalia, Torelló Viticultors, Gràfiques Voisin-Mateu, Gauvin Pictures

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