| Goodwood Festival of Speed | |
| Location: | Goodwood House, West Sussex, England |
| Time: | BST |
| Owner: | Charles Gordon-Lennox, 11th Duke of Richmond |
| Opened: | 1993 |
| Next Date: | Postponed |
| Events: | Goodwood Festival of Speed |
| Layout1: | Hillclimb |
| Length Km: | 1.86 |
| Length Mi: | 1.16 |
| Turns: | 9 |
| Record Time: | 0:39.081 |
| Record Driver: | Max Chilton |
| Record Team: | McMurtry Spéirling |
| Record Year: | 2022 |
| Layout2: | Forest Rally Stage |
| Length Km2: | 2.5 |
| Length Mi2: | 1.5 |
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual motorsports festival featuring modern and historic motor racing vehicles taking part in a hill climb and other events, held in Goodwood House, West Sussex, England, in late June or early July. The event is scheduled to avoid clashing with the Formula One season, enabling fans to see F1 machines as well as cars and motorbikes from motor racing history climb the hill.
In the early years of the Festival, tens of thousands attended over the weekend. As of 2014 it attracted crowds of around 100,000 on each of the three days it was held. A record crowd of 158,000 attended in 2003,[1] before an advance-ticket-only admission policy came into force; attendance was subsequently capped at 150,000.[2]
The Goodwood Festival of Speed was founded in 1993 by Lord March in order to bring motor racing back to the Goodwood estate — a location steeped in British motor racing history. Shortly after taking over the estate in the early 1990s, Lord March (who later became Duke of Richmond) wanted to bring back motor racing to Goodwood Circuit, but did not have the necessary permit to host a race there. Therefore, he instead hosted it on his own grounds.[3]
With a small selection of entrants made up of invited historic vehicles, the first event that took place on Sunday 20 June[4] proved to be a success, taking in a crowd of 25,000 despite a date clash with the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year. After the second event also clashed with Le Mans, Lord March would ensure that the event would never be allowed to clash with either Le Mans or Formula One races.
In 1994, Saturday was added, making it a weekend event. In 1996, Friday was added, making it a three-day event. In 2010, the Moving Motor Show was added on the Thursday. The 2020 event was cancelled then later run in October combined with events at Goodwood Motor Circuit, without spectators, but streamed online and shown on terrestrial TV. The event was modified to incorporate historic cars from the Revival, rally/sprint cars from the Member's Meeting, and an attempt to set a new track record.[5] The organisers cancelled the Saturday schedule of the 2023 festival due to severe weather warnings.[6]
The event is classified as a hill climb and visitors are accorded close access to that part of the track. The 1890m (6,200feet), 9-turn track climbs, an average gradient of 4.9%. Its record time was set in 2022 by Max Chilton in an electric McMurtry Spéirling at 39.081 seconds. The record was held for 20 years by a Formula 1 (F1) car, set at 41.6 seconds by Nick Heidfeld in 1999 in a McLaren MP4/13the then-reigning F1 World Constructors' Champion car. The record was lowered in 2019 to 39.90 seconds by the Volkswagen ID.R prototype electric race car, driven by Romain Dumas.[7] While F1 cars ran in later years, they were vintage models which did not break the 1999 record. For safety reasons F1 cars can no longer use tyre warmers or do official timed runs so instead perform demonstrations.[8]
From 2000 to 2004 the Soapbox Challenge was a downhill race for gravity-powered cars. Starting from just below the hill-climb finish line, to a finish line in front of the house. It included entries from Cosworth, Prodrive, and other top companies, with some famous riders/drivers piloting them, including Barry Sheene. However, there were frequent accidents. Despite an official cap on the cost of cars, the unofficial costs were becoming too high, so it did not return in 2005. However, it did return in 2013. Companies such as Bentley and McLaren competed.
From 2005 to present there has been a demonstration area for the rally cars at the top of the hill. Ever since its inception Southern Car Club have been entrusted with the organization of the rally stage, held under an MSA permit.
Initially, in 2005, an existing track through the forest was widened, and the rally cars ran down through the forest, turned about on the tarmac section just outside the wood, and returned up the same track. This meant that the cars could only run one-at-a-time.
In 2006, a full forest stage was introduced, designed by Hannu Mikkola[9] as a complete circuit, with a separate start and finish line at the top of the wood. This allowed the cars to start at timed intervals, allowing many more cars to run.
Since 2000, the Festival has hosted the Supercar Paddock for road-going supercars. Since 2014 cars could opt to do a timed run. It is now common for specialty car manufacturers to show off their latest sports model, including newly released mass-produced sports models and working concept models.[10]
The Arena is a new for 2019 attraction that showcases drifting and stunt driving. It is a large tarmac area that used to contain the Michelin Supercar Paddock, with 2 barrel donuts and 2 wall rides with a large viewing area just above the drift paddock. Spectators can watch stunt shows throughout the course of the day, the drift competition, and the hillclimb shootout on the big screen.
Officially the future science and technology pavilion at the Festival since 2017. Several major global reveals have debuted as part of this exhibition, including autonomous trucks by Einride, prototype flying cars like Airspeeder and autonomous delivery vehicle kar-go.[11]
Since 1995[12] this is an auto show which takes place to the west of the house. It is a similar format to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Entry is usually by invitation, and this provides some leeway as to which type of vehicle can enter, usually resulting in a more varied event than usual Concours d'Elegance. Unlike most concours shows, the Cartier Style et Luxe is judged by a panel of selected judges consisting of celebrities from all around the world to car designers.[13]
From 2010 until 2018, the Moving Motor Show, was added. Mainly in response to the cancellation of the British International Motor Show aimed exclusively for buyers of new cars, allowing them a chance to test the cars on the course.[14] Following its success, it was announced the MMS would return in 2011.[15]
The 2010 event also included the running of the new McLaren MP4-12C.
The official website listed the Festival of Speed dates as the Friday to Sunday, but the weekend tickets for the Festival included a moving motor show ticket. From 2019, the Festival of Speed has been a four day event with no moving motor show.[16] So it's not strictly part of the Festival of Speed, but it is a part of the Festival of Speed weekend.
Other popular attractions at the event are the real life replicas of the Wacky Races cars (Thursday was known as Press preview day, then incorporated The Moving Motor Show), which serves to provide lunchtime entertainment for the crowds, and the airshows, which usually include the RAF and Red Arrows. Flybys have included an RAF Tornado, a low-flying Boeing 747 in 2004 and 2005, and a low-flying Airbus A380 in 2008.
From the festival's beginning, poster art had been illustrated by renowned motor racing artist Peter Hearsey until his retirement in 2015. In 2016, the poster art was designed by Klaus Wagger, who rose to prominence as a racing artist when he won a competition to design the official poster for Mille Miglia in 2000.[17]
In recent years, they have also put on the GAS Arena (Goodwood Action Sports) who showcase extreme stunts such as Freestyle Motorcross, BMX and Trial bike Riding [18]
In 2018, for the first time at the Festival - as part of the Future Lab exhibition [11] - a driverless Roborace racing car negotiated the course, and a virtual passenger seat experience was made available online.[19] In 2019, the car made an official run in 66.96 seconds.[20]
The Festival of Speed has a sister event, the Goodwood Revival Meeting. This event, normally held in early September, relives the glory days of motor racing at the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
There have been two fatal accidents at the event.
The first was during its inaugural meeting in 1993, when vintage racing motorcyclist Chas Guy was killed in practice following the completion of the course when his Vincent motorcycle developed a steering wobble known as a tank slapper, throwing the rider into a tree. Since then, motorcycles are not timed for their run.
In 2000, driver John Dawson-Damer lost control of his Lotus 63, and crashed into the finish line gantry, killing himself and marshal Andrew Carpenter. Another marshal, Steve Tarrant, survived but sustained serious injuries to the lower part of his right leg.[21]
Aston Martin set up a central display for the first Festival of Speed in 1993.[22] Since 1997, the display erected on the lawn in front of Goodwood House has been designed by the sculptor Gerry Judah.[23] The displays honoured car marques until 2017, when for the first time it honoured a career, that of Bernie Ecclestone. This is a list of the temporary monuments:
| Year | Photo | Subject | Featured vehicles (on the main display) | Comment< | -- i.e. meaning of the display, info on the displayed cars --> | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Ferrari | Ferrari F310B | 50th anniversary | [24] | ||
| 1998 | Porsche | Porsche 936/81 Porsche 917-20 "Pink Pig" Porsche 917 LH Porsche 956 Porsche 911 GT1 | 50th anniversary | [25] | ||
| 1999 | Audi | Audi Avus quattro Auto Union Type C Streamliner | Depicts the banking of Avus as if the cars are racing together. The Streamliner is a replica built especially for the display | [26] | ||
| 2000 | Jaguar | Jaguar E-Type Jaguar XK120 Jaguar C-Type Jaguar D-Type Jaguar XJR-5 Jaguar XJR-8 | Depicts the cat's cradle. Celebrating its F1 debut | |||
| 2001 | Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz 300SL | 100th anniversary, resembling a gush of liquid, falling and spreading as it hits the ground. | [27] | ||
| 2002 | Renault | Renault RS01 Renault RE40 Renault RE60 Williams-Renault FW14 Williams-Renault FW18 Renault R202 | Honouring its comeback in F1 racing. Depicting a feather | [28] | ||
| 2003 | Ford | Ford GT40 Mk. II | 100th anniversary. Depicting the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race and its famous finish. As the actual cars were on track, those displayed are replicas. | [29] | ||
| 2004 | Rolls-Royce | Supermarine S.6 Campbell-Railton Blue Bird Bluebird K4 replica | 100th anniversary, indicating the brand's supremacy in record breaking on land, sea and air | [30] | ||
| 2005 | Honda | Honda RA272 Honda RA300 Lotus-Honda 99T Williams-Honda FW11 BAR-Honda 006 | 40th anniversary of its first Formula One victory. For the first time, the arms moved, raising and lowering the cars. | [31] [32] [33] | ||
| 2006 | Renault | Renault Type AK 90CV Renault R26 | 100th anniversary of Grand Prix racing. Used as a shelter for its Formula One cars that is designed to channel sound. Using a laptop, the cars can produce music out of its engine. Two tunes were performed, one of those played is God Save the Queen | [34] | ||
| 2007 | Toyota | Toyota TS010 Toyota Celica GT-Four Toyota GT-One Lola-Toyota B2/00 Toyota TF107 | Inspired by the traditional torii gates. Celebrating its 75th anniversary and 50 years involvement in motor sport. | [35] [36] [37] | ||
| 2008 | Land Rover | Land Rover Defender Land Rover Discovery Land Rover Freelander Range Rover | 60th anniversary. Indicating the brand's "any terrain" essence by depicting a rock. | [38] | ||
| 2009 | Audi | Audi R8 Auto Union Type C Streamliner | 100th anniversary sculpture depicting the road from the streamliner to the R8 forming a loop in front of the house. | [39] | ||
| 2010 | Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo P2 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione | 100th anniversary | |||
| 2011 | Jaguar | Jaguar E-Type | Celebrating 50 years of the model | [40] | ||
| 2012 | Lotus | Lotus 49 Lotus 79 Lotus 99T Lotus E20 | 'Past, Present and Future' | [41] | ||
| 2013 | Porsche | Porsche 911 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Porsche 911 991 | 50th anniversary of 911 | [42] | ||
| 2014 | Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz W25 Mercedes AMG W04 | 120 years in motorsport: an arch over Goodwood House | [43] | ||
| 2015 | Mazda | Mazda 787B Mazda LM55 Vision Gran Turismo | Celebrating Mazda's Challenger Spirit with both the racing legends of its illustrious sporting past and the stylish cars of its current range. | [44] | ||
| 2016 | BMW | BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster Brabham-BMW BT52 BMW V12 LMR | BMW Motorsport success | [45] [46] [47] | ||
| 2017 | Bernie Ecclestone | Connaught Type B Lotus 72 Brabham BT49 Ferrari F2001 Mercedes F1 W07 | In 2017, for the first time ever, the Central Feature celebrated an individual rather than a marque: Bernie Ecclestone, the man responsible for transforming Formula 1 into a multibillion-dollar global phenomenon. | [48] | ||
| 2018 | Porsche | Porsche 356 Porsche 917 Porsche 959 Porsche 918 Spyder Porsche 911R Porsche 919 Hybrid[49] | 70 years since the first production Porsche | |||
| 2019 | Aston Martin | Aston Martin DBR1 | 70 years since Aston Martin's first race at Goodwood, when W.G. Bingley finished 10th and 60 years since their 1–2 victory at Le Mans. | |||
| 2021 | Lotus | (interactive QR code) | [50] [51] | |||
| 2022 | BMW | BMW 3.0 CSL BMW M1 Procar BMW V12 LMR BMW M3 GT2 BMW M Hybrid V8 | Celebration of 50 years of BMW M. | |||
| 2023 | Porsche | Porsche 356 Porsche 804 Porsche 962 Porsche 911 Sport Classic Porsche 911 Carrera S Porsche 963 | 75 years of Porsche sportscars | |||
| 2024 | MG | MG MGB MG Cyberster | 100 years of MG |
A Goodwood Festival of Speed event is available in Gran Turismo 6 with both the 2014 and 2015 central displays shown, and the nearby Goodwood Motor Circuit track is available in Gran Turismo Sport and Gran Turismo 7. ITV gives live coverage throughout the weekend and Sky Sports simulcast the Sunday show. it is also streamed on YouTube.
The Hill Climb Shootout or The Sunday Shootout, is an event during the Goodwood Festival of Speed in which a selection of drivers with the fastest Hillclimb times of the weekend compete to get to the finish line the fastest.
[55] [56] [57]
Willie Green
