Goodwood Festival of Speed

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.

With a small selection of entrants made up of invited historic vehicles, the first event that took place on Sunday 20 June[2] 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.[3]

1970 Porsche 917 going up the hill at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Ligier JS P3 at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The event is classified as a hill climb and visitors are accorded close access to that part of the track. The 1890 m track climbs 92.7 metres (has average gradient of 4.9%). Its record time was set in 2019 by Romain Dumas in an electric Volkswagen I.D. R at 39.9 seconds.[4] The record time for a Formula 1 car is 41.6 s by Nick Heidfeld in 1999 in a McLaren MP4/13. For safety reasons Formula 1 cars can no longer do official timed runs so instead perform demonstrations.

In 2016 to commemorate 40 years since James Hunt won the F1 World Championship, McLaren invited Bruno Senna to speed a P1 GTR up the course.[5]

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.

Mini Cooper S crossing the finish line of Forest Rally Stage

From 2005 to present there has been a demonstration area for the rally cars at the top of the hill. Initially, in 2005, the track through the forest was widened, and the rally cars ran down through the forest, turned 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[6] this was 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. Ever since its inception Southern Car Club have been entrusted with the organization of the rally stage, held under an MSA permit.

Since 2000, there has been a supercar paddock (formerly sponsored by Microsoft Windows and The Times), 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.[7]

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.

Since 1995[8] 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.[9]

Since 2010, 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.[10] Following its success, it was announced the MMS would return in 2011.[11]

McLaren MP4-12C at the 2010 Festival of Speed

The 2010 event also included the running of the new McLaren MP4-12C.

The official website lists the Festival of speed dates as the Friday to Sunday, but the weekend tickets for the Festival include a moving motor show ticket.[12] 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 is now known as Press preview day but still incorporates The Moving Motor Show), which serves to provide lunchtime entertainment for the crowds, and the airshows, which usually include the RAF Tornado and Red Arrows, and in 2004 and 2005 a low-flying Boeing 747; a low-flying Airbus A380 appeared at the 2008 event.

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.[13]

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 [14]

In 2018, for the first time at the Festival, a driverless Roborace racing car negotiated the course, and a virtual passenger seat experience was made available online.[15] In 2019, the car made an official run in 66.96 seconds.[16]

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.