Goodwood Festival of Speed

Goodwood Festival of Speed

Location	Goodwood House, West Sussex, England
Time zone	BST
Owner	Charles Gordon-Lennox, Earl of March and Kinrara
Opened	1993
Major events	Goodwood Festival of Speed
Hillclimb
Length	1.86 km (1.16 mi)
Turns	9
Lap record	0:41.6 (Nick Heidfeld, McLaren, 1999)
Forest Rally Stage
Length	2.5 km (1.5 mi)

	Modern F1 car echoing in the grounds of Goodwood House. 1934 Mercedes-Benz W25 starting the hillclimb. A Spyker C8 Aileron pulling away from the start of the hillclimb in 2009.
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The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual hill climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles held in the grounds of 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; it currently attracts crowds of around 100,000 on each of the three days it is now held. A record crowd of 158,000 attended in 2003, before an advance-ticket-only admission policy came into force; attendance is now capped at 150,000.^[1]

History

Founding

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 (as he is formally known) 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 13 June 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 first event's date clash, 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.

Features and attractions

The hill climb

Thanks to the event's classification as a hill climb, its location and desire to reflect the style and history of motor sport, visitors are afforded close views of the action - separated only by a few metres and reinforced straw bales from the track. Visitors are free to walk around several paddocks where the cars and drivers can be seen at close quarters. The atmosphere of the Festival of Speed, when compared to the separation of fans from drivers and machines common to most top end motor sport events, encourages participation by the fans.

The track has an elevation change of 92.7 metres, for an average gradient of 4.9%. The record time for the hillclimb was set in 1999 when Nick Heidfeld drove a McLaren MP4/13 Formula One car up the hill in 41.6 seconds (100.385 mph). For safety reasons Formula One cars are no longer allowed to do official timed runs, and will often focus on demonstrations that are spectacular rather than fast. In 2006 Heikki Kovalainen completed the course in a Renault R25 F1 car and was unofficially timed below 40 seconds.^[2]

Soapbox challenge

From 2000 to 2004 this 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.

The 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^[3] 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.

The sculpture

Since 1997, there has been a spectacular Gerry Judah sculpture in front of Goodwood House usually incorporates rare race cars.

Supercar run

Since 2000, there has been a Sunday Times Supercar Run, 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.

Cartier Style et Luxe

Since 1995^[4] 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.^[5]

The Moving Motor Show

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.^[6] Following its success, it was announced the MMS would return in 2011.^[7]

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.^[8] So it's not strictly part of the Festival of Speed, but it is a part of the Festival of Speed weekend.

Other

Other popular attractions at the event are the real life replicas of the Wacky Races cars, 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.

Since its beginning, the poster art has been illustrated by renowned motor racing artist Peter Hearsey.

In recent years, they have also put on the GAS Arena (Goodwood Action Sports) who showcase extreme stunts such as Freestyle Motorcross, BMW and Trial bike Riding ^[9]

Other events

The Festival of Speed has a sister event, the Goodwood Revival Meeting. This event, normally held in early September, relives the glory days of the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.

Incidents

There have been two separate 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.^[10] Since his recovery, despite his disability, he continues to marshal to this day. The gantry has since been made wider.

The central display

Since 1997, a car manufacturer has been honored with a central display. They are designed by Gerry Judah, and erected on the lawn in front of Goodwood House, especially for the Festival of Speed each year. This is a list of the temporary monuments:

Year	Photo	Manufacturer	Featured vehicles (on the main display)	Comment	Source
1997	Ferrari	Ferrari F310B	50th anniversary	[11]
1998	Porsche	Porsche 936/81 Porsche 917-20 "Pink Pig" Porsche 917 LH Porsche 956 Porsche 911 GT1	50th anniversary	[11][12]
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	[11][12][13]
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	[11][12]
2001	Mercedes-Benz	Mercedes-Benz 300SL	100th anniversary, resembling a gush of liquid, falling and spreading as it hits the ground.	[11][14]
2002		Renault	Renault RS01 Renault RE40 Renault RE60 Williams FW14 Benetton B195 Williams FW18 Renault R202	Honouring its comeback in F1 racing. Depicting a feather	[15]
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.	[16]
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	[17]
2005		Honda	Honda RA272 Honda RA300 Lotus 99T Williams FW11 McLaren MP4/4 BAR 006	Of them all displayed, three of these including two Hondas, as the genuine cars ran, are replicas.	[18][19]
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	[20]
2007		Toyota	Toyota TS010 Toyota Celica GT-Four Toyota GT-One Lola B2/00 Toyota TF107	Inspired by the traditional torii gates. Celebrating its 75th anniversary and 50 years involvement in motor sport.	[21][22]
2008		Land Rover	Land Rover Defender Land Rover Discovery Land Rover Freelander Range Rover	60th anniversary. Indicating the brand's "any terrain" essence.	[23]
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.	,[24][24]
2010		Alfa Romeo	Alfa Romeo P2 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione	100th anniversary	[25]
2011		Jaguar Cars	Celebrating 50 years of the Jaguar E-Type
2012		Lotus	Lotus 49 Lotus 79 Lotus 99T Lotus E20	'Past, Present and Future'
2013		Porsche	Porsche 911 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Porsche 911 991	50th anniversary of 911	[26]
2014		Mercedes-Benz	Mercedes-Benz W25 Mercedes AMG W04	120 years in motorsport	[27]

Hillclimb fastest times

Year	Driver	Car	Fastest Time
1999	Nick Heidfeld	McLaren MP4/13	0:41.60
2003	Graeme Wight Jnr	Gould GR51	0:42.90
2008	Justin Law	Jaguar XJR8/9	0:44.19
2009	Justin Law	Jaguar XJR8/9	0:44.40
2010	Roger Wills	Williams FW05	0:47.15
2011	Dan Collins	Lotus 88B	0:48.52
2012	Anthony Reid	Chevron GT3	0:46.46'
2013	Justin Law	Jaguar XJR8/9	0:45.95
2014	Sébastien Loeb	Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak	0:44.60

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Goodwood Festival of Speed.

• Goodwood Festival Of Speed website

Coordinates: 50°52′5″N 0°44′5″W / 50.86806°N 0.73472°W / 50.86806; -0.73472