Summer for many petrolheads is marked by the return of one of the world’s greatest automotive events for another year. The 22nd Goodwood Festival of Speed weekend will start with a bang on the 25th of June, and we’ve got all the info of what you’ll be seeing there.
There will be hillclimb debuts from some of the latest performance models including the new Ford Focus RS, stunning Ford GT concept and the Mclaren P1 GTR hypercar. Alongside this will be the new fourth-generation Mazda MX5, and Bentley’s updated Continental GT range. Eighteen manufacturers have signed up to bring along their latest and greatest vehicles.
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This year’s festival theme has been revealed as “Flatout and Fearless: Racing on the Edge”. It’s set ot be one of the most action-packed events yet for motorsport fans, in particular motorbike enthusiasts, as MotoGP racing legend Valentino Rossi will make his debut at Goodwood for the first time, alongside Casey Stoner.
Five of the top Formula One racing teams will be in attendance to showcase their latest championship race cars: Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, Mclaren and Williams. There will also be four LMP1 Le Mans Endurance prototype models from Audi, Porsche, Nissan and Toyota, along with a huge display for NASCAR including legends Richard Petty and Kerry Earnhart.
Stirling Moss will also be in attendance, celebrating the 60th anniversary of his landmark victory at Mille Miglia in 1955. Seven of the historic Mercedes 300 SLR racers will also be brought along and will tackle the hillclimb.
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Alongside the hillclimb stage, the Festival of Speed also features the traditional Concours d’elegance, with a celebration of the 80th birthday of Figoni et Falaschi cars, and cars marking the 60th anniversary of Citroen’s DS badge (now a separate brand). An enlarged Michelin Supercar Run and Brooklands supercar paddock will also make a return.
Mazda has been chosen as this year’s featured manufacturer, and will showcase all of its latest production models and heritage vehicles, including its Le Mans-winning 787B racer which will take on the hillclimb. A celebration of historic hypercars right up to the present day will also see the first vehicles to top 200mph making their mark on the famous hill.
