In just one week the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed (3-5 July) will get underway with around 150,000 excited motor sport enthusiasts coming to see their favourite star cars and drivers in action. The Festival of Speed is firmly established as the world’s greatest celebration of automotive culture, with something to offer for every taste. The theme of this year’s Festival is ‘True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance’. The theme celebrates the drive and determination of motor racing’s heroes, who overcame huge physical, mental and mechanical barriers in their quest for glory. From Jackie Stewart’s enduring victory at the 1968 German Grand Prix, despite his broken wrist, to Mick Doohan’s courageous return to motorcycle racing in 1992, without full use of his right leg, there are countless amazing tales of performances far beyond what was thought possible for any human being. Many of the vehicles representing this theme will be present, as will some of the drivers and riders that refused to accept defeat and continued to pursue their goals against all odds. There are thousands of reasons to visit the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed – below are just ten highlights: 1. Contemporary Formula One: No less than six of today’s F1 teams will be at the Festival of Speed, with acclaimed current F1 drivers such as Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Timo Glock and reigning F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton in attendance. A number of previous F1 heroes, including Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart, Eddie Irvine, David Coulthard and Damon Hill will also be tackling the challenging 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb course. 2. Forest Rally Stage: Current WRC teams will join up to 50 historic rally cars on the challenging Goodwood Forest Rally Stage. Expect to see plenty of gravel-spitting sideways action from current WRC heroes such as multiple World Champion Sebastien Loeb and Danni Sordo in the Citroen C4 WRC, as well as rallying past masters, including Walter Rohrl, Bjorn Waldegard, Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist and Rauno Aaltonen showing how it used to be done. Cult American television star Jesse James will also be thrilling the Forest Rally Stage crowds in his wild ‘Trophy Truck.’ 3. Motorcycles: A who’s who of riders and bikes will be in attendance at Goodwood, with huge names such as Troy Corser, Mick Doohan, Max Biaggi and Phil Read set to entertain the Festival crowds. Motorcycle highlights include no less than five current works World Superbike and World Supersport teams, including BMW Motorrad Motorsport, Kawasaki World Superbike R.T., Suzuki Alstare Brux, Aprilia Racing and Ten Kate Honda. Hollywood legend Peter Fonda will be reunited with an exact replica of the famous custom chopper that he rode 40 years ago in the 1969 classic movie Easy Rider. Fonda will ride up the Goodwood Hill each on this iconic Harley-Davidson. 4. Anniversaries and Key Displays: Although still under wraps, this year’s extravaganza of automotive art directly outside Goodwood House will celebrate the centenary of Audi. At over 35 metres high, this installation will be one of the Festival’s most stricking yet, towering above Goodwood House, and visible from many miles away. Also celebrating their centenaries at Goodwood will be Morgan and Bugatti. Other key anniversaries being marked this year include 75 years of the Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz ‘Silver Arrows’ racers, 60 years of the continuous post-War running of the Le Mans 24 hour race, 50 years since the launch of the Mini, 50 years of the celebrated Daytona 500 race, 40 years of the dominant Porsche 917, and 40 years of Formula One involvement of Sir Frank Williams. Away from these significant anniversaries, other Festival of Speed attractions will include the UK’s first sight of cult American TV star Jesse James in action behind the wheel of his wild Baja-style Trophy Truck. Record breakers will be represented by the debut of the scale model Bloodhound British land speed record car, plus Porsche’s Guinness World Record attempt for the longest distance covered in 48 hours by a team of 12 runners on treadmills from the Porsche Human Performance Centre. In the air, the Eurofighter Tornado and Red Arrows will display over Goodwood. 5. Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’: This prestigious annual homage to the finest in automotive design will this year include many of the most beautiful and extraordinary cars. A class of coach-built Bugatti Type 57s will set many hearts fluttering, as will the first-ever British sighting of the stunning 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia. Other notable classes include bespoke Rolls-Royces, special Minis and early cyclecars. Expect to see some ultra-rare exotic roadsters from the late 1960s, plus some crazy 1970s wedged concept cars, including the one off Aston Martin Bulldog, Alfa Romeo Carabo and wild Vauxhall SRV. 6. The Sunday Times Supercar Run: A multi-million pound collection of the world’s most desirable contemporary exotica will be demonstrated on the Hill. Watch out for UK debuts of the stunning Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, Tramontana and Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss being put though their paces, plus the first UK sighting of the new Audi R8 V10, Ferrari California and GTbyCitroen concept in action. 7. Timed Run Shoot Out: A new Goodwood attraction for 2009 is a dedicated timed run shoot out on the Sunday afternoon. Throughout the three days of the Festival, a number of cars will climb the challenging 1.16-mill Goodwood hillclimb against the clock. On Sunday the fastest of these cars will re-run against the clock in a thrilling timed shoot-out to establish the fastest overall time of the Festival weekend. 8. FoS-TECH: This state-of-the-art technology exhibition, in association with BP Ultimate, focuses on the future of motoring and environmental issues in a series of interesting new initiatives and displays. FoS-TECH will showcase a variety of exciting new technologies from motor manufacturers, design specialists, oil companies and other motor industry suppliers, with exhibits of concept cars not seen in the UK before, including the Lexus LF-A, Infiniti Essence, Renault Ondelios and the amazing Lola WorldF3rst, the first racing car built from entirely sustainable materials, including carrots and potatoes. New for this year will be a class of low-emission vehicles driving up the Goodwood Hill as an addition to the Supercar Run. 9. Junior Festival of Speed: Something to keep kids of all ages entertained, with masses of things to do, from discovering the full set of Wacky Racers to big fun in the gaming zone. The UK’s number one mountain bike stunt team, MAD, will amaze all, as will Rarekind, Britain’s only graffiti art gallery. And the live music is worth the ticket price alone. 10. A Great Spectator Occasion: What Wimbledon is to tennis, and Henley is to rowing, so Goodwood is to motor sport, having quickly established itself as the place to be every summer to see the very best that motor racing has to offer. No other motoring event can match the unique combination of more than 350 vehicles and a record 120 motor racing heroes, blasting up the drive of one of England’s most revered stately homes. Enthusiasts can enjoy watching great machines and drivers at close quarters, and can actually stop and chat to some of their motor racing idols. No wonder the Festival of Speed has often been described as ‘the Garden Party of the Gods.’ Festival entry is by advance ticket only, with a limited number of tickets still being available. All tickets to the roving grandstand seats are now sold out, as is all hospitality and all camping pitches. For more information, visit goodwood.comClick
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