Traditional motor shows in the UK belong to the past. Instead of hiking gray exhibition halls in Birmingham or London, the enthusiasts are now flocking to the Grand Garden Party of the Duke of Richmond. The Festival of Speed has long replaced the conventional car show, with the fighting British automotive industry celebrating itself – and with thousands of cheering.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed has been offering a unique mix of fan congress, classic auto assembly, motorsport ceremony and open-air automotive exhibition for decades. In the heart is the much -discussed climbing of the hill: a narrow, two -kilometer band with asphalt that raised a grass -covered slope with a little more than two significant corners. Racing vehicles passed and present, prototypes, new models and rarities blow up the course in less than a minute that are fired by tens of thousands of spectators. Whether petrol or electricity driven, the spectacle is the same. For those who want more, a short walk to Goodwood’s Historic Circuit, on which another entertainment with high octane is waiting.
All it takes place on the private sector of Lord March, today an influential figure in the British automotive world, whose event attracts car manufacturers and managers from all over the world. After the IAA mobility show in Munich, Goodwood has probably become the most important automotive event in Europe, with more than 100,000 visitors dropping against Sussex. Brands with performance commitments take the opportunity to present themselves in the best possible light under the (hopefully) summer sun. It may not be as glamorous or varied as the Monterey Car Week in August, but Goodwood exceeded the stale format of the traditional automotive exhibition a long time ago. And when the weather is good, some visitors even forget the Wimbledon final or the impending requirements of the working week.
Since the first festival in the early nineties, the event has thrown thanks to manufacturers who not only brought their legacy but also their latest innovations. Electric vehicles are available, but the roar of the engines still dominates the experience. Legendary racing cars, past and present are upset by well -known drivers, whereby their engines cry in a way that does not often belong outside of Silverstone or the Nürburgring.
Hyundais ioniq 6 N, which is 650 hp and able to generate 260 km/h, lights up the tires on the hill. Bentley’s new Bentayga speed sets a new benchmark for SUVs and storms to the top in just 55.8 seconds. With 650 hp, 850 Nm and a top speed of 310 km/h on open streets, it is anything but subtle. McLaren increases the use with the 1,275 PS W1 and shows the future of the hybridized Formula -1 technology for the street. Then there is the Solus GT, a subtmonine one with an 840 PS V10-clean theater. From Koenigsegg and Pagani to Lotus, Ferrari, Aston Martin and even Rolls-Royce with the ghost, Goodwood becomes a stage for the fastest and loudest players.
BMW celebrates five decades of the 3 Series while showing the vision of new class and a preview of the next IX3 on site. The M2 CS and M3 CS tours roar up the hill. Mercedes shows its electric CLA, but the old silver arrows still pull more applause. Porsche brings the stars: Dua Lipa reveals a tailor-made GT3 RS that she designed for charity organizations, and the Oscar winner Adrien Brody premiere the intern, a documentary behind the scenes of the Porsche factory. But maybe the most expected is the dynamic debut of the purely electric Porsche Cayenne.
Lamborghini reveals the new Temerario and its GT3 racing version, which are supposed to follow the Huracán in competition. “After the commercial and sporting success of the Huracán GT3 with 96 championships and over 200 sold cars, we always wanted to bring racing versions of the Temerario to life,” says CEO Stephan Winkelmann. In the meantime, Chinese brands – especially MG – become more prominent. This year you will return with production models and concept cars such as cyberster and cyber X.
Festival founder Charles Gordon-Lennox, Duke of Richmond, welcomes her presence: “Last year MG celebrated his Centenary with us. Now you are back with two large new production cars and some really striking concepts.
