The revamped Goodwood Festival of Speed is open for business, with a host of new attractions and a new theme
The 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed has opened its doors today for the first show day. This year’s theme is “Speed Kings – Motorsport’s Record Breakers” and celebrates all areas of outstanding achievement in racing, taking-in everything from land speed record cars to the fastest racetrack monsters.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019 event also marks 20 years since Nick Heidfeld claimed the outright hillclimb record at the wheel of the McLaren MP4/13, covering the 1.16-mile course in 41.6 seconds. His record remains unbeaten to this day, despite Volkswagen’s valiant effort of 43.8 seconds with its all-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak racer in 2018 – though the potential for a new record being set in 2019 remains a very real possibility with the I.D. R returning to the hillclimb this year.
• Nurburgring lap record holders
As usual, the 2019 Festival of Speed opens today and runs through until Sunday (July 4 to July 7), culminating in the famous Goodwood Hillclimb shootout. This year, however, the festival site itself has been revamped, with the highlight being a new ‘Arena’ area that will host a range of action-packed displays throughout tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Michelin’s Supercar Paddock will also return, but will be relocated from the Cathedral Paddock to the hillclimb start-line to make room for the Arena.
Goodwood’s recently-added Future Lab has also returned for 2019. This, together with the First Glance Paddock, shows off the most innovative technologies from the worlds of aerospace, robotics and autonomous transport, along with the latest offerings from the world’s automotive manufacturers.
The weekend concludes with the Hillclimb Shootout of the festival’s fastest cars. After three days of practice, the event’s supercars, touring cars and electric cars, along with a range of specially commissioned hillclimb monsters, battle it out in an attempt to break Nick Heidfeld’s hill climb record and this might well be the year they manage it.
Of course, many of the major car manufacturers will also be in attendance with stands showcasing their latest models. It’s a particularly big year for Bentley, Citroen, MINI and Pagani who are celebrating their 100th, 100th, 60th and 20th anniversaries respectively with special displays. If you’re lucky enough to have tickets, there’ll be a whole lot to see.
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Goodwood Festival of Speed: live stream
Watch the official Festival of Speed live stream to get a taste for the action…
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019: A–Z of manufacturers
Plenty of cars will have their debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with many taking to the hill climb for the crowd’s enjoyment. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect from each brand at this year’s event:
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo will bring a suite of cars to this year’s festival, with the brand’s recently released compact SUV, the Tonale, acting as the headliner. It will be joined by the firm’s special-edition Giulia and Stelvio racing editions, as well as the Giulia Quadrifoglio and the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. The latter two models will both set times up Goodwood’s hillclimb.
Aston Martin
Goodwood’s central feature always follows a particular theme, and this year Aston Martin will be the subject: expect a collection of the brand’s finest models – old and new – to be on show. Back on solid ground, the recently launched DBS Superleggera Volante will be present. It’s fitted with a 715bhp twin-turbocharged V12, producing 715bhp and 900Nm of torque. As such, it’s the fastest convertible in the British brand’s history, with a top speed of 211mph and a 0–62mph time of 3.6 seconds.
Bentley
Bentley will reveal the new Flying Spur at this year’s Festival of Speed. It’ll feature as a static display on a stand of 30 iconic Bentleys, assembled to celebrate the brand’s 100th year in business. When it reaches the UK market this autumn, it promises to be the most tech-laden Flying Spur yet, lifting its infotainment system and rear-wheel steering setup from the latest Continental GT.
BMW
BMW’s recently released M8 Competition will make its UK debut at Goodwood this year. The German firm also plans to run several of its cars, from both its contemporary and heritage fleets, up the festival’s hillclimb. Highlights include a BMW M3 E30, a BMW X4 M Competition and the BMW V12 LMR, which celebrated an overall victory at Le Mans in 1999. Finally, festival goers can visit ‘BMW Boulevard’ and ‘BMW M Town;’ a pair of static displays which respectively showcase the firm’s luxury and performance models.
Citroen
Like Bentley, Citroen is also celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, Citroen’s celebratory 19_19 Concept and Ami One Concept will make their UK debut, featuring on the firm’s stand alongside the new C5 Aircross and a classic 2CV. Citroen Racing will also attend the event, with the C3 WRC participating in a variety of events across the weekend.
Ferrari
Ferrari is set to bring three one-off models to the Festival of Speed. A pair of V12 specials; the 812 Superfast-based SP2 speedster and the F12 TDF-derived SP3JC roadster, will join the P80/C: a track-only special which shares much with the brand’s 488 GT3 racer. Beyond the unique, multi-million Pound creations, Ferrari will also bring examples of the 488 Pista, 812 Superfast, FXX K Evo, the GTC4Lusso and the Portofino.
Ford
The Ford GT is getting even more hardcore, and the new model is set to make its debut on the lawn of the Duke of Richmond’s gardens. The single teaser image we’ve seen so far shows that the new model will boast a roof scoop and a huge rear wind, aping the GTE race car which won its class at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans. Also on the Ford stand will be the new Ford Focus ST and the Shelby GT500.
Honda
The main buzz on Honda’s stand will centre around its new all-electric city vehicle. The Honda e will offer a WLTP range of 125 miles, and through a CCS charger can replenish 80 percent of its charge in just 30 minutes. But arguably more important than any of that is the way it looks: the e could be the first small electric car that’s truly desirable.
Lotus
Lotus will bring its recently announced Evora GT4 Concept to this year’s Festival of Speed, as well as a range of its historical, record-breaking race cars. The most famous Lotus on display will be Type 25 F1 racer which, in 1965 at the hands of Jim Clark, set the Goodwood circuit lap record with a time of 1:20.4 minutes. The record remains unbeaten to this day following a change in the track’s configuration.
Morgan
Morgan’s recently released Plus Six sports car will make its way up Goodwood’s hillclimb during the weekend. Underpinned by the firm’s latest bonded aluminium CX architecture, it features a new suspension set-up, a redesigned cabin and a new twin-turbocharged 335bhp 3.0-litre straight-six engine, courtesy of BMW.
MINI
2019 is a big year for MINI, as it marks the 60th anniversary since the first example of Issigonis-designed motoring icon rolled off the production line. Among the likely celebrations should see the UK debut of the latest John Cooper Works GP: revealed at the 2019 Nurburgring 24 Hour race, the extreme hot hatch managed to lap The Green Hell in eight minutes, 23 seconds.
Pagani
It’s Pagani’s 20th anniversary this year so, to celebrate, the Italian supercar manufacturer will bring a fleet of 30 Zondas and Huyaras to Goodwood, valued at more than £100 million. Highlights include the 2005 Zonda F, the 2010 Zonda Tricolore, the Huyara Roadster and a display of the first Zonda ever built; a 1999 C25. Pagani will also run a recently-restored Zonda R up Goodwood’s hill climb twice each day.
Porsche
Porsche will use the Festival of Speed to launch a new motorsport challenger. The next generation of its 911 GTE racer will be on display, featuring aerodynamic updates that include an enlarged rear diffuser made possible by new side-exit exhausts. Beyond its motorsport links, expect to see all of the brand’s latest road car hits, too.
Polestar
Volvo’s electric performance car offshoot, will give Goodwood fans a UK debut to savour. The Polestar 2 made its debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, and will be available to view at the Polestar Pavillion. Out on the hill, the Polestar 1 will take part in the Michelin Supercar Run.
Radical
British track car manufacturer Radical will unveil its new roadgoing Rapture sports car at Goodwood on Thursday 4 July. After the launch, the Rapture will be sent up the Festival’s famed hillclimb course. Little has been revealed about the new car’s design or performance, but Radical claims it will incorporate the firm’s latest powertrain, electronics and aerodynamic technology, offering an “unapologetic attack on the senses”.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen aimed for the overall Goodwood hillclimb record with its I.D.R last year, ultimately falling a couple of seconds short of Nick Heidfeld’s McLaren run from 1999. Following on from smashing the electric car lap record at the Nurburgring Nordschleife earlier this year can the I.D. R, driven by former Le Mans winner Romain Dumas, break the record this time?
Motorsport stars of the show
Motorsport legends past and present will be in attendance this year. At least four current Formula 1 drivers taking a trip up the hill: Daniel Ricciardo, Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Alex Albon will all feature. From elsewhere in the world of four-wheel racing, the likes of ex-WRC and WRX champion Petter Solberg, three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti and NASCAR legend Richard Petty will all be at the show.
Are you excited about this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed? Let us know in the comments section below…
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