For those with even a passing interest in cars, Festival of Speed is undoubtedly one of the greatest shows on earth
The Festival of Speed (23-26 June 2016) has become a cornerstone of the British motoring summer, along with its end-of-season neighbour The Revival. What started back in 2003 as a quirky and delightfully intimate one-day event for a few thousand enthusiasts, soon exploded into one of the most highly attended motoring events in the world (around 100,000 visitors per day).
The action centres on a narrow 1.16 mile ribbon of Tarmac which runs up past Goodwood House (above), hosting everything from fire-breathing pre-war leviathans to NASCARs, rally cars, Formula 1 cars (no fewer than seven teams will be present this year) and the very latest supercars. While the cars, and to a lesser extent bikes, are very much the stars of the four-day show, the event is attended each year by racing royalty from around the world. This year’s line-up of stars includes Derek Bell, Jenson Button (main image), Nico Rosberg, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mark Webber and Sir Stirling Moss to name but a few.
The numerous sideshows on offer include a rally stage, where star drivers can been seen blasting through a forest in iconic rally cars, from 70s Escorts to the lastest WRC machines. Top-drawer manufacturers are always in abundance showing off their latest wares and this year BMW is the featured marque, so stand by for the very best from them and sister brands Mini and Rolls-Royce (whose spectacular headquarters and assembly plant is on the Goodwood Estate). In addition, BAC wants to beat its record-breaking 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed Hill Climb time with its latest single-seater Mono supercar.
BMW will be the focus of artist and designer Gerry Judah’s customary front-of-house sculpture which will include Bernie Ecclestone’s 1983 Brabham BT52 F1 car. Designed by the legendary Gordon Murray and powered by BMW’s 1.5 litre turbo engine (which produced an eye-watering 800bhp in qualifying trim), this is the car in which Nelson Piquet took his second World Championship after a thrilling season-long battle with Alain Prost in a Renault and Ferrari teammates Rene Arnoux and Patrick Tambay.
If you’re in buying mood, Bonhams have an eclectic line-up on offer this year, including a 1976 Jensen Interceptor (estimate £45-£55,000), a 1981 BMW M1 (estimate £280-£320,000) and the star of the show, a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C (don’t ask).
The cars and their drivers may be what the crowds turn out in their hundreds of thousands to see each year, but it is the style and single-minded vision with which Lord March continues to deliver this content that drives the success of his events. If you have yet to experience the Festival of Speed or The Revival, then I urge you to go. For those with even a passing interest in cars they are undoubtedly two of the greatest shows on earth.
Chris Bucknall is CEO of V Management, who provide 5-star storage and management for classic and supercars at their state of the art 40,000 sq ft facility in Berkshire.
You can contact him at chris@v-management.com or call him on 01635 867705
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