‘Speed thrills but kills’; however this isn’t the case with the motor fanatics. Since 1993 we’ve been celebrating The GoodWood Festival of Speed within the UK. Typically held in late June or early July, the event is always scheduled to fit into the motor racing calendar especially to avoid a date clash with the Formula One season, enabling not just fans but many teams involved in current motor racing championships to attend. Visitors can expect to see cars and motorbikes from over 100 years of worldwide motor racing history climb the hill, including several latest Formula One machines. Apart from the machines, the event attracts a host of names from the past and present of motor racing, offering a rare chance to see world famous names driving a wide range of machines.
One of the other most popular attractions is the Supercar Run for road-going supercars, which has been running since 2000. It is now common for speciality car manufacturers to show off their latest sports model, including the newly released mass-produced ones and working concept models.
This year a wealth of rally stars including Carlos Sainz, Petter Solberg, Colin McRae, Stig Blomqvist and Paddy Hopkirk will be in action on the demanding Forest Rally Stage. The Stage has been further enhanced for 2007 by Goodwood, working in close consultation with rally legend and former World Champion Hannu Mikkola, who helped to design the course and will be in action on it throughout the weekend.
Additionally, a new 500m rally section will include an exciting sweeping S-bend, as well as a fast but narrow straight featuring several challenging kinks right alongside the main spectator thoroughfare. All current WRC cars and drivers can also be seen in action on the Goodwood hillclimb course twice a day. Former World Champion Colin McRae plans to drive his exciting new R4 rally car in public for the very first time along with several Rally World Champions. You can see Audi Quattro Sport, Lancia Rallye 037, Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, MG Metro 6R4, Ford RS200, Opel Manta 400, Toyota Twin Cam Turbo and Nissan 240RS.
Although there isn’t a dearth of sizzle and spice, yet, to add to the flavor, five of the six Bugatti Royales ever built will be appearing for the first time ever at a major European event as part of the amazing annual automobile design competition - the Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’. This $60 million gathering of these amazing cars celebrates 80 years since their introduction, when the incredible Type 41 Royale was built by Ettore Bugatti exclusively for Royalty and heads of state. Needless to say, the prospect of seeing five of these precious Bugatti’s displayed under a specially-designed canopy on the Goodwood lawns promises to be a rare sight to treasure for years to come.
The motorcycle element of the Festival of Speed has gone from strength to strength, and 2007 is no exception , when Goodwood celebrates the centenary of the Isle of Man TT races and 20 Years of the World Superbike Championship. Long-standing Festival sponsor BMW will be showing some of its classic TT winning machines and will also bring to Goodwood, current world motorcycle stunt riding champion Chris Pfeiffer who will entertain the crowds with seemingly impossible tricks. Several stars from the WSB Championship that appeared at the 2006 Festival are also expected to be in action, in many cases with new bikes and new sponsors. Reigning World Champion Troy Bayliss will be on the Xerox Ducati 999F07 and another former double world champion, Troy Corser will be here. One of the biggest draws on two wheels this year is expected to be Jeremy McWilliams who will ride the Ilmor X1 MotoGP bike. An exciting new addition to the Festival of Speed this year is a special display of highly interesting and little seen limited-production muscle bikes, which will also be in action on the hillclimb.
Auto giants Toyota would be celebrating its 70th anniversary as well as its 50-year motor racing heritage by revealing the breathtaking collection of Toyota and Toyota-powered racing cars. Over 800 candles will be burning bright as Goodwood celebrates a number of significant motor sport and automotive anniversaries. Even big brands like Ferrari are celebrating their 60th birthday.
Providing great entertainment, the Forest Rally Stage will raise funds in memory of two most popular figures. In November 2005, England’s only World Champion Richard Burns lost a long battle against cancer. Burns’ former co-driver, Robert Reid, will be at the Festival all weekend to manage the activities of The Richard Burns Foundation, which was set up last year in the memory of Richard. Goodwood and the Richard Burns Foundation will work together to support an appropriate charitable cause - which is the Teenage Cancer Trust this year.
Goodwood’s Festival of Speed continues to attract appearances by some of UK’s finest musicians and bands. This year’s line-up includes performances by Souled on Funk, Big Boy Bloater and His Southside Stompers, Tony O’Malley, Ovacast, and the Jazz Functionaries. The hubbub also is that Kylie Minouge is coming on Sunday, hmmm!
The theme for the 2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed is ‘Spark of Genius - Breaking Records, Pushing Boundaries’, celebrating the glory of the entity racers and engineering visionaries who took risks and made sacrifices in their quest for victory. From the brave competitors who campaigned in the first Brooklands and Isle of Man TT races 100 years ago, through to the land speed record breakers and the cream of the current F1 and WRC drivers, all have made their mark and will be honoured at the 2007 Festival.
Images :Carpages, Mcia, BlogF1
Courtesy : Goodwood
