Festival of Speed
This year's event is shaping up as the best ever, with an all time record number of 115 drivers and riders confirmed for the world's largest celebration of motoring culture. This beats the Festival's previous best of 101 top attendees from the world of motor sport in 2008.
As well as having both the reigning Formula One and WRC World Champions at Goodwood (Lewis Hamilton and Sebastien Loeb) the latest confirmed list who will be driving or riding at the 2009 Festival of Speed reads like a who's who of motor racing.
Joining existing confirmed drivers such as the current 2009 season Formula One championship leader Jenson Button and Sebastien Loeb's team mate Dani Sordo, sharing his WRC Citroen C4, will be David Brabham, driving his father's 1959 World Championship-winning Cooper T51, Bruno Senna driving his uncle Ayrton's McLaren MP4/4 (as will Lewis Hamilton), and Eddie Irvine driving Gilles Villeneuve's famous Ferrari 312 T3.
Current Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton will demonstrate the 1988 McLaren-Honda MP4/4 turbo, as driven by his hero Ayrton Senna, up the famous 1.16-mile Festival of Speed hill climb.
The theme of the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed 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. In attendance to help represent this theme were a number of cars once driven in anger by many of motor racing's greatest heroes, including the victorious 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours-winning Aston Martin DBR1 and Richard Attwood's famous Porsche 917K, one of many that will be at the Festival in July.
There will be a paddock full of supercars including Nissan's 370Z, BMW Z4 and the closed canopy Caparo T1 all making their UK debuts.
Audi's centenary will also be honoured, with Audi the main featured marque of the Festival. Their participation includes a pair of historic racers from the Audi's successful competition career (Auto Union Type D 'Silver Arrows' racer and ex-works Audi Quattro Sport S1) along with a number of historic Audi marques.
Of course Goodwood will also be celebrating in style the Minis 50th anniversary, with all models to be represented.
In what must rank as one of the most bizarre parades, those crazy Poms celebrate the Goodwood Festival with a parade of Wacky Racers Cars. This was the first time they were driven on public roads - complete with police escort!
Source: JUST CARS, August 2009, Collectors Issue #162
