19 Powerful Sights at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2016 That Caught Our Eye
One of the hallmarks of a truly great champion is to keep winning and winning, maintaining a level of performance that others can only aspire to.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed fits into this category of "superstar" neatly. Each year you think that it cannot possibly maintain or even improve the show, and each year Lord March and his team do just that.
For those who cherish the automobile, it is one of the truly great events on every petrolhead’s bucket list, or at least it should be. So what caught my eye in 2016?
BIMMER BEAUTY
1. The 131-Ft Sculpture Celebrating 100 Years of BMW:
As in previous Festivals, Gerry Judah’s sculpture dominated the skyline in front of Goodwood House, celebrating 100 years of BMW with this amazing creation. Towering forty meters high, the 77-ton steel structure featured three iconic race cars from Munich.
In case you were wondering, the BMW 328 Mille Miglia, the Brabham-BMW BT52 and the BMW V12 LMR are real cars taken from the BMW Museum, each with a great significance in the sporting history of the German marque.
2. The Iconic Jägermeister 1973 BMW CSL Race Car:
Closer to the ground there were more iconic Bimmers, a CSL in Jägermeister livery being a particular favorite of the crowd.
3. The 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours Champion and His Winning BMW:
And Yannick Dalmas was reunited with the BMW V12 LMR that he drove to victory at Le Mans in 1999, his fourth win in the French classic.
4. And So Many More Bimmer Beauties:
There were BMWs of every vintage, it was a proper salute to “The Ultimate Driving Machine”.
THE ENDLESS PURSUIT OF POWER
4. The Festival's Fitting 2016 Theme:
Each Festival of Speed has a marketing hook, usually sounding like something that an ‘80s ad agency would have pitched to a client in the hope of making their creative solutions sound more convincing. This year’s theme was “Full Throttle – The Endless Pursuit of Power,” straight out of the Creative Department after a good lunch. It’s all torque you know...
5. Cars Displaying the "Full Throttle" Theme to the Max:
What this did entail was a look at the machines that shook the earth, from the earliest days to more modern times. The thread running through the selection of cars was excess, more power and yet more power.
6. The Legacy Ferrari Has Paved in the Grand Prix:
And yet power has many variations on a theme. The power of a brand, perhaps more accurately the power of the legend that is Ferrari in the Grand Prix arena. It is a show stopper.
A COLLISION OF STARS
7. This Superbike Star Taking a Selfie With the Festival's Founder:
Here the power of the automobile collides with the power of the celebrity, former Superbike World Champion, Troy Corser engages with the new Bugatti Chiron, that was being taken up the Hill by none other than Lord March. Owning the place does have its advantages.
8. Fans Meeting the 2009 F1 World Champion:
One of the great attractions for the paying customer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed is the access and proximity of the stars, such as 2009 F1 World Champion, Jenson Button. At Silverstone’s British Grand Prix this month none of these fans would get with a hundred yards of him, such is the disdain shown to the public by the rulers of Formula One.
9. And More Stars Like Keanu Reeves:
The other stars join in the spirit of the event, such as Keanu Reeves, fresh from his appearance at the Le Mans 24 Hours. He rode his Arch motorcycle up the Hill six times during the Festival, and this particular machine is built by a company that he co-owns.
FORMULA DRIFT
10. Formula Drift Points Leader Vaughn Gittin Jr. Killing It:
One of the great qualities of the Festival of Speed is the willingness to embrace all forms of automotive excellence, so Formula Drift was seen in Sussex’s South Downs. Vaughn Gittin Jr., current points leader on the FD circuit, wowed the crowds.
11. And "Mad" Mike Whiddett Also Putting on a Great Show:
Also promoting the Formula Drift scene was ‘Mad’ Mike Whiddett. The pair gave the fans a real taste of their Nitto tires as they burned and blasted their way up the Hill past Goodwood House.
12. How UK Onlookers Were Swept Off Their Feet:
The exhibition of drifting was very popular, while there is a small drift scene here in the UK, it is nothing compared with the professional, big-budget affair that is Formula Drift.
TIME ATTACK
13. The "King of the Hill" Defending His Crown:
Time Attack was also on the stage, with the amazing Gobstopper ll defending its ‘King of the Hill’ title at Goodwood. This is the ultimate Impreza: no question, no doubt. To prove the point Olly Clark posted an incredible time of 46.29 seconds with the speed across the finish line of 140.20mph to retain his crown.
14. This Former Indy 500 Champion's Narrow 2nd Place Finish:
To put that into context Clarke was almost a second clear of former Indy 500 winner Kenny Brack who was driving the McLaren P1 LM. Brack who recorded a climb 47.07 seconds and terminal speed of 135mph had 986bhp at his disposal.
THE RALLY STAGE
15. The Popular MG Metro 6R4:
Meanwhile on another part of the Goodwood Estate the rally boys and girls were at it. Perennial Group B favourite the MG Metro 6R4 getting airborne on the Rally Stage.
THE MOVING MOTOR SHOW
16. The Mercedes-AMG GT R Unveiling:
The Festival of Speed incorporates The Moving Motor Show on its Thursday Preview Day. Cars are now launched during the event, such as the Mercedes-AMG GT R, trying to capitalize on the success of the latest GT3 racers who dominated the recent Nürburgring 24 Hours. With 585 horses produced by the turbocharged V8 and electronic wizardry such a rear-wheel steering, the latest offering from Stuttgart has its aim firmly on the likes of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
17. The MINI Seven:
A little more affordable was the new MINI Seven, unveiled for the first time at Goodwood. It is the new special edition MINI and comes with a bewildering array of packages and options, and you can bet it will sell like hot cakes.
18. The Aston Martin Vantage V12 Roadster:
If exclusivity is your objective, then Aston Martin have the answer. This Vantage V12 Roadster is the result of a customer’s desire for Q by Aston Martin to create a unique experience. It took nine months to build this elegant vehicle and is proof that Aston Martin customers can now commission top to bottom design and engineering projects.
CONCOURS
19. This Classic Lamborghini Espada 400 GT:
Naturally there was a Concours happening on the lawn in front of the Stable Block, and this gorgeous Lamborghini Espada 400 GT was typical of the quality on display. The ‘70s styling looking cool and still relevant, at least to my eyes, but that probably says more about me than the Italian classic.
SO, IS GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED WORTH ATTENDING?
"Not Half!" as the expression goes. There is nothing like it anywhere on the planet.
