2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Held in the beautiful parkland surrounding Goodwood House, Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard is motorsport’s ultimate summer garden party, an intoxicating celebration of the world’s most glamorous sport.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is like Disneyland for speed freaks. Held each summer in southern England, it’s a paradise where racing enthusiasts can get up close with everything from vintage rally cars to modern Formula 1 speedsters. Here some moment you could miss

Ford Supervan vs. Subaru Project Midnight

Forget Ford vs. Ferrari—this year at Goodwood, it was all about Ford vs. Subaru in an epic hill-climb showdown. Picture former F1 ace Scott Speed tearing up the track in Subaru’s beastly 670-hp Project Midnight. Originally a WRX transformed into a lightweight powerhouse by Vermont SportsCar, it sports a mean blacked-out look, a massive rear wing, and a carbon-fiber widebody kit. On the other side, Romain Dumas tackled the hill in Ford’s Supervan 4.2, a futuristic electric powerhouse with a staggering 2000 horsepower from four motors. It was a clash of titans on the pavement, showcasing cutting-edge engineering and raw speed.

Travis Pastrana and His Subaru ‘Huckster’ Go Full Send

This year marked Scott Speed’s debut at Goodwood, and he found the narrow hill-climb course to be a unique challenge. Comparing it to Monaco in an F1 car, he noted the intensity of navigating such tight confines. Visibility was tough, but Speed adapted to Project Midnight’s all-wheel-drive dynamics, praising its strong acceleration as a key advantage.

Speed and his team aimed for a sub-45-second run, achieving a competitive 45.1 seconds on Saturday, just behind Romain Dumas and the Supervan. Sunday’s showdown saw Speed’s Subie facing off against Dumas’ electric Ford, where Speed clinched first place with a 43.9-second sprint, while Dumas followed closely with 46.1 seconds. It was a thrilling contest, showcasing the excitement of high-performance racing.

Goodwood Festival of Speed Timed Shootout Results

The timed shootout at Goodwood is always a thrilling spectacle, where cars race up the hill to set the fastest times. This year, the format changed with timed runs concluding each class, crowning winners on Saturday. Sunday remained the day for the ultimate battle for the overall fastest time.

Among the top nine performances, four cars were incredibly close, within eight-tenths of a second of each other. One standout was the Czinger 21C hypercar, which set a new record as the fastest street-legal production car ever to conquer the hill.

Below are the timed shootout’s nine fastest runs:

Ford Performance Supervan 4.2: 43.9 seconds
Subaru WRX ‘Project Midnight’: 46.1 seconds
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup: 48.1 seconds
Alpine A110 Pikes Peak: 48.6 seconds
Czinger 21C: 48.8 seconds
Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R: 48.9 seconds
Ferrari 296 Challenge: 50.0 seconds
Lotus 77: 50.1 seconds
BMW M4 GT3: 50.2 seconds

Formula 1 Paddock Features Niki Lauda Race Cars

Niki Lauda remains a Formula 1 legend, celebrated for his remarkable career. Fifty years ago, he secured his first victory at the 1974 Spanish Grand Prix. Fast forward 40 years to 1984, where he famously edged out Alain Prost by just half a point to claim his third drivers’ championship.

At Goodwood, Lauda’s incredible legacy was honored with a special display in the F1 paddock. Featured were his iconic Ferrari and McLaren race cars, including the Ferrari 312T, a powerhouse that helped Lauda dominate in 1975, winning six out of eight races it entered. Though on static display, it’s a reminder of Lauda’s skill and determination on the track.

Iconic Supercars at the Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’

At Goodwood, a charming miniature car show unfolds near the historic Goodwood House. Picture a grassy lawn adorned with treasures ranging from a pristine Mk 1 Volkswagen Polo to gleaming tractors and iconic supercars from Lamborghini and Pagani. This year, the spotlight shone on Italian designer Marcello Gandini, who recently passed away. Goodwood dedicated two classes to his creations, including the stunning 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 ‘Periscopo.’ Only ten right-hand-drive versions were ever made, featuring a powerful 4.0-liter V-12 engine capable of hitting 175 mph. Back in its day, this Countach was priced at £18,295, equating to the cost of 10 MG sports cars. It’s a testament to Gandini’s enduring influence on automotive design.

Goodwood Sculpture Celebrates MG’s 100th Birthday

Goodwood this year celebrated MG’s 100th anniversary with a stunning centerpiece: a towering sculpture by Gerry Judah at the winner’s circle. One end featured the classic Mk 1 MGB, while the other showcased the futuristic MG Cyberster roadster. Enthusiasts also admired MG’s new electric drop-top and the Cyber GTS concept on display.

Adding to the excitement, two vintage MGs raced up the hill: an ex-works Magnette K3 driven by Tazio Nuvolari to victory in 1933 and a 1929 C-type once owned by Freddie March, credited with founding motorsports at Goodwood. Interestingly, the estate’s current owner, the 11th Duke of Richmond, is Freddie’s grandson, continuing the legacy of motorsport at Goodwood.