- The festival attracts 200,000 attendees
- A McMurtry Spéirling set the 2022 speed record
- The track is 1.16 miles
- The Hill climbs 92.7m or 304ft
- The 1973bhp Ford Supervan went from 0-62mph acceleration run in two seconds
- 2023 Goodwood is the 25th edition of the festival
Dubbed “the world’s greatest celebration of motorsport and car culture”, the Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) is an annual motorsports festival where modern and historic motor racing cars race up a hill and take part in other events.
It’s held in the historic park-like grounds of Goodwood House, in West Sussex, England and takes place in late June or early July to avoid clashing with the Formula One season. This allows fans to witness F1 cars as well as normal cars and motorbikes climb the hill.
If you’ve got a need for speed, keep reading as we tell you all you need to know about the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2022 and what’s coming up hot in 2023.
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The Spirit Of Goodwood
The event draws over 200,000 attendees over 4 days.
Goodwood is sponsored by Mastercard and many view it as the ultimate garden party with vintage and modern sports cars. Motorsport enthusiasts flock to the annual festival to get up close and personal with finely tuned machines and the drivers who made them famous.
The Goodwood Estate is steeped in British motor racing history. The current Duke founded FOS in 1993. Before taking over the management of the Estate, The Duke was a successful advertising photographer in London. Today, he continues his photography profession as Charles March.
The 2022 speed record was 39.08 by a McMurtry Spéirling, an electric car. What makes the record unique is that the previous record was good for 23 years.
The track is 1.16 miles and there are other events such as a rally and events for motorcycles.
The event usually features modern F1 machinery, together with early pre-war examples and everything in between.
You can see famous drivers too. From 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell to rising F1 Mercedes star, George Russell, there’s plenty of racing royalty in attendance.
Hill climbing at the estate goes back to 1936 when the grandfather of the current Duke of Richmond and Gordon hosted an event on the estate.
What About Electric Cars?
Electric car technology has been embraced by Goodwood organisers and fans alike, although they are not to everyone’s taste.
Over the last few years, fans have enjoyed a large and diverse display of electric vehicles in Goodwood’s Electric Avenue.
The electric car range includes anything from city cars to hypercars and SUVs. As the deadline for the end of fossil fuels draws nearer, many have got their heads around the switch. In 2022 some such cars included the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 e-Performance, which made its debut at the event.
What Is The Hillclimb?
Each year, this stretch of road leading to the top of the Hill climbs 92.7m or 304 ft. It provides the perfect chance for manufacturers and their teams to show off their stunning machines and deftly honed driving skills.
What Is The Sunday Shootout?
Sunday is the best day to find a spot next to the track and watch legendary cars and drivers tear up the hill as they test their mettle in the shootout.
The off-road action takes place in the Rally Stage and Off-Road arena.
Goodwood 2022
The 2022 Goodwood was the 24th edition. It was also the year that Goodwood presented as many sophisticated electric cars as it did piston-powered vehicles. For many, this was the much-needed nod to the future of electrification.
Fans got a taste when they witnessed the 1973bhp Ford Supervan demolish a 0-62mph acceleration run in two seconds. and demonstrated the fact repeatedly. Even the “petrolhead-until-I-die” club were suitably impressed.
So, it would appear that the future of these (almost) silent but deadly battery-powered supercars is the future of motorsport. They are certainly quieter, with the added bonus of no emissions. Hybrids were said to be less fashionable this year, a further sign that EVs are here to stay.
Tickets were priced from £54 for entry to Thursday’s ‘moving motor show’ and £93 for weekend admission in 2022. The four-day pass for the whole event is £207 but children enjoy free entrance.
Famous Names At Goodwood 2022
Famous names are often synonymous with Ferraris and other fine cars.
2022 saw Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason drive his invaluable 1953 250 MM at Goodwood, then there was Le Mans legend Derek Bell at the wheel of a 1972 365 GTB/4 Daytona, and Australian design-legend Marc Newson in his 1953 Ferrari 857 S.
Let’s turn to what fans can look forward to in 2023.
2023 Goodwood FOS
In 2023 Goodwood FOS will take place from Thursday 13-Sunday 16 July. This year is also the 25th anniversary of the FOS.
Iconic cars such as Caroll Shelby’s AC Cobra and Ford GT40 will be featured as part of the festivities. Remember Matt Damon playing Shelby in Ford vs Ferrari? These supercars will be displayed on-track including the MC-TC, the very car in which Shelby made his debut.
Tickets are priced at € 92 per person on Friday and you pay € 180 on Saturday. On Sunday, a ticket costs € 166 per person. An entrance ticket costs you £104 per person on Friday and you pay £159 on Saturday. On Sunday, a ticket costs £146 per person. Tickets are now on sale. In addition, there will be a children’s pedal car race.
So, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Goodwood FOS, both young and old. There will be Formula 1 cars, endurance, rally, touring and sports cars. They are either on parade around the track while many will compete in official runs. Once again, this year David Coulthard will take one of the old cars for a spin.
There are also various lounges around the track where you can sit, enjoy something to eat and drink and take in the action.
Sources:
https://www.goodwood.com/motorsport/festival-of-speed/explore-festival-of-speed/hillclimb/
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-goodwood-festival-of-speed-2022
https://www.selectmotorracing.com/Historic/H_GW_fos-Tickets.html
https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/win-tickets-2023-goodwood-revival
https://www.erclassics.com/goodwood-festival-of-speed-2023/
Nathan has always been captivated by numbers and patterns. With a Master’s degree in Statistics, he’s honed his skills to decipher complex data sets and discern market trends.
Over the past decade, Nathan has worked with various firms compiling and analyzing industry spending figures to forecast market movements.