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The Goodwood Festival of Speed: More Than Just a Hill Climb
Car enthusiasts around the world mark their calendars for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, a celebration that transcends mere hill climbing. Held annually at the Duke of Richmond’s Goodwood Estate in the southeast of England, this festival has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the premier events on the automotive calendar.
While the Goodwood Revival focuses on race cars from the 1930s to the 1960s, the Festival of Speed is an expansive showcase of both street and race cars, spanning from the modern era to the dawn of automotive history. This year’s event featured a slew of world premieres, including the Polestar Concept BST, the Genesis GV60 Magma, the track-only hypercar Red Bull RB17, and the limited-edition Ineos Grenadier de Tour.
Much more than a simple hill climb, the festival is a sprawling automotive exhibition. It includes a rally stage, an off-road area, a supercar corner, a concours, an auction, and numerous vendor exhibitions. One highlight of the event, known as the Centrepiece, featured a stunning homage to MG’s 100-year history, balancing an MG B on one side and the new MG Cyberstar on the other.
### The Dynamics of the Hill Climb
The theme for this year’s festival, “From Horseless to Hybrid: Innovation Unleashed,” allowed attendees to journey through an automotive timeline—from early 1900s marvels like the Beast of Turin to modern marvels like Audi’s recently completed 16-cylinder Auto Union Type 52.
Categories showcased ranged from post-WWII race cars to 1970s classics, turbocharged 1980s machines, and modern hybrid and electric vehicles. Ten of Niki Lauda’s F1 cars were on display, alongside a variety of vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, Shadow, Joest, and Red Bull, among others. Spectators had the chance to get up-close views of iconic race cars from Le Mans, Formula 1, Rallycross, NASCAR, and more.
### The Competitive Edge
The festival’s main draw is, of course, the hill climb—a unique race that almost operates without rules. The only guideline seems to be: don’t go too fast with an over-the-top setup. The 2022 winner, McMurtrie Spearing, set an all-time record with a 39.08-second run in a 1,000-horsepower electric car—a vehicle that didn’t compete this year due to its extreme specifications.
The real competition occurs during the annual shootout. About half the participating cars vie for the fastest time up the 1.16-mile hill. The competition runs for four days, with timed sessions each afternoon. Category winners are decided by Saturday’s results, while an overall winner is crowned Sunday. Notably, cars run in reverse order on Sunday, with the fastest from the previous day going last.
### Who Took the Crown in 2024?
This year’s race saw fierce competition among Travis Pastrana’s Subaru Family Huckster, Scott Speed’s 2024 Subaru WRX Project Midnight, and Romain Dumas in the Ford Supervan 4.2. The electric Supervan clinched victory with a time of 43.987 seconds—1.1 seconds faster than Saturday’s run. Project Midnight, despite a valiant effort, finished second at 46.075 seconds, while Pastrana’s aggressive approach led to a crash.
### Maximizing the Goodwood Experience
Held in July, the weather at the Goodwood Festival of Speed is unpredictable. Temperatures often range between 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, but rain and sudden temperature drops are common. Visitors are advised to bring layers, a hat, and a rain poncho.
To make the most of the festival, explore the paddocks, admire the parking lot (which in itself is a car show), secure a good vantage point for the hill climb, and peruse the various exhibits. This event offers an unparalleled opportunity to see legendary cars up close, interact with racing icons, and witness the finest cars from past and present in action.
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Donald Smith, Editor of Automotive.fyi
