In a spectacular celebration of speed, innovation, and the legacy of motorsport, the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard reached a momentous milestone with its 30th edition. The historic event was brought to life with the presence of industry legends, the shootout victory of the McLaren Solus GT, and a historic 1937 Bentley crowned the ultimate winner of the Concours d’Elegance presented by Cartier. The weekend-long event, which resumed following a weather-induced Saturday cancellation for the first time in the Festival of Speed’s history, saw motorsport luminaries Sebastian Vettel, Francesco Bagnaia, Giacomo Agostini, and Jenson Button grace the festivities. Marvin Kirchhöfer triumphed in the Shootout, taking home the prize for McLaren in the newly unveiled McLaren Solus GT with a record time of 45.34 seconds.
Celebrating a rich legacy of speed, the Goodwood Festival marked several milestones, including the 30th anniversary of the Festival itself and 75 years of motorsport at Goodwood. Honoring these momentous occasions, The Duke of Richmond initiated the 2023 event in his classic Jaguar D-Type, the same vehicle that opened the inaugural edition in 1993. In a wave of high-speed nostalgia, Porsche celebrated its own 75-year anniversary, setting a record as the first manufacturer to create the Central Feature four times in Goodwood’s history. The feature boasted iconic models such as the Porsche 804, 963, 962 356, and the variations on the 911, the 992, and 997.
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The Goodwood Festival of Speed became a spectacle of anniversaries, as it also acknowledged milestones for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Lotus, NASCAR, McLaren, WRC, and MotoGP™. The event brought together six current MotoGP™ Teams and a host of riders and champions, creating a fantastic prelude to the upcoming British Grand Prix.
Sebastian Vettel, the four-time Formula 1 World Champion, marked his presence at the festival with a sustainable fuel initiative – the “Race Without Trace” campaign. The initiative urges the motorsport industry and the world at large to adopt sustainable fuel for a greener future.
The festival was also a treasure trove for car enthusiasts and collectors, with the Bonhams|Cars Auction presenting a collection of 240 unique vehicles, including the 2007 Koenigsegg CCGT GT1 Competition Coupé and the James Bond classic 1964 Aston Martin DB5.
The 30th edition of the Goodwood Festival of Speed witnessed an unprecedented number of automotive world debuts and exclusives, while the Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance featured classic beauties, with the ‘Best in Show’ title awarded to the 1937 Bentley 4 ¼ litre Rothschild Sedanca Coupe by Gurney Nutting.
The festival remains a testament to the spirit of motorsport and an iconic global event, continuing its tradition of uniting fans, racing legends, and car enthusiasts alike to celebrate the history and future of racing. As it wraps up another year of exhilarating speed and spectacular displays, Goodwood Festival of Speed maintains its pivotal role in driving the global motorsport conversation forward.
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