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Goodwood Festival of Speed...

(July 2011)

It's long since become a regular fixture in the motorsports calendar, but the Goodwood Festival of Speed is still able to spring a few surprises on the tens of thousands of fans who flock here every year for their fix of racing action.

And, to judge from Friday, 2011 is no exception. This year's theme is 'Racing Revolutions', meaning that some of the most radical cars to ever wear a pair of door numbers have been brought together to run up the driveway of Lord March's Sussex estate. Many have been to Goodwood before over the years, but it's still impossible not to rate an event that can place the Chaparral 'Sucker Car' - the 1970 CanAm racer that uses a separate engine to create massive downforce - right next to the still-dirty Aston Martin Zagato race car that competed in last week's event. 

As always, variety is the essence of Goodwood, with everything from pre-war Grand Prix racers to modern F1 cars via group B rally machinery, decades of touring cars, squillion-dollar classic racers and - to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500 - a collection of US racers unparalleled on this side of the Atlantic. Plus, of course, the latest and greatest supercars, whose manufacturers increasingly see Goodwood as being the best place to sell their wares. 

Evo magazine's Chris Harris, Richard Meaden and Roger Green were all in action, driving a wide variety of cars...

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GOODWOOD: DRIVING THE XJ13 by RICHARD MEADEN...

(2 July 2011)

Posted By: Dickie Meaden

I’ve been fascinated by the 1966 Jaguar XJ13 for as long as I can remember. Designed to race at Le Mans, then rendered obsolete before it had a chance to compete in anger (thanks to regulations that reduced the maximum permitted engine size to 3.0-litres) the XJ13 is one of the great automotive unicorns.

Rebuilt after a monstrous accident at MIRA in 1971 when a magnesium wheel collapsed while filming a promotional advert for the V12-engined E-Type it gave rise to, the XJ13 also has an air of Stephen King’s Christine about it. Best of all even if you know nothing of its legend, the XJ13’s fabulous looks – part supercar, part Supermarine Spitfire – are enough to stop you in your tracks. Even at Goodwood this is an A-list celebrity.

Driving anything at the Festival of Speed is a great privilege, but to be trusted with a true one-off is as daunting as it is exciting. Still the guys at the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust are endlessly enthusiastic and genuinely love to see the cars in action. The 13’s cockpit is small but surprisingly comfortable. Having no seat belts feels odd, but you soon forget that when you flick down the ignition toggle, then the fuel pump, then push down once more on the ignition while pumping the throttle. Slowly the 4.8-litre quad-cam, fuel-injected V12 spits into life, then erupts in a cacophony of exhaust roar and induction snort.

According to Norman Dewis, Jag’s in-house development driver and racer of some repute (now 90-years old and still loving his oversteer!) the XJ13’s bespoke, short-stroke V12 was good for 500bhp with little development. It would also rev to 9500rpm: a remarkable figure for an engine built in 1965.

Sadly, while there are many wonderful things about Goodwood, delays and queues are the downside. It’s especially bad prior to my run and the endless stop-start is a killer for old racing cars. By the time I get to take to the 1-mile course the XJ13 isn’t running cleanly, so I don’t get to feel its rabid on-cam anger above 5000rpm.

No matter. By the time I get to the top of the hill I’ve begun to get a feel for the 5-speed ZF transaxle gearbox (like that from a Ford GT40), direct, responsive steering and modest grip on Dunlop historic race tyres. There’s no question that given the opportunity it would be an intoxicating thrill to drive on a racetrack (hint-hint…). Much like Norman Dewis, who suffered the frustration of seeing his advanced mid-engined Le Mans racer mothballed before it had a chance to shine, I too am left with a sense of what might have been. Still I’ve driven the XJ13, and that is a dream come true.

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McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Takes To The Hill For Its World Debut At Goodwood...

(30 June 2011)

The first McLaren car built for racing outside of Formula 1 since the McLaren F1 GTR will debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, held from 30 June-03 July. The new GT3 car, based on McLaren’s MP4-12C high-performance road car, will appear in its revised form, honed during a recent intense period of development.

New components designed to optimise the car’s aerodynamic performance include a front radiatorand a new gearbox cooler. These features complete an aerodynamics package, which is produced entirely from carbon fibre by McLaren Racing.

The 12C GT3 is being developed by the recently established McLaren GT. Led by McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh and CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy, McLaren GT is spending the 2011 race season developing the 12C GT3 before delivering 20 cars to privateer teams for GT3 racing in Europe in 2012.

McLaren GT has tested its new car at a mixture of circuits across Europe. This development phase is an opportunity for McLaren GT to optimise the technical specification and durability of the 12C GT3.

Andrew Kirkaldy from McLaren GT said: “The reaction to the 12C GT3 at the circuits we have visited has been phenomenal. I can’t wait to see how it goes down at Goodwood this weekend…The anticipation amongst circuit owners and race teams to McLaren’s return to GT racing has surprised us”.

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Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011 by Car Magazine

Festival of Speed day 1: Friday 1 July 2011

Hulme Can-Am Spyder: New Zealand-built supercar concept powered by a mid-mounted Chevrolet V8 and named after 1967 Formula 1 champion and McLaren Can-Am racer Denny Hulme. Hence the McLaren orange colour scheme.

I'm not sure what the Caparo T1's excuse is for being orange but the similar-looking supercar tailed the Hulme up Goodwood Hill.

Bristol Fighter - also painted orange - also at Goodwood on Friday, despite but the company collapsing into administration earlier this year. Bristol Cars now part of Frazer-Nash Engineering. Quite a contrast to the 911 that followed it up the hill. 

It's the 911 GT3 RS 4.0: Andreas Preuninger, head of GT type cars at Porsche Motorsports, took Mark Hamilton for a ride up the hill in his company car. Tips for Porsche fanatics: go for the carbonfibre sports seats (they are surprisingly comfortable), don't feel the need to delete comfort options like air-con or the PCM multimedia screen, and don't fiddle with the exhaust and suspension on your GT3 RS! If you want a project car, get a regular Carrera.

The E-Type sculpture at the 2011 Festival of Speed. It's better than it looks in photos, but we can't help thinking it should point upwards, instead of crashing into the ground in front of Goodwood House.

Nissan sends the Juke up Goodwood Hill on two wheels. Not weird enough? They're also flinging the Leaf EV into the hillclimb backwards (the Leaf can hit the same top speed going backwards as it can going forwards). A push-me-pull-you EV?

Ken Blocked. The Peugeot 205T16 decided to break down on the hillclimb, meaning the gymkhana fanatic was stopped part way up the hill.

Kris Meeke in the Mini JCW Countryman WRC car. This is due to test CAR's motion sickness levels riding in this car this afternoon.

Peugeot 207 IRC car performs donuts as it heads up the Goodwood Hill.

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Goodwood Festival of Speed by Autocar...

(1 July 2011)

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is underway for another year and Autocar is live from Sussex to bring you all the latest news and pics from the UK's premier motoring event.

The 19th installment of the Festival within the ground's of Goodwood House is based around the theme Racing Revolutions - quantum leaps that shaped motorsport. It will celebrate things that revolutionised motorsport - including mid-engined racers, four-wheel drive cars, turbos and carbonfibre monocoques.

Included in the three-day line-up are 100 years of Indy 500 - the largest Indy celebration outside the US – and also 100 years of Chevrolet. Jaguar’s 50th birthday of the E-Type is also central to Goodwood this year and celebrated with the annual central feature statue.

The impact of Group B rally cars of the 1980s is on show plus 110 years of Skoda Motorsport. Skoda will also be a key fixture of the forest rally stage. Continuing the rallying theme will be Ken Block, who will be doing stunts in his Ford rally car all weekend.

The BTCC's Super Tourer era is also celebrated with a large gathering of cars plus drivers and a record nine F1 teams will be here including champions Red Bull and McLaren pair Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

The supercar run will expand to be the largest gathering of supercars ever and there will also be a special run up the hill for low emission cars and future concepts.

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GOODWOOD: RICHARD MEADEN DRIVING THE JAGUAR XJ13...

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Porsche brings classic racers to Goodwood...

Fascinating Porsche fact 1: the 917/30 established a closed-circuit speed record at the Talladega oval in Alabama of 220.98mph!

Fascinating Porsche fact 2: Its 5.3-litre flat-twelve engine developed 1,200bhp!

This, and a few other classic Porkers will be on display at this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed, including the rare all-wheel-drive Porsche 961 (a racing version of the 959), together with a hybrid Porsche from 1900. Yes, one of the world's first eco-mentalists developed by Ferdy Porsche himself.

There's also the new 4.0-litre GT3 RS and GT2 RS, together with the twin-turbo Panamera. Have a gander at this gallery to acquaint yourself ahead of the show...

Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder

Porsche 718 F2 and Porsche 961

Semper Vivus Lohner Porsche

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

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Highlights from day one at Goodwood...

Porsche 961

The one and only racing version of Porsche's 959, the 961, is at Goodwood this year. This car finished 7th at Le Mans in 1986 and is powered by a 2.85-litre turbocharged flat-six

Audi R18

This year's Audi Le Mans car, the R18 in action on the hill, fresh from winning this year's 24-Hour race

McLaren race car

Chris Goodwin burns rubber in Lewis Hamilton's 2008 championship winning McLaren

Toyota TS020 GT-One

Toyota's incredible TS020 GT-One Le Mans car from 1998 was one of a dozen or so incredible endurance racers to run up the hillclimb

Jaguar XJR9LM

1988 Jaguar XJR9LM Le Mans car, with a 7.0-litre V12 engine, being driven at Goodwood by Jan Lammers and Andy Wallace

Aston Martin V12 Zagato

The brand new Aston Martin V12 Zagato, fresh from competing in last weekend's Nürburgring 24-Hour race

Ruf CTR3

An incredibly rare Ruf CTR3 takes part in the supercar run

Alfa Romeo 6C 2300

Gorgeous Alfa Romeo6C 2300 'Aerodynamica Spider' from 1935, driven by Georg Gebhard

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Ferrari 458 Italia at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed...

Hope you guys at GFoS 2011 are having a great time  I assume Porker, dreamcar and others are there right now ... 

RT Moderator - 997.1 Carrera S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm sports suspension/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection

easy_rider911:

Hope you guys at GFoS 2011 are having a great time  I assume Porker, dreamcar and others are there right now ... 

Sure they are:  

--

fritz

BGTS,

What an EPIC series of posts! Made my afternoon. (And I thought nothing could beat taking my mother-in-law shopping for a new refrigerator).

"People ignore design that ignores people."

Goodwood day 2 in pictures...

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Goodwood Festival of Speed: Day Two by Evo...

Another action packed day at the Festival of Speed with highlights including Ken Block's spectacular run at the Hill...

Sideways to victory!

Jaguar's Mike Cross smokes up the XFR

Recognise the crash helmet?

Another one that's likely to trigger nostalga

60s Escort was properly quick

Goodwood's greatest appeal has always been its variety...

Was there ever a better race car livery than the one on this Gulf Porsche?

Goodwood fans get close to the action

Aston Le Mans racer put on a spectacular display

NASCAR...

Triumph Dolomite Sprint gave proceedings an old-school vibe

Mondeo touring car brings back memories of mid-90s tussles...

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Stirling Moss drives his Porsche 718 RS 60 at Goodwood...

Watch this amazing footage of Sir Stirling Moss driving his own Porsche 718 RS 60 up the Goodwood Hill as part of the 2011 Festival of Speed.

Whilst not usually associated with racing Porsche cars, Stirling Moss raced the 718 RS 60 in the infamous Targa Florio in 1961 and described the car as perfect for the race...

Thanks for all the great posts  I was planning to be at the FoS but couldn't make it, so this is the next best thing to actually being there. 

Amazing posts, thanks for taking the time to share this great classic event with us

J.Seven

Porsche 956 driven by Derek Bell at Goodwood 2011...

Porsche racing legend, Derek Bell, talks to us about his memories of Le Mans while racing the famous Porsche 956 and 962. 

We hear about some of Derek's memorable experiences and also see on car footage of the 956 being driven up the Goodwood hill as part of the 2011 Festival of Speed...

Back from 4 days of glorious glorious Goodwood goodness, it's been a treat yet again. The weather would've been perfect in the South of France, to have this kind of weather (again) in the UK is to be plain lucky.

I haven't taken many pictures this year but I'll post the ones I have after I get some much needed sleep. Sleeping in a tent + baking sunshine do not match well!

@dreamcar: Many thanks for the lovely address you gave me, we enjoyed our evening at Pebble Beach immensely, the drive back to Goodwood was absolutely lovely as well.

En route to the festival, my friend in his R26.R and me in my M3 GT. We both decided to take our track toys to start off with the right FoS mindset.

Pausing at the Eurotunnel

Arrival at the Goodwood campsite

Afterwards we headed to Barton-On-Sea to have dinner at the lovely Pebble Beach restaurant, as recommended by dreamcar.

The cars overlooking the Isle of Wight

Aperitif at the restaurant, superb location...

To give you an idea of the kind of cars you find on the Goodwood Campsite and at the Goodwood Hotel:

The daddy of them all... a stunning street-going McLaren F1 GTR

Best sound of the Festival for me was produced by this rotary engined Mazda 787B.

Rubber covered Goodwood Hillclimb

Very cute girl with protective earphones

One of 7(!) Chris Evans' glorious Ferrari's on display, I loved this historic livery on a modern GTO

Registration of the GTO

I admit everything's way overpriced at the Festival, but it's hard to beat a glass of champagne in the sunshine while watching priceless racecars attacking the hillclimb a couple of meters away. It's one of those rare occassions presented at Goodwood

The E-type statue (they were celebrating its 50th anniversary) in front of Goodwood House. Apologies for being in the picture myself, I have no other clear picture of the statue.

I only payed a brief visit to the Rally Stage as it's less my cup of tea, but as ever it was spectactular to see those historics mixing it up with modern WRC cars

Sadly that's it regarding photo's, no electricity and no chargers meant everything went dead after a while...

A couple of thoughts after seeing the supercars in the flesh:

• Aventador: Didn't really convince me in white, it looked spectacular but at the same time a little too busy for my taste, a darker colour suits it more imo.
• MP4-12C: It really looks a little plain when surrounded by other exotic machinery
• Huayra: I was hoping the looks would convince me IRL, it didn't, the sound was a disappointment too. The interior on the other hand was hugely impressive. True craftmanship.
• One-77: A work of art imo, elegant yet impressive, superb detailing (the pushrod suspension), fantastic interior, ...
• GT3 RS 4.0: No surprises there obviously but I did notice the sound. Noticably deeper and louder than the 3.8 RS, pretty gobsmacking soundtrack.
• Noble M600: While not being a fan of its looks, it really is an appealing car, so honest and noticably hugely fast on the hillclimb, sounded great too.
• FF: Beautiful machine, looked much more practical than I ever imagined, the soundtrack reminds of the 599 GTO at 90%.

Boxster Coupe GTS:

 

OMG! WTF?!?! Why the extra wheels? It's like it was born with some extra body parts ...

RT Moderator - 997.1 Carrera S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm sports suspension/LSD, PSE, short shifter, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection

 Thanks for all the great pics  Love the McLaren GT3.