Gallery: The Moving Motor Show

“Abarth is a brand that just makes me smile,” Tracy Cotton tells us when GRR meets her at the Moving Motor Show today – minutes after Tracy became one of the first people in the country to test drive the new Abarth 124 Spider.

“I have an Abarth 500 already and love it so was really interested in driving the new sportscar. This was the first opportunity I had to drive the car, before a dealer could offer a test drive. The bonus was it was on the Goodwood hillclimb. It was my first time on the hill and I  even had a little slide to begin with. There  is so much to take in you really need to drive up a few times…”

What is it about Abarth that Tracy likes so much? “There’s the motor sport heritage but I also love the sound, the feel and the response of the cars, plus the styling details. It’s a car that always makes me smile.”

And will she be buying one? “There will definitely be an Abarth 124 Spider at some point in my future.”

NEED TO KNOW: Abarth 124 Spider, on sale summer, 170hp, 143mph, 0-62mph 6.8sec, price from £29,565 for the 1.4 TJet 170. 

One of the many international motoring correspondents covering the new-car launches at Goodwood today, Australian writer Paul Gover was waiting his turn to drive an Aston Martin in the Moving Motor Show when GRR caught up with him.

“Driving up the Goodwood hill is number one on my bucket list and has been since I first came to FoS in 1994, its second year. I have been a few times since then but never had the chance to drive. It is something I have always craved.”

Paul, who races cars as well as writes about them for the Murdoch newspaper empire down under, was  about to head out in a Rapide, one of a variety of models that Aston provided for people to drive. There was even the new DB11 on static display for fans to crawl over, ahead of its dynamic debut with Aston boss Andy Palmer behind the wheel on the Friday.

Paul tells us: “I went to the Rapide’s launch and like it very much so this is a great opportunity to reacquaint myself with it, especially since a friend is thinking of buying one and I said I would give him a refresher.”

But wouldn’t he like to be able to cut loose on the hill? “Not this year. I would rather just take my time and find out where the road goes. The thing about the hillclimb is, it looks simple which means it’s going to be hard. And I don’t want to be the one going into the haybales at Molecomb.

“But then I want to come back next year…and drive something fast!”

And what does the Oz motoring press make of FoS? “You don’t get this level of car craziness anywhere else in the world. It’s wonderful.”

NEED TO KNOW: Aston Martin Rapide S, on sale now, 560hp, 203mph, 0-62mph 4.4sec, from £147,950

Matteo Manfredi was at the Moving Motor Show fresh from Full Throttle Sunday, the supercar Breakfast Club at the circuit at the beginning of June. Then he was in his Ferrari 458 Speciale; at the MMS he wanted a go in the latest turbocharged California T.

“I think the California is a good balance between an everyday car and a fun drive. Am I in the market for one? Maybe, if I am allowed one more Ferrari.”

Passengering in the Ferrari up the hill was a first for Matteo, and one he enjoyed very much. “I would have preferred to have driven myself but the noise, speed and thrill of the ride up was fantastic, even from the passenger seat.”

NEED TO KNOW: Ferrari California T, on sale now, 560hp, 196mph, 0-62mph 3.6sec, from £155,460.

For Moving Motor Show regular Dean Smith the chance to drive or ride in some of the latest models on the Goodwood hilllcimb is the best part of the entire FoS weekend. When GRR met him he had just driven the BMW M2 and was hoping for a ride up the hill in a Ferrari.

“The M2 was such good fun,” he told us. “I have driven up the hill before but it was a bit slippery today and 370hp at the back wheels meant the traction control was needed. I think I was accelerating a bit too much; the instructor told me to slow down. If it had been drier I would have been able to go a bit quicker.”

Dean has driven cars at the Moving Motor Show in previous years, and it is a part of the whole weekend he enjoys. “The last time I was here I drove the MG range. The Moving Motor Show is a great fun way to get to know a car a little.”

And his verdict on the M2? “It’s a nice car but I am more interested in BMW’s electric i models.”

NEED TO KNOW: BMW M2, on sale now, 370hp, 155mph, 0-62mph 4.5sec, from £44,080.