FOS Fan Zone crowned an instant crowd-favourite at the 2026 Festival of Speed

Sunday at FOS Fan Zone

The final day of the FOS Fan Zone delivered a breathtaking conclusion to an unforgettable weekend, starting with a panel dedicated to this year’s Festival of Speed theme: ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’. We took a deep dive into the legendary Hunt vs. Lauda narrative, reflecting deeply on a historic cross-team rivalry that somehow fostered one of the most profound friendships Formula 1 has ever seen. 

Focus then shifted to the modern grid when we welcomed Alpine's Franco Colapinto, who broke down the immense physical challenges of adapting to his current F1 machinery compared to last year, before expressing his sheer gratitude for the electric reception he received while flying up the Hill.

The afternoon brought a spectacular double-dose of off-road and single-seater star power. Dirt-track enthusiasts swarmed the stage for the highly anticipated ‘Dakar: Meet Your Heroes’ segment, which welcomed a phenomenal line-up of the world's most daring rally-raid stars. The desert legends captivated the crowd with wild tales of navigating the planet's most hostile terrain, bringing a beautifully rugged energy to West Sussex. 

A spotlight on Mission 44, the charitable foundation launched by seven-time F1 World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, transfixed audiences as one of the programme’s young scholars took to the stage, speaking passionately about the life-changing educational and career milestones the charity continues to secure for youth from underrepresented backgrounds. 

Williams Team Principal James Vowles joined World Champion Damon Hill to look back at the latter’s emotional reunion with the iconic Williams FW18 earlier in the weekend, celebrating 30 years since Hill’s title triumph.

As the track schedule reached its absolute peak, FOS Fan Zone transformed into the definitive debrief room for the high-stakes Timed Shoot-Out, and to close out proceedings, Red Bull Racing’s Isack Hadjar took centre stage to reflect on the surreal experience of joining the team and sharing a garage with four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. In its first year FOS Fan Zone raised the bar for fan interaction at the Festival of Speed and we can’t wait to see what’ll be in store in 2027.

Saturday at FOS Fan Zone

The FOS Fan Zone witnessed its most packed-out, high-energy session of the weekend as reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris took to the stage. Looking out over a colossal crowd, McLaren superstar was in high spirits as he shared just how deep his history with Goodwood runs. He reflected on attending the Festival of Speed in 2012 with his father and his brother, and the surrealness of returning 14 years later as the king of the F1 grid.

Norris admitted that the reality of his historic achievement in 2025 still hasn't fully sunk in. “It's insane, it's incredible every time people say it. I see the number on my suit, I see the number one, and I just think ‘damn, we did it’."

Turning to the theme of the 2026 Festival of Speed, ‘The Rivals — Epic Racing Duals’, Norris reflected that pushing against the absolute best is the ultimate catalyst for growth. "Rivalry made me a much better driver last year, [it] is the key to becoming a better person at the same time."

As the sea of cheering fans waved flags and chanted his name, Norris spoke candidly about what the immense global fanbase means to him. For the young Brit, the external support is far more than just a confidence boost, it’s fuel. "It's a much, much better motivation when externally people support you and cheer you on. It makes me much happier, the fact that I make other people have a good time. The fact that you can bring happiness and joy to others is way better than just trying to bring it to yourself."

With so many fans witnessing their idol here just as Norris once did all those years ago, this really was a full circle moment for the World Champion, and we were lucky to have experienced it with him. 

Friday at FOS Fan Zone

Friday morning began with an emotional trip down memory lane, as we celebrated the legendary Barry Sheene years. Fans were treated to nostalgic panel featuring Freddie Sheene, racing icon Kenny Roberts Jr. and Sheene’s charismatic former team-mate Steve Parrish, sharing wild stories from one of motorcycle racing’s most golden eras. The two-wheeled celebration continued to roll on as Pirelli brought out Superbike legend Troy Bayliss alongside 23-time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness, who wowed the audience with masterclasses on track strategy and bike handling.

Later, 125 Years of Ford Racing was honoured, exploring the Blue Oval's massive, multi-discipline impact on global motorsport, before Williams icon Damon Hill stepped up to a massive wall of cheers as he broke down the grit, pressure, and emotion behind his historic Formula 1 World Championship win in 1996.

Hill looked back fondly on his incredibly diverse motorsport journey, charting his rise from competitive motorcycle racing to the absolute pinnacle of F1. The emotional heart of the talk centred on his reunion with his title-winning Williams FW18 and the wave of nostalgia that comes with stepping back into that historic cockpit.

The afternoon shone a spotlight on diversity in the sport with the Women in Motorsport panel headlined by Williams team ambassador Jamie Chadwick, one of the most influential figures shaping the next generation of motorsport talent.

Alongside a panel of brilliant industry leaders, Chadwick shared raw, firsthand experiences from her journey through the ranks, breaking down the evolving opportunities for women across engineering, management and driving. The underlying message to the crowd was clear, empowering, and absolute: encouraging girls and young women to claim their space in motorsport in whichever capacity they choose.

A touch of Hollywood magic was sprinkled on West Sussex when FOOS Fan Zone celebrated the 20-year anniversary of Cars, diving into the beloved film's enduring automotive legacy, and as the sun began to dip, the always entertaining Solberg family took to the stage to share their legendary rallying exploits.

Thursday at FOS Fan Zone

The FOS Fan Zone kicked off on Thursday with a suitable bang, welcoming stars from an eclectic mix of racing disciplines. Setting a high-octane tempo were drift legends Mike Whiddett, Tyler Reddick, Elias Hountondji, and Steve “Baggsy” Biagioni, who gave the crowd a fascinating look into the tyre-slaying madness of professional drifting.

The stage then shifted gears to celebrate the Centenary of Ducati, where fans were wowed by stories from ever charming Carl Fogarty and many others from the Ducati hall of fame. Soon after, Alpine F1 star Pierre Gasly stepped up to a wall of cheers, offering rare insights into his Formula 1 season before sending the crowd into a frenzy by launching signed caps into the audience.

A panel of Le Mans legends took to the stage to dive into the grit of 24-hour endurance racing, and in a fantastic surprise twist, Formula 1 star Kimi Antonelli appeared on stage, commanding the microphone to talk through his current season and the art of modern tyre management.

For its very first day on the map, FOS Fan Zone completely rewrote the playbook — and this is only the beginning.

The 2026 Festival of Speed is live now! Watch every moment of the action on our live stream right here on GRR.

Join the GRRC Fellowship today and enjoy access to the exclusive Pit Stop Enclosure on-event, priority booking for 2027 tickets, 10% off admission and grandstand passes, and a year-round calendar of member events.

Photography by Kirsty Jayne Russell.