Lightning McQueen electrifies the 2026 Festival of Speed

10th July 2026

Rachel Roberts

When it was announced that Lightning McQueen would be starring at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, we knew he would deliver a moment unlike anything we’ve seen before, and we enjoyed just that when he took to the Hill for the first time on Thursday.

The seven-time winner of the Piston Cup has been delighting spectators when he has traversed the 1.16-mile course, indulging in the adoration of the crowds and looking resplendent as ever as he has made his way up the Hill.

McQueen burst onto the scene in 2005 with the Rust-eze outfit and went on to achieve one of the most dominant careers in the history of the Piston Cup. His record of seven titles in ten years places him level with his hero, Strip ‘The King’ Weathers in the annals of the sport – a feat he secured with his final racing triumph.

A hero to so many himself, McQueen plans to be on the Hill across all four days of the Festival of Speed so no-one will miss out on the chance to adulate their motorsport icon.

When he’s not on the Hill, McQueen has taken up residence in the Cathedral Paddock where he’s surrounded by fellow greats from across the pond as part of the Americana Celebrations presented by Bank of America. His unmissable paddock is decked out in the classic Rust-eze red and yellow livery, and fans are invited to savour the moment and take pictures with him.

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The Duke of Richmond personally greeted McQueen on Friday, when he was also shown the Piston Cup. The famous trophy synonymous with McQueen has accompanied the team across the pond, and its presence offers fans the rare chance to hold a prestigious motorsport prize for themselves in another photo opportunity – something not even His Grace could pass up.

Lightning McQueen is one of America’s greatest exports and our Americana Celebrations would simply be incomplete without him. It’s an unadulterated thrill to welcome him here to Goodwood. If you’re visiting during the event, be sure not to miss your opportunity to meet the legend in the metal.