Sabine Kehm, spokesperson for the Schumacher family, said: “We are delighted that the Goodwood Festival of Speed has chosen to celebrate Michael’s career, in the year of his 50th birthday, and on the 25th anniversary of his first World Championship. It is especially fitting this year, as the event’s ‘Record Breakers’ theme perfectly encapsulates his incredible achievements, including records, many of which may never be broken. We hope the public enjoy the opportunity to see an assortment of his winning cars, and the many friends, rivals and team members, who are coming to Goodwood to support the occasion. We thank the Duke of Richmond and the Goodwood team for making Michael such an important feature of this year’s event.”
Schumacher started his motorsport career in karts and, after several titles, moved into Formula 3 and then sports cars with Mercedes-Benz. His Grand Prix debut came in the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, when he stood in for Jordan’s Bertrand Gachot. His long-time manager Willi Weber was asked by Team Principal Eddie Jordan whether he had been to Spa, to which the answer was ‘yes’. Weber neglected to say that it was as a spectator.
No matter, Schumacher put his Jordan 191 seventh on the grid, the highest starting position for the team to date, and over half a second faster than seasoned team-mate Andrea de Cesaris. While his clutch went on the first lap, the stage had been set. He was signed by Benetton for the rest of the season and, only three years later, he would seal his first world championship.
By the time he moved to Ferrari for the 1996 season he was a two-time champion and, with the help of Jean Todt and Ross Brawn, dragged the Italian team back to the front of the grid. In 2000, he became Ferrari’s first Drivers’ Champion since Jody Scheckter 21 years earlier.