Seven awesome F1 cars you can’t miss at SpeedWeek | GRR
As we count down the hours to Goodwood SpeedWeek presented by Mastercard, we’re also counting down the cars we’re most excited to see. While Revivals and Members’ Meetings gone-by have had impressive rosters of single-seaters, nothing quite like what we’ve got lined up for SpeedWeek has been seen at the Motor Circuit before. Let’s count down the big hitters.
Brawn BGP 001
The brains and the Brawn. Perhaps the ultimate modern F1 underdog will be in action at SpeedWeek – the Brawn BGP 001. The car that carried Jenson Button to his 2009 World Championship, on a fraction of the funding of the big-hitters. The engineering precision and philosophy behind this car is what blossomed into Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 as you know it today. The outfit of eleven years ago was by comparison a garagiste. We can’t wait to see this 2009 screamer back at Goodwood, on track for the first time, following its return at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard in 2019.
Tyrrell 001
The Tyrrell 001 represented difficult beginning’s for Ken Tyrrell’s branch out on his own but this was the beginning of the dream team of Stewart and Tyrrell. A year later Sir Jackie would claim his second world championship in the Tyrrell 003. Tyrrell’s breakout chassis will be in action at SpeedWeek, with none other than Sir Jackie Stewart himself driving.
Lotus 72
Emerson Fittipaldi, the legend that he is, began his F1 career as a foil for Sir Jackie. His car, the legendary Lotus 72, is considered one of the all-time great F1 designs in D guise. It carried Emerson to his first F1 world championship in 1972. Emerson will be at SpeedWeek, reunited with the legendary 72, alongside Jackie in a Tyrrell. A core element of our F1 70th celebrations, is a celebration of one of the sport’s great rivalries.
McLaren M23
Another Fittipaldi legend is the McLaren M23, which the Brazilian legend drove to McLaren’s first constructors’ world championship in 1974. Emmo brought his inside-out knowledge of the Lotus 72D with him when he joined McLaren, with modifications giving an updated version of the car the edge for the ‘74 season. See not one, but two M23s in action on track at SpeedWeek.
Brabham BT52
Would it be a celebration of F1 without a Gordon Murray-designed Brabham? The dart-like championship-winning Brabham BT52 will be on-hand with the visual drama and the turbocharged BMW-powered fury. Designed in just three weeks following the ban of ground effect cars, Nelson Piquet’s championship-winner could be one of the coolest-looking F1 cars of all time.
McLaren MP4-6
It’s always a treat when early ‘90s rev-happy F1 cars come to the party. It’s unprecedented that we should host them at the Motor Circuit. Until now, with the McLaren MP4-6 – screaming 3.5-litre Honda V12 and all – coming to SpeedWeek. This constructors’ championship-winning car also delivered Ayrton Senna his third drivers’ championship title, with that legendary Brazil win coming along the way. See – and hear – this titan of F1 at SpeedWeek.
Lotus 77
A lesser-loved Lotus, by both team and drivers, the so-called ‘adjustacar’ Lotus 77 featured radical rocker arm suspension setup. This gave a massive range of adjustability for the car when it came to setting up for specific circuits. The concept was admirable but the perfect precise settings for individual circuits proved difficult to find. Three-times Le Mans-winning Marco Werner will be on hand to pilot the 77 at SpeedWeek.
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Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.