Huge Crowd Defies Torrential Rain at Goodwood Press & Preview Day

Thursday, 23 June 2016

A crowd of nearly 30,000 braved the grey and rainy weather today to make today’s Goodwood Press & Preview Day and Moving Motor Show another roaring success.
More than 25 brand new cars were given some form of debut at Goodwood today – whether UK, European or global – and the rest of the Festival of Speed promises the unveiling of yet more new and exciting cars.

Tomorrow (Friday, June 24), the main Festival of Speed action gets underway with the world’s greatest race cars from past and present taking to the 1.16-mile hillclimb course, plus myriad off-track attractions providing a fun day out for car enthusiasts and families alike.
F1 stars Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button will headline the race drivers taking to the hill across the weekend, in a variety of machinery, while the 2016 Festival of Speed will celebrate a number of motorsport-themed anniversaries.

These include 40 years since the legendary James Hunt won his F1 World Championship as well as anniversaries around some of the most powerful, most thrilling race and rally cars ever built – the monsters of Can-Am sportscar racing and Group B rally beasts.

This year’s Honoured Marque is BMW, which is celebrating its centenary alongside MINI, and will have several displays on show illustrating the story of its iconic M Sport range as well as looking to the future of mobility with its electric i-car range.

The central feature sculpture – at 38 metres tall the biggest ever built at Goodwood – showcases BMW’s rich motorsport and performance heritage and will provide many photo opportunities outside Goodwood House, as well as perfectly reflecting this year’s FOS theme ‘Full Throttle – the Endless Pursuit of Power’.

Away from the on-track action, visitors have plenty to look forward to, including Red Arrows displays, the gravity-defying two-wheeled stunts of the riders in the Goodwood Action Sports Arena, plus a host of intriguing stands from car manufacturers that will make this one of the most interactive Festivals of Speed to date.

Among the fascinating offerings from car makers is the Vauxhall Family Experience and crèche, JLR’s remote controlled car circuit and myriad other opportunities to get hands-on with new cars and other experiences; at Bentley’s stand, visitors can even design their own dashboard out of walnut.

ENDS

Editors Notes

The Festival of Speed is taking place from 23-26 June 2016.
Staged every summer since 1993, the sold out Goodwood Festival of Speed is the world’s largest automotive garden party; set against the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House in West Sussex, UK. Over 600 cars and motorcycles spanning the phenomenal history of motoring and motor sport take part with some of the most legendary figures from the sport as well as international celebrities regularly attending. Highlights of the 2015 event, which took place on June 25-28, included the Moving Motor Show presented by the AA in association with The Telegraph, Forest Rally Stage, Michelin Supercar Paddock, Michelin Supercar Run, F1 paddock presented by Sky Sports F1, Drivers’ Club presented by TAG Heuer, GAS Arena powered by TomTom Bandit, Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance, Aviation Exhibition and Bonhams Auction.

For all Media enquiries, please contact Laura Gilbert-Burke or Gema Bernaldo de Quiros at the Goodwood Motor Sport Press Office:

Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755000
E-mail: laura.gilbert-burke@goodwood.com or gema.bernaldo@goodwood.com

Goodwood Motor Sport on social media:
YouTube: http://youtube.com/goodwoodtv
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/goodwoodrrc
Twitter: http://twitter.com/goodwoodrrc