The biggest and the best – there’s nothing quite like Goodwood

It's often said that everything's bigger and better in America, and I've seen proof of that on many an occasion. But I've also seen the exception: The Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Sure, the U.S. is about to get the Goodwood treatment, but nothing beats ‘the OG', as the kids say. Now in its 33rd year, the annual motoring-themed garden party on the Duke of Richmond's driveway is as good as ever.

It’s huge, too. When the event started in 1993, a handful of people were expected – the Duke himself even helped get cars in line – but it was an instant hit. 25,000 people came for what was then a one-day event. Since then, it’s grown to a four-day affair with around 150,000 coming on each day.

The backbone of the event

The hillclimb is the most-talked-about element of the Festival. It’s the metaphorical centerpiece (there’s an actual centerpiece, but more on that later) where hundreds of cars from Victorian-era steam cars right up to the latest high-tech Formula 1, Formula E, and Le Mans are demonstrated at speed.

Although saying that, ‘FoS’ might as well also stand for ‘Festival of Smoke’. Drifters have become a popular inclusion in recent years, with Europe’s best rubbing shoulders with stars from D1 and Formula Drift to see who can do the best job of ruining the Duke’s driveway. F1 teams have a go, too. Since 2000, F1 cars haven’t been allowed to complete timed runs (or even use tire warmers), so they’ve completed demos instead.

While in recent years – and with more modern cars – straightforward tame but brisk runs have become more frequent, the likes of Red Bull and Alpine have brought out howling V8-era cars for donuts and burnouts. Mercedes has done the same with newer machinery, too.

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It’s not all about play, though. It might be a Festival and a celebration, but there’s also a competition. On Sunday, a ‘Timed Shootout’ takes place. This year, it was won by Romain Dumas, his third-straight win and fifth overall. A somewhat predictable win considering his car –  the Ford Super Mustang Mach-E – was an all-electric monster built specifically for hillclimbs, but the competition attracts a plethora of four-wheeled machines from pre-war grand prix cars and land speed record holders (the 1911 Fiat S76 ‘Beast of Turin’ is a popular fixture at the Festival), historic and contemporary GT cars, road-going Supercars, and things like Travis Pastrana’s Gymkhana cars and Johan Kristofferson’s European Rallycross Volkswagen Polo.

Big, and then some

The sheer range of what’s in the Shootout is indicative of the Festival as a whole. 

In one paddock, there’s Formula 1 and other modern and near-modern racing cars and bikes, another houses pre-war cars, and there’s areas for supercars and manufacturers’ latest offerings.

A concourse lawn near the house adds a touch of class, while a fully-blown rally stage designed by the late Hannu Mikkola near the top of the hill provides a contrast… I could go on, but there’s so much there that it really is a ‘you’ll have to see for yourself’ kind of thing. In fact, in over 10 years of attending, I still don’t think I’ve seen everything.

Bringing things into focus

But for its range, each year the Festival revolves around certain themes. A marque or figure is celebrated with a giant sculpture in front of Goodwood House. This year, it was Porsche restomod specialists Singer Vehicle Design in the spotlight. 

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The Central Feature, which can be seen from many a far point in the estate poking above the skyline, is designed every year by British artist Gerry Judah, and this year incorporated Singer's Classic, Classic Turbo, and DLS models on its imposing steel structure.

Aside from Singer, the Festival’s overarching main theme this year was ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, celebrating motorsport’s most famed rivalries. 

The 50th anniversary of James Hunt and Niki Lauda’s 1976 F1 title fight was marked, as was Ford and Ferrari’s tense Le Mans history with the three GT40s from 1966 – when the Americans finally overthrew the Italians at Le Mans – reuniting to fly up the hill in formation. That also tied in with this year’s Americana celebration, which also provided a backdrop to the launch of the GRRC of America and welcomed a plethora of earth-shaking NASCAR cars, IMSA and Can-Am racers, and Pikes Peak winners.

See it, hear it, smell it

As mentioned, the Festival looks back, looks forward, and keeps an eye on today as well. And at a time when access is increasingly limited and opportunities for real fans are making way for the rich, famous, and allegedly influential, Goodwood gives back. Very few places will get you within inches of the one-off Lamborghini-engined McLaren MP4/8B as it's seen in public for the very first time, or Red Bull’s RB17 track car as it, too, makes its debut in front of an audience. Turn your head and you’ll be just as close to a sports car of eye-watering value, and walk while looking at your phone, and there’s a good chance you’ll trip over a priceless historic, too. 

Everything’s there, yes, but everything’s there for you. Sure, hospitality areas exist if you want to spend some money (or should I say more money, because naturally for any kind of live event, most things aren’t cheap), but this is a place where you don’t need to be noted or special to have the best experience. And that’s what makes it special in itself. There’s nothing like it, and there’s nothing better.

I’m knackered after spending four long days in the sweltering heat at the Duke’s home. Disappointed it’s over? Sure, but I’m way more excited about getting back there next year.