Williams Honoured At Goodwood Festival Of Speed 2009
I said this last year, but next year I am definitely going to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It has to be worth twenty something hours on a plane.
I just spoke to my old mate Henry Hope-Frost who is commentating at the Festival again this year. He mentioned that Goodwood would be honouring Frank William’s 40 years of competition in motorsport. To mark the occasion, the team will be running Keke Rosberg’s 1982 FW08, Damon Hill’s 1996 FW18 and the latest showcar, the FW29, as well as providing a host of the team’s historic cars for display.
Audi is also in on the action, using the event to celebrate its centenary with a truly staggering automotive ‘monument’ in front of Goodwood House. The Audi ‘Central Feature’ art installation is one of the most ambitious and striking sculptures ever constructed for the Festival.
Here is the official blurb from the Goodwood team:
With just a couple of days to go until the 2009 Festival of Speed (3-5 July), Goodwood organisers can confirm that over 75 of the greatest motor racing drivers and riders will be present at the world’s largest celebration of motoring culture.
For the first time in its 17 years history, the Festival of Speed will be attended by both the reigning Formula One and WRC World Champions. Formula One ace and Goodwood regular Lewis Hamilton will be on hand to entertain the Festival crowds, as will five-times WRC champion and Festival rookie Sebastian Loeb. The current 2009 season Formula One championship leader Jenson Button is also confirmed for Goodwood, as are fellow F1 drivers Mark Webber and Timo Glock. In all six of the current-season F1 teams are scheduled to attend the Festival, including McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, Toyota and Red Bull, plus the new Brawn GP team.
Joining Sebastian Loeb in action on the Goodwood Forest Rally Stage will be a who’s who of rallying legends, including Walter Rohl, Bjorn Waldegaard, Stig Blomqvist, Hannu Mikkola, and Rauno Aaltonen.
Two-wheel heroes in action up the Goodwood Hill are set to include former World Champions Mick Doohan and Max Biaggi, as well as current World Superbike and World Supersport title contenders Troy Corser, Yukio Kagayama, Leon Haslam, Jonathon Rea, Cal Crutchlow, Troy Bayliss and Broc Parkes.
Perhaps of most interest to Motorsport Retro readers…….Famous names from motor racing’s past at the Festival will include Sir Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Eddie Irvine, David Coulthard, Dan Gurney, Derek Bell, Damon Hill, Jacky Ickx, John Surtees, Rusty Wallace, and Takuma Sato.
Popular stars and vehicle enthusiasts from the world of entertainment will also be at Goodwood to enjoy the action, including cult American talk show host Jay Leno, Hollywood acting legend Peter Fonda, rock musician Nick Mason and celebrity chef James Martin.
Via Goodwood Festival of Speed
Tags: Drivers, Historic Car Racing, Historic Motorcycle Racing, Riders, Video
You have to do it. I went to the Goodwood F O S in 1999 and it was the best event I’ve been to. And that includes Le Mans the previous weekend. Well, actually, it’s a tough choice. But Goodwood is truly spectacular. You have virtually unlimited access to the cars – I just walked up to Nick Mason’s GTO, opened the door, took some shots, breathed in the history, closed the door and no-one said anything – try doing that at a V8 Supercar meeting. The atmosphere at historic meetings is quite wonderful, and Goodwood is the best of them all. The setup of the displays, the quality of the food, the ‘old’ race drivers just wandering around, the incredible range of cars and bikes…I could go on and on. Matter of fact, I think I just did. Just do it! You’ll be blown away.
Mark, wow, OK that’s it, i’m making plans. Goodwood 2010 here I come!
It’s not too late to get to Monterey this year either. First couple of weeks of August. I’m going. Lots of similarly afflicted people from here going as well.
I have just checked out the Monterey site. It sure looks like being a brilliant event. How many Aussies are heading over mark?