► Motorsport’s finest to pay tribute to racing history
► A galaxy of stars, from Rossi to Moss, Bell to Garlits
► 2015 Festival of Speed dates and prices confirmed
Some months ago Goodwood announced the theme for the 2015 Festival of Speed would be ‘Flat out and Fearless: Racing on the Edge’. In practice, that means a series of tributes to moments from motorsport history where drivers have gone beyond their limits and, quite simply, driven their socks off.
Lord March’s team has now announced further details of this year’s festival, with a cast of stars from the crème de la crème of the sport’s past and present. Here are five reasons not to miss it.
1. Valentino Rossi
Nine-time world champ and general megastar Rossi has never before been to the Festival of Speed. But he’ll be here this year, officially to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Yamaha motor company, and to rub shoulders (and hopefully not fairings) with old sparring partner Casey Stoner. Grand Prix heroes from yesteryear Freddie Spencer and ‘King’ Kenny Roberts will also wheelie their way up the hill.
2. A magnificent seven Mercedes 300 SLRs
No less than five current Formula 1 teams will be at Goodwood this year, among them current world champs Mercedes. But their F1 challenger will be grossly outvalued by the presence of seven flame-spitting 300 SLR sports racers from the 1950s. Each worth about as much as a stately home, they’ll be there to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Sir Stirling Moss’s heroic 1955 Mille Miglia victory.
3. Experience Grand Prix racing, Edwardian-style
If there’s one thing missing from the festival, Goodwood has decided, it’s a category for ‘Edwardian leviathons.’ Who are we to argue when that means a chance to see the monstrous 28-litre Fiat S76. Unofficially the world’s fastest car in 1911, it’ll make its first public run in 101 years up the Goodwood hill.
4. US takeover
2015 sees the largest entry of cars and drivers from the USA since the festival’s inception. They’ll include NASCAR’s ‘King’ Richard Petty and the man considered the father of modern drag racing, Don Garlits, visiting the festival for the first time.
5. A salute to Derek Bell
British racing hero and five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell gets a special tribute at Goodwood this year, with 12 of his former race cars blasting up the hill, including the Mirage GR8 in which he took his first win at La Sarthe.
2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed dates and prices
The 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed will be held on 25-28 June. Prices start at £30 for the Moving Motor Show, £51 for general admission on Friday and £63 for the rest of the weekend. Full event tickets start at a slightly painful £141, with various other packages available.