We just had to return to Goodwood.
It was a no-brainer.
Again all the joyous noise and magic of Goodwood that makes it so authentic, came to life on the iconic Hillclimb.
Formula One cars took to the track along with Group C legends and a host of other impressive classes.
Famous rally liveries were seen dicing with the chalky terrain of the rally stage.
Legends, old and new came out to play.
On the eve of this year’s Goodwood Revival, we look back at the FOS which took place in Summer.
The now famous hillclimb running past Goodwood House, in West Sussex once again became a Mecca of motorsport.
As we explained last year, this event is far more than the hillclimb, this is a party for some of the biggest drivers and the best cars.
We have a stockpile of previously unpublished images of all facets of this great event, which will all be published in good time.
So let’s get the ball rolling…and relive the brilliant Festival of Speed.
This year’s theme Flat Out And Fearless: Racing On The Edge, shone the spotlight on epic drivers, cars and events from around the world. And there is no bigger star than Sir Stirling Moss, as seen piloting a priceless W196 Benz.
Seeing this machine up close is one of life’s dreams coming true. The famous ‘722 is the 300 SL-R driven by Stirling Moss to victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia, co-driven by journalist Denis Jenkinson. As the race number suggests, they started at 7:22 in Brescia and returned in 10 hours 7 minutes and 48 seconds later having set a record 97.94mph average.
Another thrill of FOS was witnessing Valentino Rossi, literally riding straight into the house. His humble and effervescent personality shinning during his balcony interview.
Just like last year, the central feature dominated the skyline. Twisting and twirling 40 metres towards the sky sit rather precariously Mazda’s legendary rotary-engined 787B Le Mans racer, and the LM55 Gran Turismo Vision concept.
It was also the Mazda’s on the ground that impressed us.
Most celebrated is Mazda’s Le Mans win in 1991 with the 787B. Also on show at FOS, was the 757 from 1986, a pair of 767Bs from ’89 and a 1990 787.
This Rx7 was possibly the nosiest car in the entire field. Tom Walkinshaw oversaw the European RX-7 programme from 1979. Along with Pierre Dieudonné he won the Spa 24 Hours in 1981. TWR also scooped up the British Saloon Car Championship, winning in both ’80 and ’81.
This Alfa Romeo TZ2 from 1967, is just one of the fascinating cars at Goodwood. After being a factory team car, it ran in the 1969 Targa Florio and in 2009 won at Pebble Beach Concours.
One of our favourite categories this year was ‘Fearless by Flat-Broke’ which featured this March-Cosworth 2-4-0 from 1976. This car never started a Grand Prix, but that rear wheel traction was successful in hillclimbs.
The tradition continues, the 2015 Le Mans winning Porsche hits the Goodwood Hillclimb.
Aussie Multi-Moto GP champion Casey Stoner entertains the crowd.
We couldn’t resist snapping this crime-fighting McLaren.
The exhilarating sight and sound of the FXX K in action was hard to beat. The FXX K’s naturally aspirated V-12 makes 848 horsepower, while 187 electric ponies arrive courtesy of Ferrari’s HY-KERS kinetic-energy recovery system. Total system output is 1036 horses. Not too shabby indeed.
One shock for many was the sight of Patrick Friesacher’s Toyota Camry NASCAR smokeout bursts into flames. The car kept on moving and the fire quickly died down.
Ford brings out RS legends to celebrate new Focus RS.
This 240T European Touring Car Championship car claimed victory at Zolder in 1984. Volvo went on to claim the ETCC and DTM championship in 1985.
For the first time in the UK, Richard Petty is reunited with his famous Plymouth Superbird.
Mad Mike was back smoking it up in the Rx7.
Just like Mad Mike, Hoonigan’s Ken Block was a thrill for the crowd. Seeing this Youtube sensation in reality was inspiring.
The all-wheel drive 1965 Ford Mustang notchback with its Roush Yates 410 V8 teared it on the track.
The actual Mx5 launch car which was exhibited at the Chicago Auto show in 1989.
Steve McQueen cars featured in the Driver’s club.
Auto Union in motion.
This 1957 Maserati 250F was driven by a 46 year old Fangio in the German Grand Prix. He responded to a long pit stop by breaking his own lap record repeatedly to win in this car.
The Forest Rally Stage again featured a formidable line up of rally stars and cars. The famous 555, 1996 Impreza originally driven by the late Colin McRae.
Didier Auriol won the 1995 Tour de Corse but shortly after the team and car were banned for using an illegal turbo in 1996. The European title came for Armin Schwarz, by the GT4 ST 205 never matched the success of its predecessor.
This Ford Sierra RS Cosworth claimed victory at the 1988 Tour de Corse in the capable hands of Didier Auriol.
This ultra-light and powerful 917K gave Porsche its first Le Mans win in 1970. Then in 1971 it won again in number 22, Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep setting a distance record of 5333km that stood for 39 years in the process.
This Porsche 935 finished 2nd at Le Mans in 1979 driven by Paul Newman, Dick Barbour and Rolf Stommelen, and went on to score wins at Daytona in 1981 and Sebring in 1983.
The Derek Bell Celebration class consisted of a full field of cars driven by the diverse and talented driver. He drove this 917K to 246mph on the Mulsanne straight during testing, but unfortunately retired during the race.
Brothers in arms are the 962C and 956 Porsche. In the 962 Bell had his last of five Le Mans wins in 1987, 20 laps of the second placed car. The 956 gave Bell his third win at Le Mans in 1982 in a 1-2-3 for Rothmans Porsche.
Mercedes MGP W04 was successful in three races in the 2013 season, the last to feature the 2.4 V8s. Mercedes has now gone on to utterly dominate the new turbo era.
We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Rest assured, we have loads more from this event that we can’t wait to share with you.
More coming soon. Watch this space.
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