- Seven-time F1 World Champion’s wife, Corinna, visits Goodwood Festival of Speed
- A special collection of cars spanning Michael’s career gather to climb the Goodwood Hill
- This year sees Michael turn 50 and is the 25th anniversary of his first F1 world title
Michael Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, was on hand at the Goodwood Festival of Speed today to witness the event’s celebration of the seven-time Formula One World Champion in the year he turns 50.
With 2019 also being the 25th anniversary of his first F1 World Championship, the special tribute saw a grid of cars that spanned Schumacher’s career, including every one of his title-winning Ferraris.
Corinna was joined by Michael’s former Ferrari team principal, Jean Todt, and Luca di Montezemolo, former Chairman of Ferrari, along with the Duke of Richmond. Also on hand were other luminaries who featured strongly in Michael’s career, including Ross Brawn and 1996 World Champion Damon Hill, whose battle with Michael was one of the most iconic of his career.
As well as F1 cars from Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes, the Schumacher collection also included his Van Diemen Formula Ford RF88 in which he finished sixth in the 1988 German FFord Championship, the Mercedes 190E in which he contested four DTM races in 1991 and the Mercedes C11 Group C in which Michael won the season finale in Mexico alongside Jochen Mass.
Ross Brawn said: “Anyone at his level has to have natural talent. You can work as hard as you like but, if you haven’t got that natural talent as a gift, you won’t succeed. When you marry that inner gift with the approach, dedication and commitment and his character, he was a huge catalyst for every team he was part of. He just had everything – he raised the level of what a professional racing driver should be; he set new standards.”
Damon Hill, whose 1994 rivalry with Schumacher ended with the fateful coming together in Adelaide that handed Michael is first World Championship, said: “Lewis is catching up with the statistics, but there’s a long way to go before anyone can equal Michael’s record and there’s no question that the guy had the most outstanding ability as a racing driver.
“He had the qualities you need to be successful – he had this ruthlessness, talent, concentration and dedication.”
Michael Schumacher’s seven F1 World Championships remains unrivalled and he still holds 20 F1 records, many of which may never be beaten.
With the theme of this year’s Goodwood Festival being ‘Speed Kings – Motorsport’s Record-Breakers’, there could hardly be a more fitting tribute.
(ENDS)
EDITORS’ NOTES:
Staged every summer since 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by MasterCard 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 will include the Moving Motor Show, Forest Rally Stage, Michelin Supercar Paddock, Michelin Supercar Run, F1 paddock, Drivers’ Club, GAS Arena, Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance, Aviation Exhibition and Bonhams Auction.
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