The Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, is evolving into even more of a motoring mecca in 2019. Changes to the physical layout, with the relocation of the road car paddocks, will make way for an all-new live action arena guaranteed to thrill spectators. The four-day Festival, this year taking place on 4-7 July, is always looking to the future in making sure the newest and most exciting cars, bikes and technologies are very much part of the mix.
The first change for 2019 will be the relocation of the Michelin Supercar Paddock. In previous years, it has been located in the Cathedral Paddock. This year it will relocate to the space adjacent to the start line of the Hill, that used to be home to the Moving Motor Show. A firm favourite with our younger audiences, visitors will be able to get up close and personal with the most exciting and inspiring road cars in the world, all pushing the boundaries of technology.
With a large space now free in the Cathedral Paddock, an all-new attraction ‘The Arena’, will be introduced here. It will be the first time Goodwood has created an amphitheatre of action this extreme. Throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday visitors will be in awe, witnessing drift cars shredding tyres, stunt drivers doing the daring, insane and unimaginable with car and motorcycle displays. The Arena will showcase some of the biggest stars and daredevils and allow fans to interact with their heroes.
Another paddock set to relocate is the First Glance Paddock. It will find a new home next to FoS Future Lab, nestled right amongst all the manufacturer stands. The First Glance Paddock, combined with FoS Future Lab, will be the hub of pioneering engineering achievement, with the latest cars and technology alongside each other. FoS Future Lab, now in its third year, is an immersive technology experience, where visitors take a look into the future, and experience the technology of tomorrow first hand. Last year, favourites included Roborace and JetPack Aviation’s incredible ‘jet pack man’.
The Goodwood Action Sports zone, affectionately known as GAS, will also get an injection of new content, the much-loved shows featuring the incredible talent of BMX, mountain bikers, trials riders and freestyle motocross will remain, but be joined by new features such as an e-gaming area.
Finally, Sunday is getting supercharged! After three days of practice runs the fastest cars of the weekend will enter the Sunday Shootout and attempt to beat the 41.6-second record time that has stood for 20 years. Supercars, touring cars, electric cars and specially-built hillclimb monsters will battle to be crowned the fastest car of the event. The three fastest cars will be displayed outside Goodwood House after the Shootout for fans to get close to.
The Duke of Richmond, founder of the Festival of Speed said, “While celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the Festival of Speed last year we enjoyed record attendance. We’ve seen an incredible 4 million visitors through the event gates over the last quarter of a century. We’re always very conscious of looking to the future as much as we are celebrating the past. We hope with Future Lab, and the relocation of the paddocks to make way for the new live action arena, there really is something to represent every area of motorsport and technology. There is something to appeal to all, from the youngest in the family to the most hardcore motorsport fan.”
Tickets for the Festival of Speed are available from goodwood.com/fos and from Goodwood Customer Sales on 01243 755 055.
(ENDS)
Editor’s Notes:
About Goodwood
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 include FoS Future Lab, 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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About Mastercard
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