- American motorsport legend Roger Penske will attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed as the event celebrates “The Maestros – Motorsport’s Great All-Rounders”
- Assembled cars will include examples from all areas of Penske’s motorsport success, including INDYCAR, NASCAR, Trans-Am, sports cars, Australian Supercars and Formula 1
- Penske previously competed at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in 1963
Goodwood is thrilled to announce that former American driver and current championship team owner Roger Penske will attend the 2021 Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, taking place from 8 – 11 July.
Penske’s attendance comes as the event celebrates “The Maestros – Motorsport’s Great All-Rounders”, a theme consistently exemplified by Roger Penske and his race teams. As a driver, Penske enjoyed success on both sides of the Atlantic, winning in NASCAR and making it to Formula 1. But ‘The Captain’ is perhaps best known as the leader of Team Penske, having achieved unprecedented success across a number of motorsport disciplines, including INDYCAR, NASCAR, Trans-Am, sports cars, Australian Supercars and Formula 1.
Goodwood will showcase Penske’s momentous career by assembling some of the team’s most famous cars at the Festival. These will include Team Penske’s first Indy 500 entry from 1969, the four-wheel drive Lola T152; the McLaren M16B representing the first of the team’s 18 Indy 500 wins in 1972; the Penske PC23 which dominated the 1994 Indy 500; as well as the 2006 and 2018 Indy 500 winners. Also confirmed is the Pontiac Catalina honouring the car that Penske himself drove to a NASCAR victory at Riverside in 1963, as well as the 2008 Daytona 500 winner. Representing Team Penske’s foray into Formula 1 will be the Penske PC1 from 1975, the first car manufactured by Penske Cars UK, and the PC4, which won the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix driven by John Watson. Penske himself will take to the Hill in the Porsche RS Spyder which won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2008.
An outdoor exhibition on the Cricket Pitch, detailing Penske’s illustrious racing history, will further celebrate the unique achievements of man and team in the world of motorsport, with an additional special tribute planned for the final day of the Festival of Speed.
This year’s Festival of Speed is not Penske’s first visit to West Sussex: he raced at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in 1963, competing in the RAC Tourist Trophy, where he finished eighth in a Ferrari 250 GTO entered by the legendary North American Racing Team.
Roger Penske said: “I have wonderful memories of racing at Goodwood in 1963 and am honoured to be invited to return this summer. I am very much looking forward to sharing in the celebrations with Goodwood’s passionate fans as they return for the 2021 Festival of Speed.”
The Duke of Richmond said: “We are incredibly excited that Roger is able to join us at the Festival of Speed this year as we celebrate Motorsport’s Great All-Rounders, among whom he undoubtedly numbers. We are very much looking forward to seeing the hugely successful Penske racing cars alongside Roger himself take to the Hill over the course of the weekend.”
Further announcements about the Festival of Speed will be made in the coming weeks.
Image credit: Jochen Van Cauwenberge
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Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard: Thursday 8th – Sunday 11th July
Tickets
Tickets for the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard are available, but selling fast. The Goodwood Ticket Office can be contacted on 01243 755055.
Goodwood wants customers to be able to book with confidence and if it is deemed that Goodwood events cannot take place on advice from the UK Government due to the ever-changing pandemic, the ‘Ticket Guarantee’ means customers can transfer their ticket to the following year or receive a full refund.
Covid-19
Goodwood’s number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved, whether working behind-the-scenes, at the wheel, or attending the spectacle. Goodwood continues to work closely with Public Health England and UK Government advisory groups and all events will be run strictly in accordance with the Government’s Covid-19 guidelines.
Accreditation
Accreditation for Festival of Speed is now open. Make your application here.
Contact
For more information about the 2021 motorsport events, please contact Katharine Morgan, Motorsport & Automotive Press Officer: Katharine.Morgan@goodwood.com
For all other press enquiries please contact: media@goodwood.com
Imagery and news from Goodwood are available at: https://www.goodwood.com/media-centre/
Stay up to date with all future announcements and on-event action across our social channels:
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About the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard
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 motorsport take part along with legendary figures from the automotive world. 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.
About Team Penske
Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Cars owned and prepared by Team Penske have produced more than 580 major race wins, over 650 pole positions and 40 Championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car racing competition. Over the course of its 55-year history, the team has also earned 18 Indianapolis 500 victories, two Daytona 500 Championships, a Formula 1 win, overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring along with a win in Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000 race. In 2021, Team Penske will compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.
For all media enquiries please contact Merrill Cain with Team Penske:
Email: merrillcain@teampenske.com
Telephone: (704) 677-9200
