Our Favorite Moments From the Goodwood Festival of Speed

For over two decades, the Goodwood Festival of Speed has enchanted automotive fans. Including a variety of thrilling events like the Forest Rally Stage, Supercar Run, Moving Motor Show and Famous Annual Hill Climb, this festival is packed with exhilaration for car enthusiasts. In addition to the excitement of the motor events, the show often presents an opportunity for car manufacturers to reveal brand-new products. Given these impressive credentials, we believe this event is one of the best in the industry. Check out our five favorite moments from the festival below.

1. Aston Martin wows with the center display.

Each year, the festival consistently delivers a stunning center display to welcome guests. This year was certainly no exception. Aston Martin, the luxury British car manufacturer, created this gorgeous piece in honor of the 70 years since the company’s first race at Goodwood. It is also a nod to the 60 years since its first and only victory at the Le Mans race. The display features the Aston Martin DBR1, a classic racing car first constructed in 1956. This car is the same model as the one that won at Le Mans. Displaying the DBR1 is a fantastic homage to automotive innovation, made even more impressive by the height of the centerpiece.

2. The festival honors a legend.

This year, the Goodwood Festival chose to celebrate the record-breaking career of Michael Schumacher. Schumacher, a retired German racing driver, is often lauded as one of the world’s best Formula One drivers. He is the only driver in history to win an astonishing seven Formula One World Championships, five of which were consecutive. This record still stands today as the most championships won by any driver. The year 2019 marks Schumacher’s 50th birthday in addition to the 25th anniversary of his first Formula One World Championship. In a touching display featuring famous cars, family and friends, the festival came together to honor the legacy of this racing legend.

3. Land Rover opens the show.

As a fantastic start to the festival, Land Rover unveiled its highly anticipated new Defender. This was the vehicle’s first debut to the public, and it did not let us down. The Defender is Land Rover’s most enduring model, and it is beloved by fans of the brand. Its newly updated design is inspired by the Land Rover’s original 1948 model, updated to fit modern-day style and necessities. This redesigned model certainly impressed, and we are excited to see it on the market soon.

4. Volkswagen I.D. R sets a new hill climb record.

Every year, manufacturers test their latest and greatest vehicles during a race for time up the Goodwood hill. This year, the all-electric Volkswagen I.D. R set a new festival record. The record was previously held by McLaren when in 1999 its MP4/13 F1 car earned an impressive time of 41.60 seconds. Averaging 101.4 mph along the course, Volkswagen’s I.D. R defeated McLaren’s long-held title with a stunning time of 41.18 seconds. Even more surprisingly, later during the festival, the I.D. R went on to break its own record when its second run was completed in a time of 39.90. We are certainly impressed by this record-breaking car!

5. Lexus announces a new convertible.

Given that we are convertible enthusiasts, it’s no surprise that this announcement was our absolute favorite thing from the festival. Lexus unveiled a stunning convertible version of its luxurious, beloved LC. Although the LC has been on the market for some time, Lexus is revamping this fan favorite by adding a convertible option. We might be biased, but a convertible top makes any car better, especially one with the impressive design of the Lexus LC. The prototype was given a test run up the famous Goodwood hill, driven by professional racing driver Nick Cassidy. Lexus later announced that the car is expected to hit the market sometime in the near future.