The Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival Press Day was held Wednesday 20 March 2013 on the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England. Lord March’s launch of the 2013 Goodwood Motorsports program was an over-the-top introduction as to what will be expected at this year’s events.
The Festival of Speed was founded twenty years ago as a tribute to the rich motorsport history at Goodwood and is based on the 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb.After World War II, Lord March’s family had also set up a circuit on the military airfield in Goodwood. Fantastic races were held on it until 1966, and the Goodwood Revival has been held every autumn in recent years on this circuit to continue and celebrate that tradition.
In 2013, more than 185,000 visitors are expected to attend the Festival of Speed. For this year’s event, the organizers are placing a particular emphasis on Goodwood’s own individual history. A memorial to twenty years of Festival of Speed will form the theme for this dramatic celebration of motorsport and all things automotive. Goodwood will also honor the 90th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 60 years of the World Sports Car Championship and the 50th anniversaries of the Porsche 911, McLaren and Lamborghini.
Given this significant anniversary, it’s no surprise that Lord March’s launch of the 2013 Goodwood Motorsports programs was an over-the-top introduction as to what will be in store at this year’s Festival of Speed and Revival. To name only a few, Bentley brought Derek Bell and Guy Smith to drive the 2003 Le Mans-winning Speed 8, McLaren displayed the ex-Denny Hulme M8D Can-Am and MP4-12C GT Can-Am Edition, and Jochen Mass piloted the ‘street-legal’ 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe.
Further notable cars at the 2013 Goodwood Press Day included the Maserati 250F that Juan Manuel Fangio drove to an amazing come-from-behind victory at the German Grand Prix, the Porsche 911 GT1 that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998, the 1978 Le Mans-winning Alpine A442B and the 1954 ‘short nose’ Jaguar D-Type Prototype chassis number one. Additionally, Nick Mason’s 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (s/n 3757 GT) seemed like it was everywhere, as was the ex-Rob Walker Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta (s/n 2119 GT) that Stirling Moss drove to victory at the 1960 Goodwood Tourist Trophy race.
The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe, chassis 57473, was also on display and perhaps a hint of things to come for this year’s Cartier Style et Luxe Concours held annually during the Festival. If so, the other ‘Best of Show’ aspirants would be wise not to get their hopes up.
And to highlight the iconic Ford GT40, the Revival will stage the Whitsun Trophy race for significant and authentic racing GT40s, the first competition held exclusively for these iconic race cars. A stunning 250 LM was also there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this mid-engined Ferrari, a car that will be returning to the Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration race for the first time in 13 years.
Similar to the 2011 and 2012 events, photographer Tim Scott was on hand to document this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed Press Day, offering the following 250 images that capture the essence of Lord March’s historic motorsport event. To see more from Tim, visit fluidimages.co.uk.
Goodwood Motorsports 2013 – Launch Day Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
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[Source: Goodwood; Daimler AG; photo credit: Tim Scott / Fluid Images]
What a day that must have been, especially without the crowds! Great pics as always mates.
Great cars, great photography (makes all the difference in the world, dunnit?).
And I was so lucky as to be passenger in several of the fine cars we see here!