The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed will pay tribute to 120 years of achievement in motor sport by Mercedes-Benz with a Central Feature in its honour. This year’s Central Feature, designed by sculptor Gerry Judah, will be the most architecturally challenging and spectacular installation ever seen at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and is sure to be a visual highlight of the June 26-29 event.
Since its invention in 1886, the automobile’s performance potential and reliability have been put to the test time and time again: right from the very early days, Daimler and Benz vehicles were taking part in events in Europe and around the world – winning races and repeatedly setting new speed records. This year is also the centenary of the victory in the 1914 French Grand Prix on the dust-covered roads around Lyon, where Mercedes racers beat Peugeot to record an historic one-two-three finish.
Of the Mercedes GP machines that enabled Christian Lautenschlager, Louis Wagner and Otto Salzer to take that victory on 4 July a hundred years ago, only three are still in existence. They will all be present for what is set to be the largest automotive garden party ever staged at Goodwood.
Mercedes motor sport success at all levels will be marked, with everything from GP-winning Silver Arrows of the pre-war years, to the monstrous Sauber-Mercedes C9 and CLK GTR sportscars of the 1980s and ’90s, plus saloon and rally cars, and the current F1 team and drivers, which have made such a strong start to the season.
Mercedes-Benz road cars will also feature prominently at the Moving Motor Show and in the Michelin Supercar Paddock – with cars from the AMG division taking a lead role.
Goodwood owner Lord March said, “The theme of this year’s Festival of Speed is ‘Addicted to Winning’ and very few manufacturers embody that philosophy like Mercedes-Benz. To have been at the forefront of motor sport for 120 years is extraordinary and we’re proud to honour them with our most spectacular Central Feature ever in 2014.”
For additional information, visit Goodwood.com.
[Source: Goodwood; photo: Tim Scott / Fluid Images]
