There really is too much going on at the Festival of Speed to summarise in less than 10,000 words, so we’ve simply picked a few of our highlights from this year’s event, things that were either unique for 2017 or that we feel will have a lasting impact in years to come. Overall this year’s FoS was a thrilling and memorable occasion for car lovers, once again making us feel like kids in a petrol-scented candy shop.
F1 Celebration
It’s usually the cars that have the biggest price tags at Goodwood, but this year the Festival was dominated by the 35 metre high ‘five phases’ sculpture, a giant spiral of five (real) cars which celebrated the separate phases of Bernie Ecclestone’s career and was rumoured to cost over £1 million. Ecclestone himself was present to view the impressive sculpture, created by Gerry Judah, and to be feted by the crowds for his many achievements.
Aston Martin DB11 V8
Aston Martin’s new partnership with Mercedes has already borne fruit in the form of a less powerful (in relative terms) DB11. Featuring a 4 litre twin turbo V8 from Merc’s AMG GT, the car can still do 0-62 in four seconds and a top speed of 187MPH – perfect if you want a more manageable car that will also save you over £10,000 on the regular version.
Ferrari’s 70th
Where better to host a birthday party than at one of the world’s most famous festivals of motoring? Ferrari bought out the birthday balloons alongside 35 competition cars, including F1 models and sports cars, and a stunning collection of their road-legal vehicles. Rather than a chorus of ‘happy birthday’ there was simply a glorious cacophony of Ferrari engine noises, which filled the air with their unmistakeable growls. John Surtees, Ferrari’s 1964 world champion who died earlier this year, was also movingly commemorated.
Jaguar XE SV Project 8
Jaguar are a sneaky lot. Their Special Vehicles Operations Division has been secretly working on this stunning 592BHP vehicle: their most powerful road car ever made. The car boasts a 5 litre V8 engine and can do 0-62 in just 3.3 seconds. Only a limited number will be made, so get your skates on!
Bentley Continental Supersport
This year’s Goodwood also featured the unveiling of the most powerful Bentley ever made, which they also claim is the fastest four-seater you can buy, full stop. It’s easy to see where the claims come from – the car features an enormous rear spoiler, alongside a carbon fibre splitter and diffuser. Furthermore, the Supersport’s 6 litre W12 engine produces 700BPH and can do 0-62 MPH in an astonishing 3.2 seconds. Not bad for something which still feels like a palace on the inside!