Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015 Preview: Flat-Out and Fearless

Lewis Hamilton at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Goodwood Festival of Speed, the yearly event that "celebrates the very best from the past and present of motoring and motor sport" takes place next weekend between 25th and 28th June, with the Moving Motor Show opening events on the Thursday.

The theme for the 2015 Festival of Speed is an interesting one. It aims to evoke some of the most spectacular drivers and moments from motor sport’s past and present, as well as tipping a hat to a well-known film by sub-titling it ‘Flat-out and Fearless: Racing on the Edge’.

What's on

European Champion James Deane makes his Goodwood debut

At the Festival of Speed this year, you can see (amongst so much more):

• 900 priceless road and racing cars and bikes fighting to be the centre of attention in the paddocks of the Festival of Speed and Revival
• A tribute to Mazda’s contribution to motoring and motor sport in this year's Central Feature, including the launch of an all-new version of the world’s best-selling sportscar, the MX-5
• A debut from MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi on a Yamaha GP race bike to celebrate 60 years of the Yamaha Motor Company
• A revamped F1 Paddock presented by Sky Sports F1 that will feature 5 current Formula 1 teams, including World Champion constructor Mercedes
• An appearance from 7 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLRs to mark the 60th anniversary of Sir Stirling Moss’s 1955 Mille Miglia victory
• A first public run in 101 years from a 28-litre Fiat S76 

• The Red Arrows display team are Festival of Speed regulars

  Appearances from stars such as NASCAR’s Richard ‘The King’ Petty, drag racing godfather Don Garlits, bike legends Casey Stoner, Freddie Spencer and Kenny Roberts, and legend Derek Bell with a special class of at least 12 cars, including his first Le Mans winner – a Mirage GR8
• The 80th birthday celebration of Figoni et Falaschi cars 
• The 60th anniversary of the Citroen DS
• European Champion James Deane makes his Goodwood debut
  
• A display from the famous Red Arrows
• The famous Bonhams sale with great pieces of history up for sale, including a much sought-after ex-works 1935 Aston Martin Ulster.

There will also be the fabled 1.16-mile Goodwood Hillclimb course with all sorts of cars of all sorts of ages and standards competing to race up the Goodwood Hill - some trying to break the Hillclimb record.

Mad Mike Whiddett returns to Goodwood

And, for the first time ever in Goodwood Festival of Speed history, the 2015 event will feature a special category dedicated to the art of drifting, with exponents of the art such as Red Bull Athlete ‘Mad’ Mike Whiddet and tMonster Energy Athlete Ken Block taking part to demonstrate the discipline along with the EXTREME Drift Allstars.

(According to Wikipedia, "Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels or all tires, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. Professional drifting competitions are held worldwide and are judged according to the speed, angle, showmanship and line taken through a corner or set of corners.") 

Moving Motor Show

Aston Martin Vantage GT12

Amongst all the speed, excitement and fervent testosterone-creating that will be taking place at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year, it is the Moving Motor Show that is taking place on Thursday 25 June that attracts almost as much attention as the Hillclimb.

Because the Moving Motor Show is the place to see many of the new cars soon to be available from manufacturers in situ, with some even offering the chance to drive cars on a prescribed route around the Goodwood Estate before competitions start the next day.

And these cars include many that Nationwide Vehicle Contracts will be offering for lease in the months to come. Can't wait for the new vehicles to be released? Check out what we've got on offer at the moment - browse our catalogue of brand new cars.

There is still no annual motor show here in the UK, despite continued enthusiasm and demand from vehicle manufacturers and motorists alike for an annual motor show in Britain. That said, the Moving Motor Show at Goodwood at least gives car enthusiasts a chance to see and experience the latest models, as well as giving car companies the opportunity to showcase their products in a stunning setting and a relaxed environment.

This year, the Moving Motor Show features, amongst others:

• The new 500bhp Peugeot 308 R Hybrid. 
• The Renault Clio Renaultsport 220 Trophy 
• The new Ford Focus RS (making its global dynamic debut in the hands of Gymkhana driving legend Ken Block.)
• The UK debut of the latest SEAT Ibiza makes its UK debut
• The all-new Mazda MX-5 and Mazda CX-3 (both of which take on the Hillclimb)
• The Lexus new high-performance GS F saloon 
• The UK debut of the latest Chevrolet Corvette Z06 
• MINI’s all-new hardcore John Cooper Works 
• The world dynamic debut of the Aston Martin Vantage GT12, Aston Martin’s most performance-focused, road-going Vantage ever, also tackling the Hillclimb (with Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer at the wheel.)

Other Aston Martin vehicles including the Vanquish Coupe V12 Vantage S Coupe, the V12 Vantage S Roadster, the Rapide S, and the Vanquish Volante.

Tickets for the Goodwood Festival of Speed are still available here and for the Moving Motor Show here.