24h Le Mans
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of the most popular two and four-wheel gatherings with the public and among drivers. This jubilee year's edition boasts 24 Hours of Le Mans winners with as many as 50 victories to their credit.
Once again, the Festival of Speed - held on grounds owned by the Duke of Richmond (better known as Lord March) - is a sold out event through 15 July where the public can admire two and four-wheel road and sporting vehicles from every era, on display and in action (like the Alpine A442B winner at the 1978 24 Hours) driven by seasoned former and current drivers expert in their respective disciplines.
Rally, Formula 1, Super Touring, endurance (including a class dedicated to Le Mans legends), NASCAR and drift: there's something for everyone! Every driver, whether at the wheel for timed laps or simply in demonstration, is thrilled to take part in one of the most famous hill climbs on the planet.
One week after the Le Mans Classic, vintage car aficionados can enjoy watching their favorite cars and drivers in action again, including no less than 22 previous 24 Hours winners like Le Mans record-holder Tom Kristensen, nine wins, at the wheel of an Audi R8 with which he won five of those titles. The Danish driver will reunite with some of his former teammates, namely Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro.
Romain Dumas, unlucky with his Porsches at the Le Mans Classic, will take the wheel of the electric Volkswagen I.D. R that helped him beat the record set by Sébastien Loeb at the Pikes Peak hill climb a week after the 86th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The official Porsche driver is in good company since the German marque is represented by an impressive contingent to celebrate its 70th anniversary! In addition to the "Pink Pig" 911 RSR that won in GT this year at Le Mans, on display is the LMP 2000 that could have allowed Porsche to make its comeback in the top class at the beginning of the new millennium had the decision been made at the highest level.
Neel Jani will once again take the wheel of a Porsche 919 Hybrid (three-time winner at the 24 Hours between 2015 and 2017), the Evo version of which allowed him to beat the lap record at Spa-Francorchamps in April and Timo Bernhard to do the same at the Nürburgring in June. Porsche has opted not to attempt to beat the record at the Goodwood hill climb held by Nick Heidfeld since 1999, but Volkswagen is looking to take on the record for an electric car with two-time Le Mans winner Romain Dumas.
Live stream the Goodwood Festival of Speed on the Goodwood website.
PHOTO: The "Pink Pig" Porsche winner in the LMGTE Pro class at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans will hit the track at Goodwood.
