Goodwood Festival of Speed - everything you need to know
2015's event looks set to be another scorcher
The Festival of Speed has become a Mecca for all things motoring. From Formula 1 cars to vintage classics, just about every single automotive taste is well and truly squared away.
It’s not just for the car geeks either. Goodwood has of late become a proper family event, so even little ones won't get bored while the car fans in the family go off and explore.
A highlight is Michelin’s supercar run, which this year will see no fewer than 41 of the rarest and greatest supercars ever made launch themselves up the Goodwood hill climb. Michelin’s own stand will be located trackside, so you can watch the entire event in all its glory.
While Goodwood is a relatively straightforward event, there are a few pointers we can give you in order to make your day out run as smoothly as possible. Here is our Goodwood cheat sheet.
Before you go
Make sure you get yourself tickets from ticketing.goodwood.com. There are multiple ticket types and parking costs extra, so make sure you pick the right one.
How to get there
Goodwood is surrounded by some of the best roads that the south of England has to offer. Set off early, beat the traffic and enjoy a proper drive on your way down to the festival.
If you’d rather opt for public transport, your best bet is to head to Chichester station. There are multiple bus services on offer that will take you straight to the festival itself.
Parking at the circuit might require a bit of a wait, but it’s usually worth it as the car park itself is often home to some rare machines. On your walk over to the festival don’t be surprised if you spot the odd supercar parked up.
If you fancy going a bit swish, you can helicopter yourself into the Goodwood aerodrome, or even better, fly a private jet and land there.
Where to stay
Goodwood offers camping for those who want it, which is particularly ideal for those intending on staying the entire weekend as it means you don’t need to deal with traffic on each day.
Alternatively, options include multiple five star hotels in the surrounding area, as well as the award-winning Goodwood Hotel which is located on the estate itself.
Fancy something special for dinner? Why not use Michelin’s guide to track down a great local restaurant.
Getting around
The festival is relatively easy to navigate, with the hill climb itself dividing the entire setup in two. Those who want to walk around manufacturers’ stands will need to cross over the track, while the Michelin Supercar Paddock is on the same side as Goodwood house.
If you want to venture up into the off-road area of Goodwood, you will need to follow the hill climb up towards the top of the festival. It’s further than you think, so it makes sense to take one of the free shuttles up to the top, so you can stay cool on a hot Summer’s day.
What to watch
There is a lot going on at Goodwood this year, so you have a choice: either set yourself up trackside for the entire day, or explore the festival and come back to the hill climb to catch the highlights.
The Michelin Supercar Run is predictably spectacular and features some of the very rarest road cars in existence. Formula 1 is also a highlight, particularly for those who haven’t heard a proper V10 or V8 F1 engine in the metal.
Head to Michelin’s own trackside experience centre for a great view of the Run, or alternatively, take a trip up to the tricky Molecomb corner which occasionally catches drivers out.
Don’t forget the rally stage either, as watching a WRC car charge through a forest is something not to be missed.
We also suggest a walk around the paddocks so you can get up close and personal with some of the supercars. Engineers occasionally fire up the F1 cars for crowds; petrolheads won’t want to miss out on hearing one of these machines up close.
