Weve already reported that among the most spectacular displays at this years event on June 22-24 will be the conversion of Goodwoods historic cricket pitch (one of the oldest in England) into a perfect replica of the Bonneville Salt Flats, as the Festival celebrates Bonneville Speed Week with many cars never seen before outside the USA.
Latest news from the UKs most prestigious (and least inclined!) hillclimb is that childrens favourite Roary the Racing Car will take part the new childrens TV character (from the same brain as Bob the Builder) is narrated by Stirling Moss, with Peter Kay providing the voice of his mechanic, Chris. Roary and Chris will be on hand to meet the kids, along with yet another addition to the ever-growing Goodwood fleet of full-size driving Wacky Racers, which now numbers 10, being joined for 2007 by the Buzzwagon, driven by Rufus Roughcut and Sawtooth. The Junior Festival of Speed has loads of other attractions, from a miniature Land-Rover off road course to an assault course, scrapheap challenge and exciting demonstrations.
A wealth of rally stage stars past and present including Petter Solberg, Colin McRae, Stig Blomqvist and Paddy Hopkirk will be in action on the demanding Forest Rally Stage on the hillside above Goodwood House. The Goodwood forest will throng to the sound of both modern and historic rally cars as the Festival of Speed showcases the greatest loose-surface driving on its exciting Forest Rally Stage. The Stage has been further enhanced for 2007 by Goodwood, working in close consultation with rally legend and former World Champion Hannu Mikkola, who helped to design the course and will be in action on it throughout the weekend. The 3km stage will include, for the first time, a yump which will see the faster rally cars getting airborne, adding a thrilling new element for both spectators and photographers. Additionally, a new 500m rally section will include an exciting sweeping S-bend, as well as a fast but narrow straight featuring several challenging kinks right alongside the main spectator thoroughfare. Access to the Forest Rally Stage will also be improved, with tractor shuttles from the top of the Spectator Bank, near Molecomb Corner. With no date conflict with the World Rally Championship, Goodwood plans to bring many protagonists of the modern sport to the Festival again. The current Subaru WRC team will be joined by both Fords Factory and Stobart WRC teams, plus teams from Mitsubishi and Skoda. All current WRC cars and drivers can also be seen in action on the Goodwood hillclimb course twice a day.
Former World Champion Colin McRae plans to drive his exciting new R4 rally car in public for the very first time. The spectacular 2.5-litre four-wheel drive car has been designed and built to Colins specification as an affordable National rally car that offers a driving experience similar to a full WRC model. The car is being manufactured to order and production is already underway on the first customers cars. In action alongside McRae will be other rally World Champions Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist, Petter Solberg and Bjrn Waldegrd as well as Monte-Carlo-winning Mini legend Paddy Hopkirk, making his first appearance at the Festival. The worlds most successful lady rally driver, Michele Mouton, will be in action over the weekend, alongside WRC works drivers Chris Atkinson and Matthew Wilson, as will Peugeot-Cosworth campaigner Andy Burton and leading Ford driver Guy Wilks. Former British Champions Gwyndaf Evans, Russell Brookes and Marcus Dodd will also drive, as will 1970s rally star Tony Fall.
Around 30 cars from the history of rallying will tackle the stage throughout all three days of the event. Cars range from early Sixties machines like the Mini Cooper S and Saab 96 through to more contemporary machinery such as Lancia Delta Integrale and Toyota Celica GT4. The ubiquitous Ford Escort Mk1 and Mk2 take part alongside such legendary Group 4 machines as the Lancia Stratos and Porsche 911. Awesome fire-breathing Group B rally cars so brutal they were banned in the 1980s are out in force: you can see Audi Quattro Sport, Lancia Rallye 037, Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, MG Metro 6R4, Ford RS200, Opel Manta 400, Toyota Twin Cam Turbo and Nissan 240RS. To order advance tickets, please contact the Ticket Hotline: +44 (0)1243 755055, Email: mailto:bookings@goodwood.co.uk or book online at: www.goodwood.co.uk.
Malcolm McKay, Motorbase News Editor
