- How are supercars and younger generations reflected at Goodwood events?
Supercars and hypercars play a huge role in attracting a younger audience to Goodwood. After Formula 1, the Supercar Paddock is arguably the most popular element of Festival of Speed. It has become the place to launch new cars, and our guests love the opportunity to get up close to them, and, of course, to see them in action on the Hill. But even away from the Festival of Speed, supercars play a big part at Goodwood. Our free Super Sunday Breakfast Club, which takes place at the Motor Circuit in May each year, is hugely popular, attracting up to 1,000 cars and in excess of 12,000 people.
We also recognise that the younger audience is interested in more than just performance cars, and that the success of Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive To Survive has inspired a new generation of motorsport fans. Just like us, teams are keen to engage with a younger audience, which is why we introduced the new FOS Fan Zone at this year’s Festival of Speed. We had a fantastic line-up including, amongst many others, 2026 Formula 1 World Champion leader Kimi Antonelli, 2025 Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris, 1996 World Champion Damon Hill, two-time MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner, four-time World SBK Champion Carl Fogarty, and the entire Andretti family – dad Mario, sons Michael and Jeff, and grandson Marco – who had flown over together from Nazareth, Pennsylvania to be with us.
We know of course that the younger generation consumes different media and content, and it’s more important than ever that we reach them where they are. Our social channels and strategy continue to evolve to bring Goodwood to a global audience.
- We hear about plans for international expansion?
Yes, we’re hugely excited to be launching the Goodwood Road Racing Club (GRRC) of America, an expansion of the community that sits right at the heart of our motorsport events. The response from fans, teams and drivers in the US has been fantastic. There’s a huge enthusiasm in the States for what we do, and we plan to stage our first Goodwood headline event at Willow Springs Raceway in California in the autumn of 2028. Goodwood has always had close links with America, going back to the 3rd Duke of Richmond, who was one of the earliest and most outspoken British supporters of American independence, and this feels like the perfect way to expand the GRRC, transforming it into the world’s first truly global car club.
- What have been the most magical Goodwood moments so far this year?
Ultimately, the magical moments – the things you simply wouldn’t see anywhere else in the world – are what set Goodwood apart. Every year we try and surpass what has gone before, and this year has been no exception.
The Members’ Meeting in April featured special tributes to both Barry Sheene and James Hunt, and it was great to see James’ son Freddie behind the wheel of one of his dad’s old McLarens, and Barry’s son (also Freddie) aboard his championship winning bike. We also reunited Jenson Button and Ross Brawn with the Brawn BGP 001, and hearing that screaming V8 around the Circuit was incredibly special.
The Festival was, I think, one of the best ever. We marked 250 years of American independence with a special Americana Celebration as we launched the GRRC of America, bringing some truly legendary cars and drivers over from the States. To see three generations of the Andretti family in the three Ford GT MkIIs that so famously won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966 (and which hadn’t previously run together since 1966) was sensational. And nobody who was there for the Lando Norris and Valentino Rossi balcony moments, to witness the atmosphere and the sheer size of the crowd, will ever forget it.
- What are the special highlights of this year’s Revival?
We’re bringing the spirit of ‘La Dolce Vita’ to the Revival this year, with a celebration of all things Italian. We’ll set the tone each morning by opening the track with a parade of 300 scooters, to mark the 80th anniversary of the iconic Vespa, followed by a demonstration of racing Maseratis on the centenary of their first international victory. On Saturday, the Lavant Cup – which we’re billing as ‘The Battle of Modena’ – will pit 1950s Ferrari sports prototypes against their bitter rivals Maserati, in what should be one of the best-looking races of the weekend. There will also be a variety of Italian set dress and theatrics – everything from a recreation of the Targa Florio pits to the Colosseum in ancient Rome! We’re also celebrating the life and career of Sir Jack Brabham – the only driver to win a World Championship in a car of his own make – and bringing our year-long tribute to Barry Sheene to a conclusion.
Of course, the weekend sees some of the very best motor racing in the world, culminating in the Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration on Sunday afternoon. We’ve got two Formula 1 World Champions – Jenson Button and Jacques Villeneuve – seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, four-time IndyCar Champion and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, six-time IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon, four-time Indy 500 winner Hélio Castroneves, and nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, amongst many others, all going wheel to wheel in priceless 1960s GT cars. To see these legendary drivers mixing it in historic cars is thrilling to watch, and proves that the truly great drivers are fast and competitive in anything.
- Your favourite Revival car this year?
It’s a cliché, but there really are too many amazing cars to choose just one! This year’s Lavant Cup, which we’re billing as ‘The Battle of Modena’, will see Ferrari and Maserati prototypes of the 1950s do battle, inspired by the centenary of the latter’s first international victory. It will be a stunning grid, featuring some of the most beautiful sports racers ever built, including a Sebring winning Ferrari 250 TR, which is a pretty special car. I can’t not single out the three Ford GT MkIIs that finished 1-2-3 at Le Mans in 1966, though. The cars hadn’t been seen together for 10 years, and I’m told they hadn’t run together since 1966, when they came to the Festival of Speed in July, and we’re lucky enough to have them back at the Revival, where they will be running in formation, recreating that famous image from the end of the race, when Ford finally vanquished Ferrari.
