Goodwood Festival of Speed 2014 preview

By Michael Karkafiris

Motor Shows

10 June 2014 13:16

The Goodwood Festival of Speed always stands out as a highlight in our automotive calendar and the 2014 event should be no exception. The iconic motoring celebration will take place from 26-29 June and this year Lord March is laying on all the usual treats plus a few surprises.

The 2014 Festival of Speed's central feature will be Mercedes celebrating 120 years of motorsport achievements and a century since the famous 1-2-3 victory in the 1914 French Grand Prix.

There are only three Silver Arrows remaining from that race and Mercedes will have them on display, while the F1 team will be present along with its star drivers to join the festivities. The Merc-themed central sculpture will be unveiled at the start of the event, as usual.

The drivers confirmed for the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed are:

• Derek Bell
• Jenson Button
• Anthony Davidson
• Pedro de la Rosa
• Emerson Fitipaldi
• Dario Franchitti
• Chris Goodwin
• Damon Hill
• Sir Chris Hoy
• Sebastien Loeb
• Allan McNish
• Alister McRae
• Jackie Oliver
• Henri Pescarolo
• Richard Petty
• Jean Ragnotti
• Anthony Reid
• Bernd Schneider
• Bruno Senna
• Dani Sordo
• Jackie Stewart
• John Surtees
• Bjorn Waldegard
• Andy Wallace
• Mark Webber

Witnessing racing legends reunited with the machines that built their reputation is always a must at Goodwood, especially when you get to see race cars like the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’, Ferrari 333SP, Ferrari 156 ‘Sharknose’,  Sauber-Mercedes C9, Audi Quattro S1, Audi 90 Quattro IMSA and Renault 5 Maxi Turbo.

‘The King’ of Nascar Richard Petty is going to shake the hill with his thunderous 1967 championship winning Plymouth Belvedere GTX.

Another special event in the 2014 FoS will be the first run of the legendary 1911 Fiat S76 in 100 years. After a restoration that lasted nearly a decade, the unofficial fastest car in the world of 1911 will fire up its enormous 28.5-litre four-cylinder engine and stretch its legs up the hillclimb for the first time in a century. It might be quite loud.

And if you are interested more in the modern stuff, Sebastien Loeb is going for the hill record this year in his bonkers Pikes Peak Peugeot 208 T16, Dario Franchitti will be driving a Mercedes DTM car and Jenson Button will be behind the wheel of several McLarens. Oh, and expect to see about half-a-dozen of the current F1 grid attending the Festival as well.

For the supercar fans out there, for the first time, every car taking part in the Supercar Run will be timed. Around 40 cars are expected to take part and between them will be the upcoming hybrid successor of the Honda NSX for its ‘dynamic debut’, the Koenigsegg Agera One:1 complete with its frankly incredible figures and perhaps even the almighty McLaren P1 will be there along with the current Nurburgring record-holder Porsche 918 Spyder.

The Nissan GT-R Nismo will certainly attract a lot of attention, even in this company, as its supercar-murdering reputation supersedes it. Which do you think will score the fastest time?

• Agera One:1
• Honda NSX
• Bentley Continental GT V8S
• Pagani Huayra
• Noble M600
• Nissan GTR Nismo
• Mercedes SLS Black
• Ferrari 458 Speciale
• Mclaren P1
• Porsche 918 Spyder
• BMW i8
• Zenvo ST1
• Jaguar F-Type R

Click here for more from the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013
Click here for more from the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012

By Michael Karkafiris