The Goodwood Competition of Velocity is many issues to many individuals. In the event you’re a significant producer, privateer driver, dealer or spectator, you all have totally different experiences.
This 12 months’s even was fraught with torrential downpours, quite a few on-track incidents, and excessive winds which in the end led to the Saturday being cancelled – a primary in reminiscence. FOS 2023 additionally felt far busier than it did in earlier years. Whether or not this was all the way down to a bigger variety of tickets being bought or crowds concentrated in particular areas I’m not sure, however locations just like the Supercar Paddock I can solely liken to a Tokyo subway prepare at rush hour.
Speedhunters has coated this occasion since we’ve been exploring international automotive tradition, and its fundamental formulation has remained unchanged. Take one massive property with a non-public driveway in Chichester, West Sussex, add among the rarest, most revered and fascinating highway and race vehicles on the planet, and pair them with well-known motorsport names. The remaining takes care of itself.
With this in thoughts, to kick off our 2023 Goodwood Competition of Velocity protection I assumed I’d concentrate on a few of my highlights from the occasion.
Quite a few celebrations came about over the course of the weekend, with one of many largest being the seventy fifth anniversary of Porsche’s first sports activities automotive. The milestone was mirrored within the Competition of Velocity’s iconic garden sculpture, a gargantuan construction which this 12 months elegantly displayed six Porsches, every positioned on the information of beams which had been woven spherical like a ribbon.
Whereas the 911 is what Porsche is most identified for, the Cartier Type et Luxe Garden instantly south of Goodwood Home, had a category to have a good time ‘Something however the 911’. The show showcased fashions from Porsche’s historical past, all particular in their very own method.
Alongside this was a number of road-going homologation fashions from the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s GT1 period – among the most excessive highway vehicles to ever set tyres to tarmac. The time period ‘highway automotive’ is one I exploit slightly loosely, as solely minimal concessions and quantity plates set these vehicles aside from their race equivalents. Anticipate a highlight on this group quickly.
Storage 56, recent from the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, introduced out their two transformed NASCARs – one for show and the opposite to run up the hill. The staff had no direct opponents within the Le Mans Experimental Class, however their main focus was to only end the race. And the NASCAR-turned-endurance-racer did simply that, inserting thirty ninth out of 62 vehicles. Had the Storage 56 staff not misplaced an hour to a driveline concern, they might have positioned method forward of the GTE opponents.
FOS 2023 was the final time both automotive would flip a wheel in anger, and due to this, Jenson Button made positive to deliver the automotive in use again to the pits with significantly much less rubber as an acceptable send-off.
Are you able to actually name your self an automotive fanatic if the sight of the Mazda 787B doesn’t make you even a bit bit starstruck? It didn’t disappoint, and getting to listen to the long-lasting R26B four-rotor motor in particular person is one thing I received’t quickly neglect.
A tribute to the late Ken Block was held in the course of the occasion, with 4 vehicles from his motorsport again catalogue in attendance over the weekend.
Thursday was slightly nice, in distinction to Friday which noticed biblical ranges of rain and powerful winds. The circumstances did nothing deter these in attendance, with many drivers (and groups that packed a set of wets) not holding again up the hill.
The climate continued to say no and in the end was the reason for Saturday’s cancellation. Not due to the rain as many within the feedback part of social media speculated, however the danger of sturdy winds damaging the paddock tents or the multi-storey producer shows, which might trigger damage to individuals in and round them.
Quick ahead to Sunday and the occasion was again in full swing. Nevertheless, 4 days doesn’t go into three, and solely having restricted time on the occasion on Sunday, a judgement name needed to be made and my plans to go to the Rally Stage had been scuppered. An early morning stroll via the Supercar Paddock made for an acceptable substitution.
With the demise of the trendy motor present, an increasing number of producers are utilizing occasions like this one to launch new fashions. Seven-figure supercars aren’t the primary issues I’d spend on ought to my lottery numbers are available, however there’s no denying the innovation that these vehicles deliver to the automotive trade. A devoted characteristic on these will observe too.
The Goodwood Competition of Velocity will be overwhelming. Just about the whole lot, in all places you look is particular. And due to the sheer scale of all of it, because the title of this story alludes to, it’s all taking place directly.
So if you happen to do end up within the lucky place of attending the Competition of Velocity, the perfect recommendation I might give is to plan forward if there’s one thing particular you’re hoping to see. Timetables, entry lists and the occasion map are all out there to help. However even if you happen to don’t plan out your day or days, you’ll nonetheless have an incredible time. Each nook turned will shock you.
So, in spite of everything that, you could surprise if it’s nonetheless price going to? Completely. As a result of even on a foul day, the Goodwood Competition of Velocity is likely one of the greatest days out you’ll be able to have.
Chaydon Ford
Instagram: chaycore
