The Goodwood Festival of Speed. A culmination of the most bleeding-edge technology available in the automotive industry and a glimpse into the future. It has been the proving ground and staging area for many up-and-coming automakers to proudly display the most exquisite and industry-leading advancements and products.
From supercars and hyper cars pacing up the Goodwood Hill at break-neck speeds to an ancient 1937 Bugatti Type 57S elegantly trotting along with much fanfare, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is the grandest celebration and display of the many marvels hidden within the world of motoring. Bikes, planes, drift cars, rally cars, and even F1 cars, the Goodwood Festival of Speed showcases all facets of the motoring world. It highlights the cutting-edge technology of the future contrasted with the technology of the past to celebrate the continuous progress made within the automotive world. This year’s FOS will take place from Thursday the 23rd of June to Sunday the 26ht of June.
The Duke of Richmond, owner of Goodwood Estate said, “This year’s Festival theme – ‘The Innovators – Masterminds of Motorsport’ – allows us to celebrate some of the greatest achievements in history, while also highlighting the event’s evolving focus on future technology. Just as race-inspired innovations such as four-valve engines, monocoque chassis, and turbocharging have shaped the past and present of the cars we drive in the real world, so electrification, autonomy, and other new technologies – the development of which is accelerated by the white heat of competition – will have a profound effect on the future of personal mobility.”
As a growing aspect of the motoring industry, electrification will be endlessly talked about and showcased throughout the events of the iconic festival. The “Electric Avenue” that launched last year will return. It aims to showcase the evolution and future of electric vehicle technology while providing event-goers the opportunity to talk to EV experts and even sit behind the wheel of some class-leading electric vehicles.
Alongside many notable automotive manufacturers and their wonderful work is BMW’s M division which will take centre stage at the Festival of Speed for the second time with its first central appearance in the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed. BMW has announced that they will unveil a new M car at Goodwood this year.
BMW M CEO Frank van Meel said “For our 50th anniversary, we couldn’t imagine a better place to celebrate our products with fans of the brand. I’m particularly looking forward to unveiling a certain vehicle to the world’s public for the first time – a vehicle we have been waiting a long time for.” Speculation leads us to believe that we may see the long-awaited BMW M3 Touring unveiled at the festival.
