The Goodwood Festival of Speed has been hosted by Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, the Duke of Richmond, at his family’s country estate for 30 years. The event is affectionately known as the “largest motorised garden party in the world”. Every year since 1993, racing cars and sports cars from the very early years of motorsport to current vehicles can be seen in action here, especially on the hillclimb track. The attractive supporting programme extends far beyond motorsport and includes insights into the mobility of the future.
The MGP W02 dates from 2011 and, in that season, it was driven by the duo of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. Mick Schumacher, a test driver for the Mercedes-AMG Formula One team since 2023, will drive his father’s racing car at Goodwood.
In 2021, the Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance won the Formula One Constructors’ Championship with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Grand Prix driver Esteban Gutiérrez will drive the monoposto from the hybrid era that was so successful for the brand at Goodwood.
Mercedes-Benz presented the high-performance Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren sports car of the 199 series at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt/Main (IAA) from 11 to 21 September 2003. The car had been jointly developed with Formula One partner McLaren. Its 460 kW (626 hp) 5.5-litre V8 supercharged engine (M 155) came from Mercedes-AMG. The 199 series comprised the SLR McLaren Coupé (2004 to 2008), the SLR McLaren Roadster (2007 to 2009), the SLR McLaren 722 Edition (2006 to 2008) and the uncompromisingly open SLR McLaren Stirling Moss (2009). An SLR McLaren Stirling Moss from the Mercedes-Benz Heritage collection is on display in the Classic Car Paddock.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the SLR premiere in 2003, the Mercedes-Benz SLR.CLUB will be a guest at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with a total of 20 vehicles from this exclusive model series (including four examples of the SLR McLaren Stirling Moss). The vehicles of the recognised brand club will be parked in the Performance Car Paddock. On 13 July, they will complete the legendary Goodwood Hillclimb.
Esteban Gutiérrez. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Brand Ambassador at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023.
Mercedes-Benz Heritage and Mercedes-AMG are bringing current and former racing drivers to Goodwood as knowledgeable brand ambassadors. They not only routinely drive valuable classics at racing speed but are also sought-after conversation partners. At the Festival of Speed, the brand ambassadors are often in action several times a day with different vehicles. The following drivers are scheduled to take part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed:
Goodwood has had a firm place in motorsport since the middle of the 20th century. In 1936, the grandfather of the present Duke held a race on the hillclimb track in the park at Goodwood House, which he won with a Lancia. The Goodwood Motor Circuit was opened in 1948, and car races were held there until 1966. Born in 1955, Charles Henry Gordon Lennox, 11th Duke of Richmond, attended the last of these events at the side of his grandfather, who was known for his love of motor racing. In 1993, 30 years ago, he hosted the first Festival of Speed. A few years later, the authorities also permitted additional races with historic vehicles to be held on the tradition laden circuit. This year, the resulting Goodwood Revival will be held on 10 September 2023.