Peter Lyon
June 20, 2025
If you have never heard of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and you’re a car nut, then perhaps you need to get out more. This hugely popular annual celebration of cars and motorcycles, which brings in over 200,000 fans over its 4-days, has been thrilling British and overseas fans for over 30 years. From car company CEOs to media icons to film stars and F1 champions, anyone who is anyone in the industry has driven up the famous “Hill.” This year is no exception, and the event is delighted to confirm the schedule of celebrations that will take place on the balcony of Goodwood House this July.
Derek Bell – Thursday 10 July
On Thursday, five-time Le Mans winner, three-time Daytona 24 Hours Champion and two-time World Sportscar Champion Derek Bell MBE will be honoured on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his first 24 Hours of Le Mans victory. Bell will be reunited with the 1975 Mirage-Ford GR8, taking to the Hill before celebrating with the crowds in front of Goodwood House.
Carl Fogarty – Friday 11 July
The Festival of Speed will see four-time WorldSBK Champion Carl Fogarty reunite with his Championship-winning Ducati 916 across the weekend, with a balcony moment on Friday to celebrate Fogarty’s incredible career.
Formula 1 Champions – Saturday 12 July
The Festival of Speed will host a special balcony moment on Saturday for the seven Formula 1 World Champions set to join the F1 75 celebrations. Each of the Champions will drive a significant chassis from their storied career, and with 14 World Championships between them, this will be a moment not to be missed.
Taking part in the celebration will be:
- Alain Prost, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1993, McLaren MP4/2B
- Emerson Fittipaldi, 1972, 1974, McLaren M23
- Sir Jackie Stewart, 1969, 1971, 1973, Tyrrell 003 and 006
- Jacques Villeneuve, 1997
- Mario Andretti, 1978, Lotus 79
- Mika Häkkinen, 1998, 1999, McLaren MP4/13
- Nigel Mansell, 1992, Williams FW14B
The balcony moment will be hosted by Karun Chandhok and feature a series of interviews.
On July 13, four-time Formula 1 World Champion Alain Prost, nicknamed ‘The Professor’ for his extraordinary racecraft, will return for a balcony moment on Sunday as Goodwood marks the 40th anniversary of his first World Championship. Over the weekend, Prost will drive his 1985-championship winning McLaren MP4/4. Sunday’s celebration will culminate with his arrival outside Goodwood House, with fans able to pay tribute to one of motorsport’s most revered figures.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
If you have never been to Goodwood, and you have the chance, don’t miss it. Pipping Pebble Beach and Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este for sheer firepower and star power, plus the endless nobility, The Festival of Speed is by far the world’s premier motorsport event. I have only been there four times, and driven up The Hill twice, but in the short time I was there, I met Stirling Moss, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, Ken Block, The Stig, Jack Brabham, Derek Bell, Walter Röhrl and Rowan Atkinson among others. You will see and hear cars and bikes from every era driven by the racers who made them famous.
