THE STARS COME OUT IN FORCE
“This is a unique place – I don’t know another other place in the world better than Goodwood.” High praise from double Formula 1 champion Mika Hakkinen, who was celebrating the 20th anniversary of his first title at the Festival.
The fact that Jenson Button, Derek Bell and Jackie
Stewart are Goodwood regulars shows just what a reputation the event holds – enough for the Borg-warner Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Indianapolis 500, to make its first trip to Europe in its 82-year history.
Hakkinen’s fellow two-time F1 title winner Emerson Fittipaldi also waxed lyrical after driving his winning Mclaren M23 up the hill: “I say that Goodwood is magic. You see everything: the past, the present, the future and the people.”
Despite the rigours of the recent F1 triple header, Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas joined fellow current drivers
Stoffel Vandoorne and Brendon Hartley. Even F1’s CEO
Chase Carey returned for a second year in succession.
The plethora of motorsport stars in attendance made for some oddball car and driver combinations, such as Emanuele Pirro manhandling a recalcitrant 2016 Chevrolet SS NASCAR and Tom Kristensen smoking a Shelby Daytona up the hill. Goodwood even drew the elite of cinema in the form of Academy Award-nominated actor Tom Hardy.
Blessed by fabulous weather, the Festival of Speed once again maxed out its 150,000-spectator capacity. Its appeal to the public, the great and good of racing – and indeed Hollywood – shows no sign of relenting.