Alonso to star at FOS 2005

Goodwood to see F1 championship leader in action

By PH Staff / Wednesday, 27 April 2005 / Loading comments

Alonso and his F1 Renault to star at FOS 2005

FOS 2004 -- a great event

Alonso prepares for action

Current F1 championship leader Fernando Alonso will drive the Renault R24 F1 car at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, staged on 24, 25 and 26 June.

The young Spaniard will make his Goodwood debut on the Sunday of the event, joined by a host of contemporary stars, including Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Takuma Sato, Olivier Panis and Anthony Davidson. Also attending for the first time is four-times World Champion Alain Prost, who is due to drive his title-winning 1989 McLaren-Honda MP4/5.

The Festival’s unique ability to attract the top works F1 teams is its key strength, reckoned the organisers, and seven teams are expected to display and demonstrate their latest machinery on the front drive of Goodwood House in 2005.

Expect to see:

BAR-Honda: here to celebrate ‘Honda’s 40 Years of Grand Prix Success’. It is expected that Takuma Sato will drive on Saturday and Jenson Button on Sunday.
Ferrari: the team has confirmed it will attend with a contemporary car
McLaren-Mercedes: it is hoped that a recent car will be in action
Red Bull-Cosworth: F1’s newest team is set to attend, with star driver David Coulthard at the wheel on both Saturday and Sunday.
Renault R24: will be in action all weekend, with the World Championship’s latest star, Fernando Alonso, driving on the Sunday
Toyota: will once more demonstrate its latest car, with Monaco GP winner Olivier Panis in action all weekend.
Williams-BMW: last year’s car is expected to be in action on Saturday and Sunday

The Festival is firmly established as the world’s biggest celebration of the history of motor sport, once again incorporating some of the greatest and most famous cars and bikes from all over the planet.

Nowhere else in the world will you experience such an intoxicating blend of speed and drama, from the gnashing of a pioneering chain-drive road racer to the spine-tingling shriek of the latest Formula 1 technology. The Festival promises to be packed with action and excitement as the world’s most glamorous racing machinery and famous drivers gather in the grounds of Goodwood House for what The Times described as ‘the garden party of the Gods’.

As last year, entry will be by advance ticket only to limit numbers and keep it manageable for attendees. The organisers said that their aim "is, purely and simply, to ensure that all visitors enjoy excellent views of the action and the best possible experience at the event."

Tickets and information: +44 1243 755055; fos@goodwood.co.uk; www.goodwood.co.uk