The theme for the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed will be True Grit - apparently not as a homage to John Wayne’s Oscar winning cowboy flick that opened forty years ago in '69, but to 'the motor racing heroes who overcame huge physical, mental and mechanical barriers in their quest for glory'.
Even without Marshal Rooster Cogburn, the 2009 FoS looks set to be a cracker, with the organisers citing Jackie Stewart's 'enduring victory' at the '68 German Grand Prix with a broken wrist, and Mick Doohan's 'courageous' return to bike racing in 1992 with only one good leg.
We can look forward to the usual sensational selection of racing machinery, especially as 2009 seems to be a good year for anniversaries. As well as highlighting the achievements of particularly gritty individuals, the FoS will be celebrating the centenaries of Bugatti, Audi and Morgan, 50 Years of both the Mini and the Daytona Speedway, 40 Years since Jackie Stewart and Matra's dominance in motorsport, plus 60 continuous years of the Motorcycle World Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the organisers say.
The date for next year's Festival of Speed has also been confirmed – so you can ink July 3-5 into your diaries now.