Super Mustang Mach-E wins FOS Timed Shoot-Out
Romain Dumas in Pikes Peak victor proved unstoppable - but he doesn't get anywhere near the 20 best sounding cars
And so the curtain comes down on another Festival of Speed weekend. The 2026 edition seemed to fit the standard mould: massive heat, massive crowds, massive jams, massive quantities of things to see and do. There were perhaps fewer international OEM unveilings than in previous years, but FOS is so much more than a motor show. It is still hallowed turf for anyone who likes their summer afternoons scented with unburnt petrol and rocking to the soundtrack only an unconstrained hillclimb could provide. Someone had even gone to the trouble of fixing the famously anaemic phone signal.
Probably it’s fair to say that the event’s sporting legacy was overshadowed somewhat by an England World Cup quarter final on the same weekend - but the Sunday afternoon prospect to seeing some of the quickest cars imaginable attempt to traverse the Duke of Richmond’s driveway in ever more preposterous times is legitimately enthralling, even if the chances of the McMurtry Speirling being unseated as the current record holder were practically nil.
Nevertheless, the Timed Shootout is a spectacle well worth sticking around for, and this year did not disappoint. Unsurprisingly - or at least while we wait for the likes of the RB17 to hit the developmental straps - the biggest hitters were specialist EVs, although the rest of the field (Goodwood’s latest Top 10 Fastest video including qualifying runs, too) featured plenty of petrol-powered stuff alongside. Definitely take a moment to watch the terrific 1978 Subaru Brataroo, the current M3 Touring in race costume, Johan Kirstoffersson being exuberant in a Polo WRX and especially the savage-sounding Shadow-Chevrolet DN4 before skipping to the end.
But to the whiny victors go the spoils, so it’s worth celebrating the remarkable results recorded by a) the newly launched Formula E Gen4, driven by Dan Ticktum, a racing car that looked to be so fast it could barely contain itself, and b) the Ford Super Mustang Mach-E that ghosted Romain Dumas to yet another triumph against the clock. The latter, of course, is fresh from its victory at Pikes Peak, and was sufficiently ballistic to record a 41.97, which we think places it fourth on the all-time list (behind Nick Heidfeld’s McLaren MP4, Dumas again in the VW ID.R and the mighty McMurtry). And if that doesn’t float your boat, there’s always the accompanying 20 Best Sounding Cars vid. Not a dud among that lot…
We spent Saturday looking at the static cars. There were some incredible cars on display. As ever, it pays to check the car parks. This beauty was in car park x.
Today we splashed out on grandstand tickets which got us out of the sun and a good view of the hill climb. We were at Molecomb and relieved to see the driver who crashed get out. Although I have seen it for a few years, I still find it depressing that electric vehicles dominate the hill climb these days.
For the volume of people, it’s a very well organised event. We will be back next year.
Early days yet for EV stuff, McMurtry, a small company have the record, be interesting to see if others want to steal that title.
Will always be predominantly noisy petrol stuff with a hint of EV.
We spent Saturday looking at the static cars. There were some incredible cars on display. As ever, it pays to check the car parks. This beauty was in car park x.
Today we splashed out on grandstand tickets which got us out of the sun and a good view of the hill climb. We were at Molecomb and relieved to see the driver who crashed get out. Although I have seen it for a few years, I still find it depressing that electric vehicles dominate the hill climb these days.
For the volume of people, it s a very well organised event. We will be back next year.
Not the multi million dollar, bang up to date, rolling technological showcase, specialist hillclimb machine that won, nor the second placed, brand new. Gen 4 formula E car.
That they top the table really shouldnt suprise anyone.
Third place....a 52 year old can am car.
That was far more impressive.
TX.
So you didnt see the Mustang GTD run because the electric one was there, that set the fastest time.
So you miss out on the static displays, concourse event, atmosphere, food, the weather and the stunning scenery because there are electric cars there ?
Do you ever think you are over egging this hatred of EVs things and cutting your nose of to spite your face ?
have you driven an EV yet ?
Don't get me wrong, i don't want it to go backwards, i want it to be a success and attract more people to enjoy cars, i will just choose to not go and enjoy something else instead.
Don't get me wrong, i don't want it to go backwards, i want it to be a success and attract more people to enjoy cars, i will just choose to not go and enjoy something else instead.
Its not what it was...
Not the multi million dollar, bang up to date, rolling technological showcase, specialist hillclimb machine that won, nor the second placed, brand new. Gen 4 formula E car.
That they top the table really shouldnt suprise anyone.
Third place....a 52 year old can am car.
That was far more impressive.
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