Kris Meeke will be among the rally stars to contest in a special run of short-format stages at the upcoming Goodwood Speedweek. The event, which is being held as an online replacement for the cancelled Festival and Revival, will put legendary rally cars from the last 50 years into competition on a layout with everything from high speed corners, tight hairpins and surface changes. Meeke will be driving Toyota's new GR Yaris, which is the Zero Car for the event, as previewed in the video below.
Rally fans will get to see heroes from the World Rally Championship's history, including Group 4 icons like the Lancia Stratos, Ford Escort RS2000 and even Ferrari 308GTB, as well as the Audi Quattro. We suspect many will be tuning in - because this is a broadcast event only - to see the Group B crowd, which will also include the Lancia 037 and Delta S4, Metro 6R4 and Peugeot 205 T16. And the Group A runners, like the Impreza WRX, Lancia Delta Integrale and Toyota Celica GT4. Blimey.
To bulk out the week's stages, two directions for routes will be used, while cars will be run at different times, with dusk and night time stages there to set the scene for these spotlight-wearing machines. We cant wait for that. And that's just the rally stuff; there's a glorious long list of other racing legends to take to the Goodwood Circuit, as well, including the first modern cars to race on it in the track's history...
Original article 17.07.20
The Goodwood Circuit lap record could very well be broken for the first time in 55 years at a spectator-free event later this year. Goodwood Speedweek is to be broadcast online live from the 16-18 October 2020, as a one-off replacement for the cancelled 2020 Festival and Revival; it’ll feature a mix of vintage and brand-new machinery contesting each event, with 21st century racers never having been allowed to compete on the Circuit until now. Exciting.
So far, we’re not given any specifics about who will feature at Speedweek (which takes place a month after the cancelled Revival’s slot), but expect many familiar faces. The Festival’s usual line-up of road and race machines, as well as new car launches, are set to take place at Goodwood Circuit, while much of the Revival’s priceless field of vintage racers will be present. That’s music to our ears; with no Members’ Meeting this year, we’ve missed the sight, sounds and smells of classic racers hammering through The Chicane.
Other familiar features include Goodwood’s FOS Future Lab, for all things next-generation and beyond, and a Bonham’s auction, that will be broadcast online and – for prospective customers – the cars of which can be viewed by appointment only. Aside from that, Goodwood will only welcome the staff, drivers and team personnel, all of whom will be adhering to the latest government guidelines. While there’s no mention of a Goodwood feature for 2020 (not surprising), Mastercard returns as the event’s main backer.
The Duke of Richmond said of Speedweek: “It will be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion – the fastest, most exciting and spectacular event we have ever staged. I have been overwhelmed by the positivity and support offered to us by our partners and friends. In particular, I’m delighted that Mastercard, who have been the presenting partner of the Festival of Speed since 2017, will also be the presenting partner of Speedweek; and Bonhams who have held their auctions at Goodwood every year since 1993, will be joining us. An event unlike any that’s gone before, Goodwood Speedweek will be a fitting celebration of the spirit of the Festival of Speed and Revival, both of which will return, bigger and better than ever, in 2021.”
As the Duke noted, it’s intended that Goodwood Speedweek will be a one-time event and that normal procedures will follow in 2021. The 2020 Festival and Revival could have technically gone ahead without spectators, but Goodwood said the family fun aspect of its events was priority, so they had to be cancelled. Goodwood Speedweek is therefore not here to tread on the toes of those world-famous weekends but offer something different in the meantime. If nothing else, it's good to see major backers supporting the event and we look forward to joining. Digitally, that is.
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