Goodwood Festival of Speed Friday

The 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed kicked off properly on Friday last week when all the hill climb cars got a chance to stretch their legs for the first time.

With this year’s theme was “Full Throttle” and the central sculpture so prominently placed at the front of Goodwood House celebrated all things BMW and their numerous motorsport successes over the years. The sun was out on Friday and the crowds packed the grounds of famous West Sussex venue to enjoy a day of hard charging on the hill climb. One of the main draws of the weekend was the sight of Jenson Button’s championship winning BrawnGP car being driven up the hill by SkySports F1 commentator and former F1 driver Martin Brundle. This was the F1 car’s first time out of hibernation since it’s championship win in 2009…

Some of the stars of both 4 and 2 wheels up the hill on Friday were Renault F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, GP2 Red Bull young gun Pierre Gasly and TT legend John McGuinness who was aboard the all-electric Honda Mugen Shinden Go motorcycle which can lap the TT course at an average of 120mph. Action on the popular Forest Rally stage started in anger on Friday also, in particular, the Toyota Hilux driven by Dakar Rally legend Giniel de Villiers with some spectacular air over the Flying Finn jump. There was a wide variety of cars circulating on the popular rally stage, ranging from the Toyota Hilux to the diminutive Mini Cooper S.

Despite the muddy conditions from the overnight rain, the crowds would be returning to the action on Saturday….