Goodwood Festival of Speed gets underway
The sound of racing engines filled the air around Goodwood this morning as the Festival of Speed got underway.
Long lines of traffic built up on the A27 and A286 as tens of thousands of enthusiasts converged on Lord March's estate near Chichester for the world's biggest celebration of motorsport past and present.
Star names such as Sir Stirling Moss, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom joined in the fun as an array of racing cars and bikes tackled the famous hillclimb course.
First up were roadgoing supercars, while rally drivers were also flinging their machines around the forest stage.
Around 150,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event. Formula One world champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton will be the biggest draw when they arive to burn rubber tomorrow and Sunday.
Yesterday saw the event get off to a sunny start with the first Moving Motor Show. Prospective buyers got the opportunity to see a selection of the very latest production models and then test-drive them up the world-famous hillclimb course.
As the lucky few climbed behind the wheel of everything from a Toyota hybrid to a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, many more took advantage of this new event to enjoy early access to the rest of the festival's automotive attractions.
Six Formula One racing teams have brought cars to run up the hill from today and motorsport enthusiasts are able to get up close to the likes of Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren.
The supercar paddock allows people to drool over exotic machines such as the 1.5m Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - only the seriously rich need apply.
The Cartier 'Style et Luxe' contest features a mouthwatering collection of Italian cars, to be judged on Sunday by a distinguished panel that includes Star Wars director George Lucas, Queen drummer Roger Taylor, furniture designer Lord Linley and supermodel Yasmin Le Bon.
Meanwhile Goodwood's cricket pitch has been given over to a Car, Stars and Guitars display of 20 cars featured in well-known songs such as Little Red Corvette and Pink Cadillac. This weekend car-loving musicians Jeff Beck, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Jimmie Vaughan will also play live.
The Festival of Speed is renowned for action in the air as well as on the track and there are displays from the Royal Navy Black Cats helicopter display team, plus crowd favourites the Red Arrows and the last surviving airworthy Avro Vulcan bomber.
This year's main festival celebrations are for the centenary of Italian car maker Alfa Romeo, plus 60 years of the F1 world championship.
Goodwood owner Lord March said: 'They were anniversaries we simply couldn't ignore. These key moments in motorsport history came together to inspire a celebration of Italian style and speed at this year's Festival.'
Admission is strictly by advance ticket only. For more information, go to goodwood.co.uk or call 01243 755055.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
