The Spanish test driver and Le Mans star thrilled big crowds at the Festival of Speed yesterday with the sheer speed and noise during his ascent.

He said: 'I've been here every year since I joined Ferrari six years ago. Finally I think I have learned the way up the hill and was trying to put on a good show for the fans.'

F1 design guru Adrian Newey was also behind the wheel, piloting the Red Bull F1 car he helped to create.

He said: 'Compared to designing this is very different. But it's great to be a racing driver for the weekend.'

Tens of thousands of spectators lapped up the action on the first day of the festival near Chichester, including ex-athlete and Olympic silver medallist Roger Black from Portsmouth.

He said: 'Walking around here, you can see how cars and motoring create such a lot of passion in people.'

An amazing array of cars and bikes from 100 years of motorsport history took turns on the track, with petrolheads able to get up close to their favourites just a week before the British Grand Prix.

Freddie Sheene was riding a new £107,000 road bike created to pay homage to his late great father, two-wheeled superstar Barry. After his run, he revealed: 'This bike is fast, too fast for me. But the whole event is awesome.'

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.

Meanwhile the Cartier 'Style et Luxe' contest features a mouthwatering collection of Italian cars, to be judged tomorrow by a distinguished panel that includes Star Wars director George Lucas, Queen drummer Roger Taylor, furniture designer Lord Linley and supermodel Yasmin Le Bon.

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.

Today and tomorrow car-loving musicians Jeff Beck, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Jimmie Vaughan will also play live, while AC/DC singer Brian Johnson was spotted in the crowds.

The Festival of Speed is renowned for action in the air as well as on the track and there are daily displays from the Royal Navy Black Cats helicopter display team, plus crowd favourites the Red Arrows and a Hunter jet.

Today F1 world champion Jenson Button was due to join the party, while the biggest draw tomorrow is set to be his McLaren teammate and fellow world champion Lewis Hamilton, flying in from his home in Switzerland.
Admission is strictly by advance ticket only. For more information, go to goodwood.co.uk or call 01243 755055.