If you were an Earl with an impossibly big plot of land near the southern coast of of England, what would you do with it? Why, invite the world’s most famous drivers and gather the planet’s fastest racing machines to throw a colossal celebration of motorsport on your front lawn, natch.
Thus, since 1993, top automakers have brought their most prized examples of rolling history to West Sussex, whether for flat-out hill climbing, romping through a forest rally stage, display, auction, or simply suspension from a giant piece of modern art. Race cars of every stripe – F1, rally, drag, land speed record, vintage – are let loose on the grounds of the Goodwood House, usually at the hands of a world-renowned driver.
This year, the Festival’s Honoured Manufacturer title goes to Toyota, which is observing its 50th year in motorsport. As you can see, the program(me) cover honors Toyota with a gorgeous rendition of the 1999 Le Mans runner up TS020 driven by Ukyo Katayama, Toshio Suzuki and Keiichi Tsuchiya.
With 2007 being the 40th anniversary of the rotary engine, Mazda will also be present with a display of great pistonless cars. A tentative list of Japanese cars slated to appear include the following:
Toyota
1957 Toyota Crown Mobilgas rally
1970 Toyota 7
Pike’s Peak Celica
Pike’s Peak Tacoma
Toyota Celica ST165 GT-Four rally
Toyota Celica ST185 GT-Four rally
1997 TOM’S Castrol Supra JGTC
Toyota TF106 F1
Toyota TF107 F1
unspecified Group C racer
Toyota FT-HS Concept
Toyota I-Swing Concept
Honda
1967 Honda RA300 F1
Honda RA107 F1
Williams-Honda FW11 F1
Williams-Honda FW11B F1
Honda Civic Type-R
Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept
a small army of racing motorcycles
ASIMO
Nissan
1973 Datsun 240Z rally
Nissan 240RS Group B rally
Nissan R90 Group C
Nissan 350Z GT500
Nissan Primera
Nissan Pivo Concept
Mazda
1967 Cosmo Sport 110S
1991 Mazda 787B Le Mans
Mazda FD RX-7
Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Concept
Mazda RX-8 40 th Anniversary Concept
Mazda 2
Mazda Hakaze concept
Subaru
Subaru Impreza WRC rally
Suzuki
Pikes Peak Escudo
Sadly, because human society is still largely based on a monetary system, we will not be able to attend the Festival in person. We will, however, glue ourselves to the news and keep you updated as news filters in throughout the weekend.
Click here for an article about Toyota’s involvement as 2007’s featured marque.
Click here to instantly tempt yourself into buying plane tickets to England.
