The Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021
Plenty of rubber gets burned at Goodwood every year and this Nissan Skyline R35 GT-R supped up to 750bhp is certainly very good at that. 1/640s 200mm F4.0 ISO 125.
If you asked a car enthusiast what the event in the summer calendar was, the answer would be an almost unanimous – The Goodwood Festival of Speed (FoS). Founded by the now Duke of Richmond in 1993, this annual event quickly grew in popularity from inception and now sees 150,000 people attend across the four-day weekend. Unfortunately, Covid meant that the event didn’t run last year for the first time since it began, but thankfully this year it could run at full capacity as a government pilot. At the time it was the biggest event in the UK since the pandemic started, though this has now been eclipsed by another motoring event – the Silverstone Grand Prix.
Goodwood House itself with the central display celebrating Lotus in front. 1/160s 62mm F5.6 ISO 80, two photo panoramic.
For those who haven’t been before I would say the event is split into three main components: the hill climb, the rally course, and the display stands. The hill climb sees cars and motorbikes of the past, present, and sometimes future drive steadily up the route that snakes through the middle of the event. This is what the FoS is most famous for and lets the general public get a closer look at some of the greatest race cars to grace the track as well as new, prospective models that they can soon see in a showroom near them. The cars run out twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon so you should always get a chance to see your favourites no matter when you are there. Some, but not all of these are timed as part of a weekend long time trial competition.
The Bugatti Type 51, gorgeous but unable to recreate the success that its Type 35 predecessor had achieved in the late 1920s. 1/500s 300mm F2.8 ISO 100.
The hill climb attracted the biggest crowds of the event. You can clearly see the roped off photography area next to the protective hay bales. 1/500s 70mm F5.6 ISO 100.
Bikes are also on show in the hill climb, however rider Nigel Evertt’s Suzuki XR35 didn’t make it all the way to the finish line without breaking down. 1/1250s 300mm F2.8 ISO 100.
By taking a tractor ride or a moderate walk to the top of the event you can watch what I personally think is the best bit – the rally course. The days of Group B are long over but a few of them can be witnessed here amongst more modern offerings, as they hurtle round a short but challenging rally course, once again competing in a time trial. With this area being a lot less busy and there being far fewer barriers, you can get a much better look at the cars even as an ordinary punter. I strongly recommend walking through the middle of the course rather than taking the tractor as you will be waiting an awfully long time in the queue for the latter.
Rallying provided ample entertainment without jostling with the large crowds. This Subaru Legacy RS was once raced by the legendary Colin McRae. 1/160s 140mm F4.0 ISO 640.
Using the environment can allow you to take more creative shots at the rally course. The Skoda Fabia S2000 is certainly a much more capable car than the ones parked at the local supermarket. 1/320s 200mm F4.0 ISO 10000.
Finally, there’s the various stands and marques, mostly from manufacturers to showcase their latest and greatest in an attempt to convince Joe Public to sign on the dotted line for a new car. Perhaps the busiest of all was Lotus who were the manufacturer being celebrated this year with a central display outside of Goodwood House (each year is different). As they had just unveiled their new car, the Emira, to the world just days before, this was the first time many could see it in action alongside the Evjia, their electric Hypercar. Speaking to a technician on the stand he relayed that the Emira was immensely popular and he himself had convinced sixteen people to buy one that weekend alone. I’ll elaborate more on Lotus and its future in another upcoming blog.
Lotus’s stand was the grandest of the manufactures and being able to see an Evija up close was predictably very popular. 1/160s 26mm F4.0 ISO 250.
BMW’s stand stood out with it’s E30 M3 perched on top. 1/200s 300mm F2.8 ISO 100.
Porsche’s well organised stand effectively showed off their top cars including the newest 911 GT3. 1/200s 35mm F5.6 ISO 125.
The staff at the Mini area were having the most fun with dancing and live music. 1/160s 48mm F4.0 ISO 200.
For me this was the first time I attended, and it was an extra special occasion as with my press pass, I could get my hands on a photographer tabard to get closer to the action in front of the large crowds. Unfortunately, with Covid restrictions I could only have it for half a day but that was enough to see a full run of the cars on the hill climb. Having not been before I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of what the photography areas looked like. Mostly it was simply standing in the roped off area directly next to the hay bales but there was a platform I could stand on looking out over Molecomb corner.
One of the most valuable cars in the world, seeing a Ferrari 250 GTO in motion is a real privilege. 1/400s 300mm F2.8 ISO 100.
Lando Norris driving Aryton Senna’s McLaren-Honda MP4/5B, in which he won the 1990 Drivers Championship. 1/400s 95mm F5.6 ISO 64.
Adrian Newey driving the title winning Redbull-Renault RB7 he designed. 1/400s 175mm F5.6 ISO 64.
The newest F1 car present the Merecedes-Benz F1 W10 EQ Power+ which won the Drivers and Constructors Championship in 2019. I was surprised by how big it was, even compared to the modern RB7. 1/400s 200mm F5.6 ISO 64.
There I spoke to an older photographer who had attended all but one FoS, who lamented it wasn’t like it used to be with so many more bales and obstructions. It certainly made it more difficult in places to take photos, but the FoS has seen accidents and crashes that have in the past resulted in fatalities, so the extra safety measures are understandable. What surprised me though was my 300mm lens was often too long and I had to switch back to my 70-200mm. I had noticed quite quickly that few photographers were carrying around big lenses. Clearly, they had been here before!
Lotus’ final petrol powered car, the Emira. This was the first event in the world where the public could see it in motion shortly following its unveiling a few days before. 1/8000s 300mm F2.8 ISO 100.
My favourite photo of the day wasn’t of a Ferrari or an F1 car, it was this little Microlino. Hailing from Switzerland and inspired by the BMW Isetta, the driver was having great fun behind the wheel of this electric bubble car. 1/80s 200mm F9.0 ISO 100.
The rally stage allowed you to get a lot closer with less obstructions to the cars, and with a green tabard you could even stand right on the edge as cars whistled past. Though you obviously need to apply common sense here. I didn’t know about the different tabards so it is one I will have to remember for next year, although I would say it is a lot less necessary then at the densely crowded hill climb.
This VW Golf GTi looks great in green as it drives through the forest. 1/200s 102mm F4.0 ISO 4000.
A more unusual offering, the Lada VFTS saw great success in Finland. 1/200s 200mm F4.0 ISO 2500.
Photographers in green tabards can get right up close to the rally action. 1/60s 200mm F4.0 ISO 320.
The FoS is a big event, one you definitely need more than a day if you want to see everything (and it wasn’t helped that we left early in order to rush back for the football!). From the cars on track, to the rallying, to the displays and all the other bits and pieces tucked away in between, it really is a great celebration of everything powered by the motor engine (and soon to be electric). If you are a car enthusiast, then attending at least once is an absolute must. I’ll be definitely back next year, little better prepared.
McLaren’s 2021 F1 car in the special Gulf livery used at this years Monaco GP. 1/100s 42mm F8.0 ISO 1600.
As an extra spectacle the Red Arrows do fly over displays on each day of the show. 1/800s 300mm F2.8 ISO 100.
Being such a big event it attracts all the motoring journalists, video makers and influencers you’d expect. 1/100s 70mm F8.0 ISO 800.
Myself on camera duty, shot taken by my good friend Aaron.
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