What happens across a Goodwood Festival of Speed weekend?

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual event that takes place at Goodwood Estate, West Sussex, England. The event is a celebration of the automobile, featuring a wide range of cars, motorcycles and other vehicles from various eras.

This year the Festival of Speed takes place between 13-16 July and offers a wide range of activities for attendees to enjoy. The 2023 timetable of events is a tightly held secret usually released in the weeks leading up to the event. What is guaranteed however is that there will be constant track action across all three days. Below we’ve taken a look back at 2022 to give you a good idea of what you can expect to happen across the three days in 2023.

Friday
Gates open from 7am. The first Hillclimb trials start 8:30am and the Rally Stage begins at 9am and runs throughout the day until both close at 6pm. Other exhibits, displays and wider stalls also open from 9am.

For the Hillclimb and the Rally Stage Friday is all about initial practice runs as drivers start to hone their cars and acclimatise to the track.

Hillclimb vehicles are broken into groups based on a particular category of vehicle, such as Pre-War, Grand Prix Greats, Modern GT, Rally and Drift. Each group will then have 15-30 examples from that category, and each will go up the hill one at a time, trying to set a personal best time. Once all cars have reached the top, they will all come back down as a procession, returning to the paddock. Each group has 45 minutes on the hill, giving visitors the opportunity to dip in and out of the categories they want to see. Plus, there is an array of giant TV screens across the show showcasing all the action. The Forest Rally Stage works in a similar manner.

If attending for more than just a day, Friday can be a prime opportunity to explore the paddocks and get up close to the vehicles and various exhibits on display. One of the main attractions on this day is the Cartier Style et Luxe, where some of the most beautiful and historically significant cars will be on display.

Some of the standout Hillclimb action on the first day is the Grand Prix Greats and the Michelin Supercar Run, where attendees can see some of the most famous and/or high-performance sports cars from various brands take to the track.

> Also see: What to expect from Goodwood Festival of Speed

Saturday
Gates open from 7am. The first Hillclimb trials start 8:30am and the Rally Stage opens at 9am and runs throughout the day until both close at 6pm. Other exhibits, displays and wider stalls also open from 9am.

Day two of the festival is all about utilising the practice time from yesterday, as the cars take to the hill for their first competitively timed. Running to a similar schedule, but alternated from the day before, the track has constant action throughout.

If attending for more than just the day, Saturday offers a chance to take in a different location on the course. With an array of free-to-stand locations along the length of the 1.16-mile course you can vary where you see the vehicles as they take to the track.

Saturday is also a great day for autograph hunting and celebrity driver spotting. Everyone from Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Nigel Mansell, Sir Jacky Stewart and more have been known to attend and drive vehicles up the hill. They will routinely be in the paddock with the cars, and Goodwood’s famed unrestricted access means you might just be able to find your hero driver and ask them a question of your choosing.

Visitors can also enjoy the various displays, vendors, and food and drink stands located around the circuit, and in the evening, there is a concert featuring music from array of artists.

Sunday
Gates open from 7am. The first Hillclimb trials start 8:30am and the Rally Stage opens at 9am and runs throughout the day until both close at 6pm. Other exhibits, displays and wider stalls also open from 9am.

The final day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed is about who will ultimately come out victorious. All eyes are on the famous Hillclimb. The day ends with the closing ceremony and a final concert featuring music from various artists.

Goodwood Festival of Speed is an event packed with activities and has something for everyone. The event offers a unique opportunity to see some of the most beautiful and historically significant cars and other vehicles in the world, and to immerse oneself in the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of the automobile world. Whether you are a car enthusiast, a racing fan, or simply enjoy experiencing something different, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is a must-see event.

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