The theme for the 2025 Festival of Speed was ‘The Winning Formula - Champions & Challengers,’ as the event hosted its single biggest celebration on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship.
Fans were treated to an historic moment on Saturday afternoon, when the Balcony of Goodwood House welcomed Alain Prost (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993), Emerson Fittipaldi (1972, 1974), Sir Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, 1973), Jacques Villeneuve (1997), Mario Andretti (1978), Mika Häkkinen (1998, 1999) and Nigel Mansell (1992) alongside Bernie Ecclestone, Karun Chandhok and The Duke of Richmond.
With over 100 Formula 1 cars in attendance, the history of Formula 1 was brought to life with cars from all eras of the championship on display in the expanded F1 Pit Lane paddocks:
The Prologue looked back to the inaugural AIACR Manufacturers’ World Championship of 1925.
The Pioneers showcased the first decade of the Formula 1 Championship.
The Innovators, curated by Adrian Newey, celebrated the series’ rich history of technical innovation.
The Underdogs put the spotlight on the unexpected challengers and drivers who defied the odds over the past 75 years.
The Champions focused on drivers, teams, and cars that have claimed the ultimate victory.
The Teams welcomed the sports’ current teams, drivers and cars.
We were delighted to be joined by representatives from Formula 1 itself, as well as nine of the current teams: Atlassian Williams Racing, McLaren Formula 1 Team, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, Oracle Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Ferrari HP Formula 1, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber and the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team.
Haas brought both their current drivers, Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman, while Liam Lawson and Valtteri Bottas joined their teams across the weekend. Team principals Ayao Komatsu and James Vowles took to the Hill, while Haas owner and founder Gene Haas experienced driving one of his team’s cars for the first time.
Central Feature
Taking pride of place in front of Goodwood House, this year’s Central Feature celebrated Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA), highlighting the extraordinary legacy and innovation that Professor Gordon Murray CBE has brought to the world of automotive design and engineering. The sculpture showcased the Brabham BT52 and the GMA T.50, offering visitors a unique insight into the genius and craftsmanship that have become synonymous with the marque. Across the Festival of Speed site, GMA celebrated Murray’s 60-year career, with Dario Franchitti opening the hillclimb on Thursday morning in a T.50.
Drivers and riders
The Festival of Speed honoured the careers of a number of motorsport icons including Le Mans legend Derek Bell who was celebrated with a Balcony Moment on Thursday afternoon. Bell drove a 1988 Porsche 962C in which he claimed one of his five victories at the Circuit de La Sarthe.
Goodwood threw it back to the summer of 1995 - and not just with the hot weather - as the event marked 30 years since Carl Fogarty won his second WorldSBK Championship and 30 years since Colin McRae claimed his World Rally Championship. Foggy reunited with his championship-winning Ducati 916 across the weekend, while significant cars from McRae’s career - including his championship-winning Subaru Impreza 555 - also took to the Hill.
Other drivers, riders and motorsport legends who joined us over the weekend included
Damon Hill, Dario Franchitti, Emanuelle Pirro, Jacky Ickx, Jamie Chadwick, John McGuinness, Karen Gillard, Karun Chandhok, Lia Block, Travis Pastrana and Sarah Bovy.
This year, Atlassian Williams Racing featured as part of the STEM Lab by EDB, bringing an interactive display that highlighted next-generation protection. The interactive display featured alongside Formula 1 equipment, a wind tunnel model, hands-on STEM challenges and a podium photo opportunity.
