Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021 – star cars announced
This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed is just a few days away,
and we’ve run down the cars to look out for
by: Sam Jenkins
Every year Goodwood is home to some of the world’s greatest automotive events, ones that due to the global pandemic had to be cancelled in 2020. Thankfully though, all three of Goodwood’s biggest gatherings are back up and running in 2021, with this week's Festival of Speed confirmed to be taking place as part of the government's Events Research Programme.
As a result, many of the world’s performance car manufacturers are using this opportunity to show off their new cars in the flesh after over 12 months of virtual reveals and closed door events, so there’s plenty of new and exciting new stuff to look out for. Here are the highlights before we hit the ground running later this week.
Alfa Romeo
The hardcore Giulia GTA will take centre stage for Alfa Romeo at this year’s festival, giving many their first opportunity to see the track-oriented saloon for the first time. Its 532bhp output is higher than that of an ordinary Quadrifoglio, but it's the bespoke chassis tuning, aerodynamic adjustments and weight saving measures that make it such a special machine.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin is planning on having a big presence at this year’s festival, as not only does it have a swathe of exciting new models to show off, but new management behind them ready to show them off.
The limited-run V12 Speedster is one such new arrival, rivalling the McLaren Elva and Ferrari Monza SP1/2 with its screen-less design and DBS Superleggera-derived 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12. The new Vantage F1 Edition will also be on display, but it’s the 1000bhp Valkyrie hypercar is what’s likely to draw the most attention when it makes its way up Goodwood’s famous hillclimb.
BMW
Alongside a raft of all-electric offerings, BMW has also been pushing its performance car agenda over the last 12 months, the result of which will all be on show at Goodwood this year. This includes the excellent new M5 CS alongside the limited-run G82 M4 Competition x KITH. All-electric models like the iX and i4 will also make UK debuts, but most notable is the world debut of the all-new 2-series coupe, the model which will form the basis for the highly-anticipated next-generation
M2.Ferrari
Maranello’s fast-expanding range is also on the guest list, with the drop-top 812 GTS and SF90 Spider both making an appearance. Ferrari’s updated Portofino M will also feature alongside the Roma and SF90 Stradale.
Genesis
Following its recent launch into Europe, Genesis will be making a big song and dance at the Festival of Speed as one of its title sponsors. As well as introducing its current range to the public, it’ll also form the world debut of the Euro-specific G70 Shooting Brake. The new compact executive estate will strikes at the heartland of European tastes, and will rival the likes of BMW’s 3-series, the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz’s C-class, with a striking design and optional twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The Concept X revealed earlier this year in the USA will also be on show.
Lotus
Lotus is primed to show off its most important new model in decades at this year’s Festival of Speed with the reveal of the Emira, a new sports car that will form the backbone of a totally revitalised company now underpinned by Chinese owners Geely. The all-electric Evija hypercar will also be making an appearance at the show.
Maserati
The all-new MC20 will be the star of Maserati’s Festival of Speed lineup, with the near-£200,000 supercar signalling the beginning of a new era for the marque and its first mid-engined supercar in decades. This will join a revitalised range of Trofeo models, including the new Ghibli Trofeo, which is the first version of Maserati’s executive-sized saloon to feature the Ferrari derived V8 engine available elsewhere in the range.
Porsche
As always, you’ll struggle to leave this year’s Festival of Speed without noticing Porsche’s presence. Alongside plenty of historic models, the new Cayenne Turbo GT will take centre stage – a high performance flagship muted as being the most driver-focused variant so far in its three generations. The 992-generation 911 will also feature in various forms, including the track-only GT3 Cup. Manthey-Racing will also bring along its record-breaking 991 911 GT2 RS fresh from the Nurburgring.
Toyota
Hot on the heels of the highly successful GR Yaris, Toyota’s Gazoo Racing performance division launched its successor to the GT86 earlier this year. The GR 86 boasts not only a new design, but a bump in performance too, and will make its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021 central sculpture
Though we’ll have to wait until Thursday to see its design, Goodwood has already revealed that Lotus will feature on the central sculpture for 2021, nine years since the brand’s last appearance in 2012. The towering sculptures have become a core aspect of the event since their 1997 introduction, with this year’s version set to ‘head in a new direction to provide an immersive customer experience on-event and from home’.
The Duke of Richmond said: ‘Lotus cars raced with great success at Goodwood throughout the 1950s and ‘60s, including setting the ultimate lap record in 1965, and this year’s Central Feature will serve as a fitting landmark to their past, present and future achievements. The sculpture looks set to be one of the most dramatic and futuristic yet, bringing in elements of interactivity for modern audiences that align with Lotus’ future-facing attitude and outlook.Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021 test event – entry requirements
Based around the same theme originally planned for 2020, ‘Motorsport’s Great All-Rounders’, the event will run at a reduced capacity, with attendees required to have had both doses of the vaccine at least 14 days prior or proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test within 48 hours of the event.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “We are continuing to expand the Events Research Programme’s remit to include more of our iconic cultural and sporting events and the Goodwood Festival of Speed will now return for the first time since the pandemic broke. Festival goers will now be able to enjoy the raw horsepower of Goodwood’s legendary automotive, aeronautical and equine offerings up close thanks to our tremendous vaccine rollout and the increasingly popular use of the NHS App to prove your Covid status.”
Tickets are still available for all four days, but reduced capacity will mean they’ll sell out fast. Saturday entry costs £73 per adult, with attendees aged 13-21 paying £36.50. Gates open on Thursday July 8 and close on Sunday 11.
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021 car list