The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual motorsports festival featuring modern and historic motor racing vehicles taking part in a hillclimb and other events, held in Goodwood House, West Sussex, England, in late June or early July.

The event is scheduled to avoid clashing with the Formula One season, enabling fans to see F1 machines as well as cars and motorbikes from motor racing history climb the hill.

[3] With a small selection of entrants made up of invited historic vehicles, the first event that took place on Sunday 20 June[4] proved to be a success, taking in a crowd of 25,000 despite a date clash with the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year.

For safety reasons F1 cars can no longer use tyre warmers or do official timed runs so instead perform demonstrations.

Ever since its inception Southern Car Club have been entrusted with the organization of the rally stage, held under an MSA permit.

In 2006, a full forest stage was introduced, designed by Hannu Mikkola[9] as a complete circuit, with a separate start and finish line at the top of the wood.

Spectators can watch stunt shows throughout the course of the day, the drift competition, and the hillclimb shootout on the big screen.

Other popular attractions at the event are the real life replicas of the Wacky Races cars (Thursday was known as Press preview day, then incorporated The Moving Motor Show), which serves to provide lunchtime entertainment for the crowds, and the airshows, which usually include the RAF and Red Arrows.

From the festival's beginning, poster art had been illustrated by renowned motor racing artist Peter Hearsey until his retirement in 2015.

they have also put on the GAS Arena (Goodwood Action Sports) who showcase extreme stunts such as Freestyle Motorcross, BMX and Trial bike Riding.

[19][non-primary source needed] In 2018, for the first time at the Festival – as part of the Future Lab exhibition [11] – a driverless Roborace racing car negotiated the course, and a virtual passenger seat experience was made available online.

The first was during its inaugural meeting in 1993, when vintage racing motorcyclist Chas Guy was killed in practice following the completion of the course when his Vincent motorcycle developed a steering wobble known as a tank slapper, throwing the rider into a tree.

In 2000, driver John Dawson-Damer lost control of his Lotus 63, and crashed into the finish line gantry, killing himself and marshal Andrew Carpenter.

Another marshal, Steve Tarrant, survived but sustained serious injuries to the lower part of his right leg.

[23] Since 1997, the display erected on the lawn in front of Goodwood House has been designed by the sculptor Gerry Judah.