The 11 best scenes from the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Tue, Jun 30 2015While there are quite literally dozens and dozens of videos from the event – not to mention the full-day replays (of which only day one is available, at present) – we've sifted through them to pluck away the very best. There's stuff from the official Goodwood YouTube channel, as well as several videos from automakers and other third-party channels, and it's all available below.
2015 Ford Mustang GT350R Looks Barely Controllable
If you thought the highest-performance Ford Mustang would somehow get more tractable or civilized once it moved to an independent rear suspension, this video shows you have nothing to worry about. Watch as an unnamed driver wrestles the new Shelby GT350R and its flat-plane, 5.2-liter V8 up the hillclimb circuit. Even with the new suspension and sticky tires, this Mustang wants to go any direction but straight, especially following its launch.
2016 Ford Focus RS, Is Very Loud, Blue
Ken Block makes his first appearance on our list. Before he steps into his Hoonicorn Mustang, though, the Gymkhana expert tackled the hill in the all-new Focus RS. The vicious bellow of the 2.3-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder is the star of this commentary-free video, although the gorgeous Nitrous Blue paint job is a nice accompaniment, as well.
1965 Ford Mustang Hoonicorn Runs Hill, Nearly Kills Lord March
Mr. Block's two runs behind the wheel of the Hoonicorn were, unsurprisingly, very eventful. While one attempt goes off without a hitch, seeing the American rally driver slip and slide his way to the top of the hill while taking a short break for a donut, the other is slightly more dramatic. Block, along with Lord March in the passenger seat, carries a bit too aggressive an angle into a turn and nearly puts the NASCAR-powered Mustang into the hay bales. Check out the first video above, and the second one below.
Kimi Raikkonen Makes Us Miss F1's V8 Era
The latest Formula One cars have been maligned for the lackluster noise produced by the new 1.6-liter, turbocharged V6. This video of Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen piloting the Italian team's 2010 car reminds us why. The 2.4-liter, naturally aspirated V8 is an ear-piercing treat and makes us yearn for the seasons of the early 2010s.
NASCAR Toyota Camry Burns Out, Literally
Burnouts and smoking tires are a big part of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but rarely do they end up with things actually burning. In the case of this NASCAR-spec Toyota Camry, though, Austrian driver Patrick Friesacher successfully ignites the entire rear undercarriage of his car after a very smoky burnout during the hillclimb. It's quite the scene.
Nissan Juke Nismo RS Breaks Two-Wheel Record
Stunt driving reach new heights at Goodwood, as driver Terry Grant successfully ran the entire hillclimb circuit while driving a Nissan Juke on two wheels. You can check out our full post here.
Aston Martin Vulcan Makes Track Debut
Aston Martin factory driver Darren Turner had the honor of taking the new Vulcan track star up the Goodwood hillclimb, giving us our first look at the production version of the Geneva Motor Show star. The 800-horsepower brute looks stunning and sounds just as impressive as it makes a couple stops for some small burnouts.
Jenson Button Ditches Losing McLaren Honda, Grabs Senna's Winning McLaren Honda
Vintage Formula One cars are one of the big draws at the Festival of Speed, and that's doubly true when the car in question was driven to a championship by one of the sport's icons. For 2015, McLaren Honda driver Jenson Button dipped into both company's history books and drove away in the McLaren Honda MP4/6 in which the late, great Ayrton Senna won the 1991 World Drivers' and Constructors' Championship.
The Beast of Turin Uses A 28.3-Liter Four-Cylinder, Spits Many Flames
Today, land speed records are elaborate efforts that focus on low weight, extreme aerodynamics, and of course, power. Back during the dawn of the automobile, though, it was the last of those three aspects that got the most attention. And it's why in 1911, Fiat built a 28.3-liter four-cylinder with 300 horsepower. The result is the S76, better known as the Beast of Turin. It is grand, and it ran Goodwood.
Porsche Is Track Ready With 911 GT3 RS And Cayman GT4
Porsche didn't mess about at the 2015 Festival of Speed, bringing its two newest track-focused road cars to climb the hill. First, we have the hot version of the hot version of the hot version of the standard 911, with the new GT3 RS. Next up, there's the newest tuned Cayman, the GT4. Both videos feature voiceovers from their drivers, with Evo's Henry Catchpole talking Cayman and Porsche's manager of high performance cars, Andreas Preuninger, talking about the RS.
Renault 5 Maxi Turbo Pirouettes Up The Hill
Sure, cars slip, slide, and drift up the Goodwood hill course all the time, but few make their way up by doing multiple 360-degree spins. Then again, there aren't a lot of cars like this Renault 5 Maxi Turbo. Its driver, France's Jean Ragnotti, raced Renault's monstrous hatchback in its heyday, taking three victories including a Monte Carlo rally win.
- News Source: Goodwood Road & Racing, Ford Europe, Gianlu 27, Porsche via YouTube [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]
- Image Credit: Charles Coates / Getty Images
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By Brandon Turkus
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