SALON PRIVE 2025
Salon Privé 2025 officially opens…
THE OPENING OF SALON PRIVE 2025
Salon Privé 2025 has officially opened its doors at Blenheim Palace, launching a spectacular five-day celebration in honor of its 20th Anniversary. The event kicked off in grand style, featuring the global premieres of RML’s GT Hypercar, Thornley Kelham’s Jaguar XK European GT Roadster, and Electrogenic’s electrifying Aston Martin DB6, built for comedian Jimmy Carr. McLaren made a rare UK appearance with the W1, shown for only the second time, while Clive Sutton revealed a one-of-a-kind 1967 Mustang. Highlights also include the prestigious Concours, presented by Aviva Private Clients, and the debut of the Emerald Anniversary Green Collection — a stunning tribute to two decades of Salon Privé’s legacy in luxury, performance, and design.
Day 1 at Salon Privé 2025
Lockton Performance welcoming guests as they enter the show ground
Day 2 at Salon Privé 2025
Day 3 at Salon Privé 2025
Ferrari GTO
A Photographer’s Blog: Rain, Rivets, and Ruby Lenses
Ah, Salon Privé 2025—a dream playground for any shutter‑happy petrolhead. Picture me, camera in hand, stalking prime angles around the lush lawns of Blenheim Palace, eyes darting from chrome curves to sartorial elegance. It was the 20th anniversary, so they went all out—with glass palaces, glittering hypercars, and the ladies and gentry from near and far.
Morning Magic (and Perfect Light)
I arrived bright and early, before the masses. Sunlight tip‑toed across hoods and lens glass, creating drama in every reflection. The Mercedes‑Benz 500 K Spezial Roadster—Best of Show, no less—looked sculpted by rays of gold. My fingers twitched with glee. And just across the lawn, the Ferrari 410 Superamerica “Super Fast” Prototype gleamed like Italian promise —no struggle getting that People’s Choice
Then there were the wow‑factor rides: Jimmy Carr’s electric DB6 restomod, glistening like the future, and the fierce McLaren W1, making me reappraise everything I knew about aerodynamic aggression. Not to mention peculiar delights like the Bentley Batur Convertible, looking swashbucklingly mysterious under the palace eaves.
The Wonders of The Galleries—and the Rain
Salon Privé threw a clever curveball with The Galleries, a glass atrium bordering the lawns—think botanical conservatory meets art deco runway, but only for cars and car‑obsessed aristocrats. Heated, air‑conditioned, Wi‑Fi’d, and, crucially, rain‑proof, I sheltered inside, framing shoots through steamed‑up glass, capturing glints on glossy Viverrina motors (I mean, Bugatti Veyron, Jaguar C‑X75, Ferrari SP3 Daytona in the Emerald‑green Green Collection—you get the idea).
Afternoon Delays (Weather vs. Photographer)
The British weather, like a reluctant model, decided to turn moody. Rain fell in polite drizzle—then ramped up to melodramatic. I squinted from beneath any cover I could, lens fashioned into a makeshift periscope. I wouldn’t say I was drenching my socks, still dry but my shoes did take a battering. Making sad squelchy footprints on velvet lawns, but still managed to snag narrative‑rich frames: droplets on grilles, rain‑kissed bonnet curves, and soggy straw hats from those that dare be defiant of the “British summer”.
Fond Farewells
As the sky cleared for one last golden flicker, I took my final shots, and between the iconic cars, stunning new builds, bio-fuel-powered generators, and enthusiastic conversations with fellow gearheads, I left feeling like I’d gained more than just great images.
One of the best parts of Salon Privé—aside from the million-pound machinery and free-flowing fizz—is reconnecting with fellow photographers. There's nothing like nodding at someone across the bonnet of a classic Aston Martin, both of you silently battling for the best angle. I caught up with a few familiar faces from past events, swapped stories, and shared a few weather-related groans. Even better, I made some new friends, I’d gathered stories, laughter, and future pub anecdotes. Honestly, it’s the kind of day you’ll tell the grandkids about… assuming they sit still long enough to hear about the spender of the event.
Final Frames
By closing time—I mean, once the sun peeked back, shaking out its jolly cheers —I was tired, a little damp, but deliriously happy. My SD cards groaned with a multitude of images: pre‑war icons, engineering reboots, and modern marvels—each with a drop of drizzle‑tinted charm. The legendary concours winners, electric restomods, glass atrium glamour, VIP arrivals through the palace, and that cheeky emerald evening light—together, they made Salon Privé 2025 not just a show, but a photographer’s playground.
Next year though, I’ll remember to pack some wellies.
Take care all…
Scott.
Richard Hammond
Izzy Hammond
images above are of my new friend Joel. Find him on instagram here: @officialjoelmutton
Day 4 at Salon Privé 2025
Porsche 911 Turbo
Mercedes‑Benz 500 K Spezial Roadster
Ferrari GTO’s
A Finale to Remember
Celebrating the Highlights of Salon Privé Sunday on the North & South Lawns
On Sunday, 31st August, Salon Privé 2025 wrapped up in style with a spectacular Grand Finale that celebrated the best of automotive culture, passion, and performance.
The North Lawns played host to a vibrant takeover by 18 multi-marque supercar lifestyle clubs and 4 single-marque clubs, transforming the space into a jaw-dropping celebration of design and horsepower. The coveted Supercar & Lifestyle Club Trophies were awarded to a head-turning TVR Sagaris from Drivers Union and a beautifully kept Jaguar XJS from the XJS Club—both fan favourites and deserved winners.
Meanwhile, the South Lawn offered a vivid spectacle with an explosion of colour from the SCC supercar parade, featuring 78 stunning supercars, including an unforgettable Volcano Orange Mercedes-McLaren SLR HDK that practically glowed against the palace backdrop.
The day also saw the conclusion of the Concours de Vente, judged by a panel led by none other than Richard Hammond. The prestigious Prix d’Honneur went to Eric Broutin’s De Tomaso Pantera Group 4—a true showstopper with motorsport pedigree.
With nearly 8,000 guests joining us for the final day, it was a celebration of cars, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments. Don’t miss the highlights video below!
Day 5 at Salon Privé 2025
Best of show at Salon Privé 2025
Goodwood FOS 2024
The Goodwood Festival of Speed, a staple in the automotive calendar, returned in 2024 with a bang, showcasing a blend of heritage and cutting-edge innovation in the automotive world. This year’s event, held from July 11 to July 14, featured an array of car brands, each bringing something unique to the table. Another early start to get to the event, even at 06:45hrs in the morning the roads were packed with enthusiasts.
Once the car was parked and a ///what3words location keyed into my phone for the location of the car, it was time to join the mass of people all walking towards the far entrance.
Just for clarity, I was not there as press, although my camera was with me and the images below are just what I took as a spectator rather than as press. All images were taken with my Leica Q3.
Here are the highlights from this year's festival:
Iconic Brands and Stunning Displays
1. Ferrari: Ferrari stole the show with the debut of its latest hypercar, the SF90 Stradale XX. The car, an evolution of the SF90 Stradale, boasts enhanced aerodynamics, a more powerful engine, and advanced hybrid technology. Ferrari also showcased classic models, including the Ferrari F40 and the 250 GTO, celebrating its rich racing heritage.
2. Porsche: Porsche marked the 75th anniversary of the brand with a special display of its most iconic cars. The centrepiece was the new 911 GT3 RS, alongside historic models like the 356 and the legendary 917 race car. Porsche also thrilled spectators with live demonstrations of its Formula E car.
3. Aston Martin: Aston Martin highlighted its future direction with the unveiling of the Valhalla, a high-performance hybrid supercar. The brand also celebrated its 110th anniversary, displaying classic models like the DB5 and the new V12 Vantage Roadster. Aston Martin’s stand was a blend of tradition and innovation, drawing massive crowds.
4. Lamborghini: Lamborghini showcased its first-ever electric concept car, the Lanzador, signalling a bold step into the future of electric mobility. Alongside this futuristic model were the roaring Huracán Tecnica and the Aventador Ultimae, embodying the brand’s commitment to performance and design.
5. Bugatti: Bugatti brought the Chiron Super Sport to Goodwood, showcasing its breathtaking speed and luxury. The brand also displayed the unique Centodieci, a homage to the Bugatti EB110, highlighting its limited-edition models that blend history and modern engineering prowess.
6. McLaren: McLaren unveiled the Solus GT, a track-only hypercar designed to push the boundaries of performance. The brand also highlighted its Artura, a high-performance hybrid supercar, demonstrating McLaren's focus on sustainable yet thrilling driving experiences.
7. Ford: Ford introduced the new Mustang Dark Horse, a high-performance variant of the iconic muscle car, alongside the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning. Ford’s presence at the festival emphasized the brand’s commitment to combining tradition with innovation, appealing to both petrolheads and eco-conscious drivers.
Event Highlights
Hill Climb: The centrepiece of the festival, the Hill Climb, saw numerous records being challenged. Notable runs included the Rimac Nevera, which demonstrated the sheer power of electric vehicles by setting an impressive time, and the Toyota GR Yaris H2, showcasing hydrogen fuel technology.
The Hillclimb Shootout showcased an impressive array of vehicles and talented drivers, culminating in some thrilling results. Romain Dumas took the top spot with a blistering time of 45.0 seconds in the Ford Supervan 4.2, demonstrating his exceptional skill and the car's remarkable performance capabilities.
Other notable performances included Michael Lyons, who clocked 47.3 seconds in the Gurney Eagle FA74, and James Wallis, who achieved a time of 48.1 seconds in the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup. These runs highlighted the diversity of vehicles and driving prowess on display at the event
In addition to the overall fastest times, the event also featured winners in various classes. Mark Walker won the Pioneers category in a Darracq 200HP with a time of 1:14.0, and Julian Majzub took the Pre-War Racers category in a Bugatti Type 35B with a time of 1:01.8
2024 FESTIVAL OF SPEED TIMED SHOOTOUT RESULTS: HERE
Supercar Paddock: The Supercar Paddock was a feast for the eyes, featuring the latest and greatest from brands like Koenigsegg, Pagani, and Lotus. Attendees had the opportunity to get up close with the vehicles, and many supercars took to the hill for thrilling demonstration runs.
Future Lab: The Future Lab provided a glimpse into the future of mobility with exhibits on autonomous driving, advanced aerodynamics, and sustainable materials. Noteworthy displays included the Hyundai N Vision 74, a hydrogen-powered concept car, and the Airbus eVTOL, representing the future of urban air mobility.
Classic Car Parade: The Classic Car Parade celebrated the history of the automobile with a stunning array of vintage vehicles. Highlights included a 1960s Ferrari 250 LM, a pristine Jaguar E-Type, and the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, all driven up the hill to the delight of spectators.
For all the images and videos of the day including press articles please visit to the Goodwood Festival of Speed site: HERE
Salon Privé at the Royal Hospital Chelsea 2023
Salon Privé London gets off to a glittering start with multiple UK debuts and luxury showcases
Salon Privé London opened its doors at the Royal Hospital Chelsea for the 2023 season with a dazzling display of new automobiles. The event features multiple UK debuts, over 60 collector's cars, and luxury brands from around the world. Show Director David Bagley welcomed guests and media, expressing excitement about the event's lineup of prestigious cars, top-notch hospitality, and the unique location in the heart of the city.
Highlights of the event included the UK debut of the electric Abarth 500e Scorpionissima, the unveiling of Hennessey's Venom F5 Roadster, and the introduction of Rolls-Royce's Phantom Extended and Maserati's GranTurismo. Wiesmann showcased its electric roadster, Genesis presented the GV60 with face recognition technology, and Polestar exhibited the Polestar 3 electric luxury SUV.
Other attractions included Theon Design's Porsche-based ITA001, Richard Hammond's Chapron-bodied Delahaye, Montblanc's 8000 Capsule collection and 1958 Iced Sea Collection, and Jenson Button's Coachbuilt Whisky. Guests also enjoyed the Salon Privé London Supercar and Manufacturers Parade, the Concours de Vente featuring collector's cars for sale, and a luxury shopping village with brands like Boodles and Montblanc.
Salon Privé London provided top-tier food, hospitality, and entertainment, including a three-course luncheon, Pommery Champagne, cocktails from the London Essence Co, fine wines from Château la Gordonne, family-friendly activities on Saturday, and exclusive VIP hospitality at The Sloane. DJs kept the party going in the evenings on Thursday and Friday. As the sister event to Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace, Salon Privé London is recognized as one of the world's most prestigious automotive events.
The full Salon Privé Concours de Vente 2023 winner list:
Class 1 winner: 1966 Maserati Sebring 3700 GTI, from Graeme Hunt
Class 2 winner: 1961 Maserati 3500 GT Vignale Spyder, from The Classic Motor Hub
Class 3 winner: 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Vignale, from Aston Workshop
The Pensioners Trophy winner: 1954 Bentley R Type Continental, from Dylan Miles
The People's Choice winner: 2005 Maserati MC12, from Joe Macari
INFORMATION: Carbon-Neutral Fuels (CNFs) - P1 Performance Fuels & Coryton
Carbon-Neutral Fuels (CNFs)
All text and information is taken from P1’s website to help promote CNF’s to a wider audience.
At a time when the industry is looking deeply into renewable fuels, carbon-neutral vehicles, and sustainable mobility, we are here to help players from across the globe meet their goals. We believe in using the power of science and technology to create a cleaner and better tomorrow. As a global innovator in energy-dense fuels and engine technology, P1 Fuels is working closely with the world’s leading automotive OEMs and engine developers as the global automotive industry moves towards a future of efficiency and sustainability.
Renewable, Synthetic and Advanced Bio-Fuels for Automotive OEMs and Suppliers
For climate targets to be achieved, CO₂ emissions from traffic worldwide will have to be reduced by 50 percent over the next four decades, and by at least 85 percent in the advanced economies. Fossil-free and synthetic fuels from P1 provide automotive OEMs with a promising path to achieve significant GHG reductions while utilizing their internal combustion engine technologies. Such advances in fuel technology can make the internal combustion engine carbon neutral and thus sustainable.
Our product family of automotive fuels features various concentrations of renewable and synthetic content that meets international fuel regulations such as EN228 for EU or JIS for the Japanese markets.
Apart from our commercialized blends, we can deliver custom fuel blends based on your individual needs in very short lead times. We offer bespoke and white label solutions for oil companies from research and development through to fuel formulation and logistics.
The above video is from Sam at Seen through Glass and you can find this and other YouTube Videos here: https://www.youtube.com/c/seenthroughglass/featured
Fully Renewable Fuels for all Filling Stations
We (P1 Performance fuels) offer fuel station operators in Europe cost-effective drop-in renewable and synthetic fuel solutions that are EN228 compliant. Our logistics team will provide you with a quote for bulk delivery of fuels.
We are currently signing up fuel stations mainly in Germany but do not hesitate to contact us if you operate a network in other countries within the European Union. P1 is always looking for solutions to store our fully renewable fuels in new regions.
Offer your customers an instant reduction in CO2 emissions between 65 and 86% compared to normal petrol or diesel
Benefit from our drop-in solution and keep the existing infrastructure of your fuel station
With our synthetic fuels, you can achieve a reduction in CO2 between 65 and 86% while keeping your internal combustion engine cars – no new investments are needed!
coryton.com
MAKING INNOVATION POSSIBLE
The leading supplier of bespoke fuels, created to help move the world forward. We provide specialist, advanced fuel solutions to our forward-thinking partners across a range of industries. Scale is never an issue as we can produce 10 litres to millions of litres of any particular product. We create 4,000 unique blends each year – more than 14 million litres of bespoke fuels in total – for use across the globe.
Balancing innovation and the environment
Our responsibly blended bioethanol and biogasoline enable today’s vehicles to produce less greenhouse gas while using the infrastructure already in place. It allows society to move towards sustainability quicker because it’s ready to go.
coryton.com/sustain
HIF GLOBAL:
https://hifglobal.com/
HIF Global is the world’s leading eFuels company, developing projects in different parts of the world to fight climate change by producing carbon-neutral fuels with green hydrogen and recycled CO2.
The name HIF represents the mission of the company: to provide Highly Innovative Fuels to make decarbonization of the planet possible now. HIF’s vision is to become the largest eFuels producer in the world, producing 140,000 barrels per day of eFuels by 2030, capturing over 25 million tons of CO2, and turning 5 million vehicles carbon neutral.
HIF Chile, HIF USA, HIF Asia Pacific, and HIF EMEA are wholly owned subsidiaries of HIF Global. HIF Chile is already producing eFuels in their Haru Oni Demonstration plant in the Magallanes Region.
Salon Privé 2022 - Blenheim Palace
My favorite large-scale, high-end show of the year and they planned not to disappoint. This year Salon Prive they were hosting the Ferrari 75th Anniversary Class, a star attraction at its Concours d’Elégance presented by Aviva.
‘There have been many concours events in the past where rare Ferraris have been on display,’ said Salon Privé’s chairman, Andrew Bagley. ‘Blenheim Palace’s South Lawn, Salon Privé audiences will see a truly extraordinary collection of unique and ground-breaking Maranello cars – more than half of which with the prized Classiche certification - that defies comparison.’
WEDNESDAY - PRESS DAY:
This year would be different for me, on Wednesday the 31st was “press day” and I attended with all the other Media and Togs and we would get to see the reveal of so many special machines and have the chance to get up and close with the cars and the designers and production teams. On “press day” there are no visitors just us…
Wednesday was rather hot, so I decided to chance wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I packed trousers and a shirt in the car just in case but the staff at the event were nonjudgmental and didn’t seem to mind as I was working.
Sitting down in the marquee where the staff would welcome us for the day, we were offered coffee and Croissants. After the briefing, the PR Director and her staff would set out the day for us and what could be expected.
Wednesday Highlights:
An opportunity to witness manufacturers World, European and UK debuts
Plus, see the Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance featuring more than 100 cars
The Platinum Collection – a specially curated display of cars from the past 70 years, brought together for the first time in honour of The Queen’s Jubilee (RIP your Majesty )
Prodrive Legends feature that will celebrate the British company with a line-up of rally cars, racing cars such as the Ferrari 550 GTS and Aston Martin Vantage GT4, and the new Prodrive Hunter – the world’s first all-terrain hypercar.
The Apricale represents a revolution. It is the only hypercar to provide a zero-emissions powertrain in a car whose weight is the same as a petrol-powered equivalent – and half that of some battery-electric equivalents
After seeing the unveiling of the Viritech Apricale, we wandered over to the New Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster The Texas-built Venom F5 Roadster is a new rival to the Koenigsegg Regera and the Bugatti Chiron SuperSport. The guys on the stand confirmed that cowboy boots and hats were not part of the upgrade package.
2022 CLASS WINNERS:
BEST OF SHOW WINNER
Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta by Zagato
Year: 1956
Coachbuilder: Zagato
BEST OF SHOW RUNNER-UP
Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Mille Miglia Cabriolet by Graber
Year: 1938
Coachbuilder: Graber
BEST OF SHOW THIRD PLACE
Bentley 8 Litre Saloon by Freestone & Webb
Year: 1931
Coachbuilder: Freestone & Webb
PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Lorraine Dietrich 130HP ‘Course’
Year: 1907
Coachbuilder: Lorraine Dietrich
CHURCHILL CUP FOR MOST EXCEPTIONAL DESIGN
Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Sports Coupé by Freestone & Webb
Year: 1933
Coachbuilder: Freestone & Webb
Full listings can be found here:
https://www.salonpriveconcours.com/about-concours-delegance/past-winners/
Sunday 4th September 2022 - Drivers Union
Another early start but this time with The Drivers Union.
Quote “A supercar club Founded in 2012 and with over 1,000 supercar-owning members, the Drivers Union is the largest and most exclusive multi-marque supercar club in the UK. Membership is open to owners of Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Pagani, and selected models from other supercar marques. We organise coffee mornings and group drive-outs, supercar lunches, dealer visits, discounts on services, and much more”.
I was invited along as one of their club photographers by Syeed Ali its founder and overall lovely gentleman. The day is well organised with members displaying their cars in the grounds of Blenheim palace, food was on offer for members and guests, and for those participating in the day, there were trophies on offer for the members.
The weather held out with blue skies and warm weather. The general public took great delight in viewing the cars on display and I got to meet up with other photographers and was invited onto the roof of the palace for a very special vantage point.
GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2022
The last weekend of June and Goodwood Festival of Speed is here. Not that I had planned to go, but a friend of mine text me a week before to say he had a spare ticket for Friday 24th June, and would I be interested. Bears and woods spring to mind…
Now I haven’t been in quite some time, so the opportunity to break out the camera, without having to work and just wander around taking pictures of the cars I like.
Signer has just released their Turbo study, and along with most Porsche fans, I have wanted to get a close look at their new vehicle, but more on that later.
After a hectic journey down, lots of traffic, not helped by a rail strike, I arrived just about on time after a 05:30hrs start to the day. Clearing security (car park M), we came across the Jaguar F types drifting on a secure piece of track. It would have been rude not to poke our noses in and have a look, there is a video just below.
It was early so after a quick bacon and egg bap for breakfast courtesy of the in-show catering, we wandered past the BMW stand knowing that with would be pretty much packed even at this time of the morning with visitors wanting to put eyes on the new M3 Touring.
Instagram: @fosgoodwood
Facebook: Festival of Speed
YouTube: GoodwoodRRC
The last weekend of June and Goodwood Festival of Speed is here. Not that I had planned to go, but a friend of mine text me a week before to say he had a spare ticket for Friday 24th June, and would I be interested. Bears and woods spring to mind…
Now I haven’t been to Goodwood Festival of Speed in quite some time, so the opportunity to break out the camera, without having to work and just wander around taking pictures of the cars I like was an opportunity not to be missed…
Singer has just released their Turbo study, and along with most Porsche fans, I have wanted to get a close look at their new vehicle, but more on that later.
After a hectic journey down, lots of traffic, not helped by a rail strike, I arrived just about on time after a 05:30hrs start to the day. Clearing security (car park M), we came across the Jaguar F types drifting on a secure piece of track. It would have been rude not to poke our noses in and have a look, there is a video just below.
It was early so after a quick bacon and egg bap for breakfast courtesy of the in-show catering, we wandered past the BMW stand knowing that with would be pretty much packed even at this time of the morning with visitors wanting to put eyes on the new M3 Touring.
BMW celebrates 50 years of their highly sort after M series of cars, and what better way to celebrate it than at one of the world’s most prestigious motoring events.
Walking towards the hill climb and past the Bugatti stand, we were greeted by the Red Bull Lexus absolutely haring up the track with its rear tyres alight. The sound on this machine was awesome and with its green exposed carbon fibre it looks as mean as it sounded.
Drifting a Jaguar F Type…
After watching a few more runs by various cars going up the hill we decided to hit the pit area. Crossing the Goodwood bridge that you see in all the pictures you could hear, feel, taste, and smell the cars as they passed at speed underneath giving all of your senses a first-hand experience.
ASSEMBLY & PADDOCK:
The pit area is fantastic to be fair… Such an array of different machinery to be observed, sometimes allowed to touch these icons of the sport, and there are more than enough people within the pit area to answer any questions you may have. One thing you do find in the pit area is the checking of engines before going on the hill climb, which obviously means starting them and reviving them. At times we had to come away from the areas because we would be choking on the fumes of some of these beasts.
It was nice to see this Mercedes being prepped
Aston Martin’s Bulldog was getting a lot of attention in the pits
This Redbull Racing drift car was an absolute monster
NEXT:
So now that we had filled our eyes at the pits area from vintage track racers, new F1 racing cars, drift cars, and just about everything noisy smelly, and fast, it was time to grab a coffee soak in the atmosphere and then have a wander around the car park (Performance Parking West).
There were a lot of lovely machines parked in this area. A collection of cars belonged to the YouTuber Tim Burton - professionally as Shmee150 (you can tell by the number plates). Seen were his AMG Black series, Aston Martin GT8, Ford GT & AMG GT Black Series.
A few other cars I spotted while in the area… a VERY clean Lamborghini Gallardo in black with silver alloys and it just looked fresh and quite understated. I found a rather lovely Porsche GT3 in red, a load of McLarens in various colours, many more Porsches, a fair few Ferraris, and just countless lovely pieces of machinery. One thing you can say about Goodwood Festival of Speed is the amount of expensive cars and opulence on show for the public to come and view is staggering.
McLAREN HOUSE:
After our coffee break and a sit down we then headed towards Goodwood house, but first, it was time to have a look at the McLaren’s and to have a look at the Artura. As with a lot of the high-end motors they are on display stands where there is no chance of getting close to it for viewing or obtaining close-up, high-end pictures of details.
GOODWOOD HOUSE:
Wandering around the side of Goodwood house and then coming into sight is the main sculpture. The sculpture pays homage to five decades of the division and showcases some of its most iconic models of BMW’s M class.
Frank van Meel, CEO of BMW M said: “As BMW M, we feel honoured to play a very special role at this year's Festival of Speed. For our 50th anniversary, we couldn't imagine a better place to celebrate our products with fans of the brand. I am particularly looking forward to unveiling a certain vehicle to the world’s public for the first time - a vehicle we have been waiting a long time for”.
The Duke of Richmond said: “We are delighted to be celebrating 50 years of BMW’s hugely successful Motorsport division at this year’s Festival of Speed, and it is especially fitting as we prepare to honour ‘The Innovators - Masterminds of Motorsport’. BMW M’s success can of course be attributed to half a century of innovation and we look forward to honouring the marque’s past, present and future achievements at Goodwood in June.”
An overview of Goodwood house and the crowds taken from their live streaming for 2022
All the vehicles that are on display on the sculpture are genuine vehicles (these are not fibre-glass models) although before being displayed on the plinth all of their fluids were drained and the engines have been removed.
You’ll be able to get a first look at BMW’s upcoming M Hybrid V8 LMDh endurance racer. This is the very first time it’s been shown in the flesh and although it’s upside down you can get a good look at the celebratory ‘50 years of M’ camouflage. It is accompanied by the glorious V12 LMR, the aforementioned 3.0 CSL, an M1 Procar, and Jörg Müller’s old 3 Series WTCC racer.
A little bit of history about the Sculpture - It has been in place in front of The Earl of March’s house since 1997 and was designed by artist and designer Gerry Judah.
CARTIER STYLE ET LUXE:
Next, we visited the “Cartier Style et Luxe” area. We were greeted by a gaggle of McLaren F1’s from the XP4 experimental car to Rowan Atkinson F1 which was unfortunately in an accident. These cars do not get written off and the insurance company paid out over £900’000 to have his car put back on the road.
Being spoilt with so many stunning examples we then ventured further down in the area to be greeted by a stunning Ferrari F40, F50, an Enzo, La Ferrari, and a 288 GTO to mention but a few…
Singer Vehicle Design really shouldn’t need any introduction if you have even the slightest interest in cars. Their new release to the public is the 911 Turbo or as they call it the Singer Turbo Study. I have been itching to see this car in the flesh since it was announced and I have no shame in saying I am an absolute fanboy. YouTube has a lot to answer for in keeping me locked in and going down many rabbit holes with anything slightly “backdated” or “reimagined”.
The stand was swamped by people and Photographers, and it was hard to get anywhere near the car. It wasn’t placed on the stand as it had been destined for the hill climb, so space around the car to get pictures was difficult, to say the least.
Sitting in the drivers seat Dario Franchitti
CATHEDRAL PADDOCK:
We wandered down to Cathedral Paddock to check out the endurance and Rally cars. There were all sorts there from the Redbull Dakar Rally pickup trucks, to Peugeot 3008 Decar Rally Cars, Ford group B Rally car RS 1700T, RS200, Metro 6R4’s, Citron Zara , Citrion ZX Dacar, Subaru impretsa, etc.
START LINE:
Before going to grab some food we decided that the next destination would be the start line. As you can imagine it wasn’t too long before we were getting covered in tyre smoke, breathing in the noxious fumes, and having our ears battered by the sound of screaming 4 cylinders units, flat 6s, V6’s, V8’s, V10’s (I do love a sound of a Lamborghini on full chat), V12’s and V16’s. The EV’s were impressive with their speed but the ones we saw unfortunately lacked any drama.
Although saying that (and I have to eat my own words here) McMurtry Automotive Speirling fan car broke both official and unofficial hillclimb records on Sunday driven by Ex-Formula 1 and IndyCar driver Max Chilton
Officially, the history books had Nick Heidfeld down as the true record holder courtesy of his famous 1999 run in the McLaren MP4/13 F1 machine that buzzed the line at 41.6s.
Unofficially, however, Romain Dumas had been the fastest driver up the famous 1.1-mile route aboard the Pikes Peak-winning Volkswagen ID.R - he eventually posted a 39.9s effort. However, Dumas’ run in the ID.R, which was tuned specifically for Goodwood, was set in the Saturday qualifying session and not in the officially recognised Sunday shootout climax.
Regardless, Chilton has surpassed both benchmarks thanks to a remarkable and definitive 39.08s charge in the astonishing McMurtry, which instantly deploys 2000kg of downforce from a fan.
Watch the video below courtesy of Goodwood Road & Racing
As you can see we were pretty close to the start line… The bloke in the picture is not me by the way lol
This beautiful Singer was on the hill climb and it just sounded amazing going through the gears up the hill. The car sounds better and better and as the noise reverberated off the wall at the top of the hill… no words can describe how good it sounded.
You may be wondering what racing car drivers were at Goodwood Festival of Speed this year? Follow the link for an article by Ben Miles who breaks down the drivers by category and gives a bit of an insight into who the drivers are. LINK
Food was next… We had walked and talked, gasped in amazement at the fantasicle machines on display, but the primal urge for a burger and chips with a nice pint of larger was getting stronger by the moment. Refreshed and somewhat lighter of a few guinea’s it was time to go soak up what was on offer with the exhibitors, then we visited the Electric Avenue, FOS Future Labs, and taking in a what is the future and Electric.
One car company that did catch my eye was the Polestar concept cars. The Polestar O2 is described as “taking the design language established with Polestar Precept further, creating a new premium performance paradigm as an all-electric roadster. A unique two-door convertible concept that merges art with technology. Remove the roof to experience pure performance, without the noise”.
So with the Festival of Speed done… Almost, it would have been rude not to pop into the Porsche stand on the way out… But now I was truly shattered, the weather had been great, the organisers had thrilled us and it was time to take the next part of the day in my stride by heading home with a camera full of pictures, a belly full of food but most of all memories that I will cherish until the same time next year.
Thank you all for coming and reading my blog and looking at my pictures.
Take care…
Scott.