Around 250,000 enthusiasts travelled to Goodwood House in West Sussex for four scorching days at the 2026 Festival of Speed.
This year’s FoS, themed around The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels, celebrated the most famous battles in motor-racing history, from Ford’s 1966 Le Mans triumph over Ferrari to the legendary duel for the 1976 Formula 1 Drivers’ title between Niki Lauda and James Hunt.
While the theme of the 2026 Festival of Speed focused on on-track rivalries, it was Singer that was honoured as this year’s Celebrated Marque. The California-based company has spent the best part of two decades reimagining the 964-generation Porsche 911, and examples of its Classic, Classic Turbo and DLS commissions were suspended from the dramatic Gerry Judah-designed sculpture dominating the Goodwood House lawn.
The Duke of Richmond’s driveway – better known as The Hill – hosted plenty of rivalries of its own across the weekend of July 9-12, as myriad manufacturers and drivers vied for the fastest time in Sunday’s Shootout session.
Three-time Le Mans winner Romain Dumas was once again the man to beat. Driving the all-electric, 1400bhp-plus Ford Super Mustang Mach-E, he completed the 1.16-mile course in just 41.98 seconds to claim a fifth career Shootout win – and a third on the trot for the Blue Oval. Second place went to the Gen4 Formula E prototype piloted by Cupra Kiro driver Dan Ticktum, followed by the monstrous 1974 Shadow-Chevrolet DN4 Can-Am machine of Alex Summers – the fastest combustion-powered car of the weekend.
Away from the competitive runs, a wonderfully diverse cast of machinery delighted spectators with demonstrations up The Hill, from the ever-popular Fiat S76 – affectionately known as The Beast of Turin – to Formula 1 cars, Le Mans prototypes, Group B rally weapons and MotoGP bikes. Among the most memorable sights of 2026, however, was Lightning McQueen, who took to the course to mark the 20th anniversary of Disney Pixar’s Cars film.
The Hill also provided the chance to see some of the motor industry’s latest and greatest creations in action. Highlights included the European dynamic debuts of Toyota’s GR GT and GR GT3, Ruf’s 1000bhp eight-cylinder boxer prototype mule, McLaren’s 788HS, the Red Bull RB17 and the new Bizzarrini 5300 GT Aperta Lusso, among many more.
Headlining the Rivals theme at the 2026 Festival of Speed was the reunion of the three Ford GT40 MkIIs that famously finished 1-2-3 at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours. Chassis P/1046, P/1015 and P/1016 ran together for the first time since 1969, recreating their staged photo finish by ascending The Hill in formation. Fittingly, the trio was driven by Mario, Michael and Marco Andretti – three generations of one of America’s greatest racing dynasties.
The GT40s also formed part of a wider Americana celebration honouring the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Fans of US motor sport were treated to around 50 American cars and motorcycles in the Cathedral Paddock, plus tributes marking the 110th anniversary of the Indy 500 and 60 years of Can-Am and Trans-Am.
The Americana festivities proved well timed, with the Duke of Richmond choosing the Festival to announce the Goodwood Road Racing Club of America, which launches with a California-based membership in 2027 ahead of a flagship event in 2028 at Willow Springs Raceway – the circuit acquired in 2025 by none other than this year’s Celebrated Marque, Singer.
Following the celebrations of Formula 1’s 75th anniversary in 2025 the series remained a major 2026 Festival of Speed attraction, with an all-new Fan Zone. Reigning World Champion Lando Norris demonstrated McLaren’s 2023 MCL60 on The Hill and greeted fans from the balcony of Goodwood House alongside nine-time motorcycle World Champion Valentino Rossi, while current championship leader Kimi Antonelli made his FoS debut. Sir Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti delighted fans of F1’s earlier eras.
1996 World Champion Damon Hill provided one of the weekend’s most special runs, piloting his title-winning Williams FW18 three decades on from his championship triumph, while the McLaren M23D of James Hunt marked 50 years since that driver’s epic title fight with Niki Lauda.
The 2026 Festival of Speed Cartier Style et Luxe concours lawn is always a FoS highlight, providing a calm, elegant oasis amid the adrenaline and tyre smoke that characteris the majority of the event. More than 40 vehicles were split across seven classes this year, with special categories dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz and 60 years of the Lamborghini Miura. Best of Show went to the 1955 Lancia Aurelia Spider America, a Pinin Farina-bodied jewel powered by the world’s first production V6.
At the other end of the spectrum at the 2026 Festival of Speed, the Forest Rally Stage delivered some of the weekend’s rowdiest action. In keeping with the Rivals theme, the woodland course revived a selection of rallying’s greatest duels, including Lancia versus Audi, with the 037 and Quattro recreating their famous 1983 WRC title battle.
Complementing the historic machinery were modern rally weapons, including Toyota’s GR Yaris Rally1 – winner of six of this season’s opening seven WRC rounds – and Travis Pastrana’s mad 670bhp Subaru Brataroo. Subaru also paid tribute to Richard Burns, displaying both his 2001 title-winning Impreza and the Legacy RS he used to secure the 1993 British Rally Championship.
One change for the 2026 Festival of Speed was the absence of Bonhams’ traditional FoS sale, with the auction house consolidating its Goodwood auctions into a single event at September’s Revival. Instead, Bonhams hosted The World’s Smallest Car Auction – a twice-daily charity sale designed to introduce the auction process to a younger audience.
The Festival of Speed returns on July 15-18 2027. For more information, click here.
