Goodwood announced Wednesday that Porsche will be the featured automaker during this year’s upcoming Festival of Speed. The event, which runs from July 13-16, coincides with the 75th anniversary of the automaker’s first sports car and the 30th anniversary of the festival itself.
This year marks the fourth time that Porsche has been honored as the Celebrated Marque at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, setting a new record amongst brands. The selection comes at a worthy time however, as Porsche is gearing up to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 356 lineup. First introduced in 1948, the rear-engined, air-cooled sports car set the foundation for Porsche’s rise into the monolith it has become today. As such, visitors can expect some seriously rare and impressive machines wearing the Porsche crest to make an appearance in West Sussex. Highlights should include road and racing cars ranging from the Pre-A 356 on through Le Mans and Dakar winners. A dedicated parade of Porsches is slated to take place during the weekend festivities, as well as some prerequisite runs up the 1.16-mile hill climb course. Artist Gerry Judah will once again lend his skills to the event to create the Porsche-themed statue denoting the brand’s selection. Judah's prior Porsche sculptures for the event can be seen below.
The 356 isn’t the only thing turning 75 in time for the summer. The theme of this year’s festival as a whole is a nod to Goodwood’s 75th year of hosting motorsports events. Event planners hope to celebrate the cars that have been visiting the Goodwood since things got started in 1948, with a dedicated class in the hill climb for said machines. It is important to note that the Goodwood in that name isn’t in reference to the exact property where the festival is held, but rather the airfield-turned-track that hosts the beloved Revival races every year.
Tickets for the Goodwood Festival of Speed are still available at this time. If you’re a Porsche fan who has never made your way over to the U.K. for the Festival of Speed, this might just be the year to give it a go.
Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.
