Going on a speed date

Iconic F1 machines, cool supercars, and a whole lot of history... here's what went down at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

- HORMAZD SORABJEE

For one reason or the other, the Goodwood Festival of Speed had eluded me. For any car nut, this event is a bucket-lister. Goodwood FOS, as it is popularly known, is motorsports' most immersive celebration. Legendary racecars and modern supercars charge up a historic hill. It's a living, roaring tribute to speed, heritage and the enduring passion that unites car lovers across generations.

This year was my first time at Goodwood, and what an introduction it was! Unlike any other car gathering, Goodwood tears down the velvet ropes. Here, the world's most significant cars, from priceless grand prix machines to cutting-edge hypercars, aren't displayed behind barriers. They're alive and loud, storming up the legendary 1.9km hillclimb past the Duke of Richmond's ancestral home. It's a garden party, where the soundtrack is the shriek of V12s, the bark of turbos, and the scent of fuel.