| Feature Article | Goodwood Festival of Speed Review |

June is a great month. The height of summer with the marvellous weather it promises with it. June also marks what must be the best time of year to be a fan of cars. The start of the month brings Supercar Sunday at the Breakfast Club at Goodwood - a gathering of exotica from far and wide seldom seen anywhere in the world, never mind in the UK. This year's event was no exception with perhaps only a Zonda and a McLaren F1 missing from the supercar hit list that included such rarities as a Lancia Stratos, Ferrari F50, Jaguar XJ220 and a clutch of Iso Grifos, all basked in searing sunshine.

Two weeks later and we all decamped to France via the EuroTunnel for the rite of passage that is Le Mans and the mind boggling 24-hour test of endurance, speed and, let's be honest, madness. That's just among the spectators and their drinking - the Dutch won again this year, despite being massively outnumbered by the British contingent. In the apparent sideshow that is the race itself Audi ran out victorious with another metronomic display of relentless pace, efficiency and plain awesome engineering thoroughness and execution with the diesel R10. It's beside this very car I find myself standing back in Blighty a week later.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is perhaps the essential automotive experience of the year, so much so that rather than the usual single visit on the Friday, this year we went for the whole weekend. I can think of no other event in the world that allows one to meander through an array of paddocks and pit complexes in which nestle some of the most significant and iconic cars every made for road and track since the inception of the motor car. The fact that the majority of these cars can be seen and heard living and, critically, breathing makes the experience altogether more meaningful.

I've been before and found it deeply satisfying and enjoyable. This year was no different, even taking into consideration the monsoon conditions that were entrenched over our fair isle for much of the weekend. This year's guest manufacturer was Toyota and as per usual the honour was grasped with typical gusto and they brought along many cars that must be treasured museum pieces. The front lawn of the main house itself featured a magnificent display in the style of the executive toys with the cluster of metal balls that swing fore and aft as a show of conservation of momentum. However, the 'balls' were in this case Toyota competition cars from rallying, GT racing, Le Mans and F1, though of course they weren't being swung. Nevertheless it was a fantastic static centrepiece.

In terms of moving displays, Toyota provided many rally cars, Japanese GT Championship cars, a current Formula One car and a GT-One Le Mans racer, the very car robbed the win at La Sarthe by a late puncture. All of these were run in anger over the weekend either on the newly constructed rally stage at the top of the hill or on the hill climb course itself; both of which offer excellent views for the fan as well as an adequate challenge for the cars and drivers.

Personally, I never tire of staring at the metal, fibreglass and carbon fibre on display. I can literally lose hours gawping at a single car. Last year I had to be dragged from the Ferrari stand where the 599GTB Fiorano captured my heart, my mind and my lottery ticket. For me, this year's highlights would be the Le Mans cars of Jaguar, Porsche, McLaren and Audi. Something about this race and the machines that compete mesmerises me and to be close to, in and around the cars is a wonderful indulgent intimacy. Nearby, Donohue's Can Am Porsche 917 (rumoured to put out more than 1,200bhp in qualifying trim) is a car of such beauty and yet such ferocity one can only wonder what it must have been like to drive. One could safely assume that the man himself must have been craned into position, as his mobility must surely have been limited by the magnitude of his testicles.

In the F1 paddock, the Lotus and, perhaps even more evocative, the Toleman driven by one A. Senna da Silva give cause for a moment of appreciation and reflection. It's quite humbling to stand and see others doing the same thing and realise that even 13 years on a lost hero's significance resonates in those he touched and inspired. On the hill itself it is the plethora of contemporary F1 cars and their shrieking exhaust notes that still rings in my eardrums weeks later. Drivers showboat accordingly and the presence of the man of the moment, Lewis Hamilton, highlights the other brilliant aspect of the Festival.

The drivers themselves love it and flock in their droves to be part of it. Bumping into people of such exalted status as Derek Bell, Carlos Sainz, Giacomo Agostini and Jackie Stewart is almost bizarre. Watching them then go and drive the bikes or cars with which they achieved their feats is quite surreal in some ways. It takes some time to absorb the significance of what it is you're privileged enough to be viewing.

On top of this in-the-blood type excitement there are countless manufacturer and trade stands in which to inflict damage to the wallet and there are plenty of other displays, bars and a music stage by which to while away the minutes and soak up the atmosphere. The Red Arrows always lay on their usual unfathomable display of precision brilliance just to top it all off. All in all, even in poor weather, it's an experience not to be missed.

Goodwood is a truly amazing Festival. You really have to hand it to Lord March. He throws open his doors to the general public to share in our collective love of cars and motorsport. No doubt there is some financial benefit to be had, but a lot of it probably goes back into the Festival of Speed itself or the Revival Festival run on the circuit nearby in September. It's the kind of thing we'd all love to do in an ideal world, but here is someone in the position to do it that has the motivation and generosity to actually make it happen. Hats off. Until next year then, please enjoy the myriad of pictures we took of our favourite bikes, cars, drivers and features at the Festival this year.

Dave Jenkins - 12 Jul 2007