Description

Goodwood Festival of Speed — The Hillclimb That Defines a Motorsport Culture

Each summer, deep within the rolling estate of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England, a unique motorsport spectacle comes alive that defies categorization — part competition, part exhibition, and all-out celebration of automotive passion. At the heart of this four-day festival lies the Goodwood Hillclimb — a deceptively simple but profoundly thrilling uphill sprint that has become the measure of performance, precision, and sheer nerve in the world of motorsport.

Origins & Atmosphere

First held in 1993, the Festival of Speed was conceived by Charles Gordon-Lennox, the Duke of Richmond, as a way to bring motor racing back to the historic Goodwood estate. Instead of a traditional circuit, the venue hosts its racing on a 1.16-mile Hillclimb course carved through manicured lawns, ancient flint walls, and tree-lined estate roads — a setting no modern racetrack can match.

The atmosphere is unlike any other motorsport event. Spectators wander freely alongside the course, stopping to admire legendary machines, chat with riders, or simply feel the visceral pulse of engines screaming up a twisting ascent. There’s no roar of grandstands here — just the close-up thunder of tyres, the smell of hot brakes, and the palpable buzz of excitement that surrounds every machine on the hill.

The Course — Short but Savage

Despite its relatively short length of 1.16 miles (1.87 km), the Goodwood Hillclimb is far from easy. Over its nine turns, riders must navigate a mix of blind crests, tight corners like the infamous Molecomb and Foggy’s Bend, and rapidly changing gradients that climb more than 300 feet (92.7 m) from start to finish.

The course surface itself — an estate road rather than a purpose-built track — can be narrow and bumpy, demanding supreme bike control and split-second decision-making. There’s little room for error; run wide here and a wall, hay bale or tree could be waiting just inches away.

Shoot-Out Sunday — Where Legends Are Made

While hill runs happen throughout the event, Shoot-Out Sunday is the highlight. On this day, world-class riders push their bikes to the absolute limit in pursuit of the fastest time. Unlike typical races with side-by-side battles, each competitor takes the hill alone against the stopwatch — a pure test of machine and pilot.

Records here are fiercely fought over and highly respected. In 2022, former Formula 1 driver Max Chilton carved a blistering 39.08-second ascent in the innovative McMurtry Spéirling — an all-electric rocket-ship that stunned the motorsport world.this is the outright lap record for cars and bikes.

A Festival of Incredible Machines

What sets Goodwood apart from a typical Hillclimb is the sheer diversity of vehicles. One moment you might see a pre-war norton thundering up the hill, the next a modern superbike or a MotoGP spaceship thundering past, tyres smoking and engines screaming. It’s a rolling museum and a motorsport playground all at once, where historic legends and bleeding-edge prototypes share the spotlight.

Why It Matters — Beyond the Timed Runs

For many visitors and participants, the Hillclimb is more than a competition — it’s a celebration of automotive culture itself. Enthusiasts can mingle with riders, explore interactive displays, soak up airshow performances, and discover the latest innovations from manufacturers across the world.

In an age where modern racing often feels governed by rules and restrictions, Goodwood’s Hillclimb remains gloriously free — raw, unpredictable, and utterly compelling. It’s not just about being the quickest up a hill; it’s about being part of a living motorsport legend.

complete with 5 working live track screens, multiple animated flags in the crowd and a full working replay camera system this is one of the most stunning tracks in the game timing is an issue on the other hand the start line is where your lap starts and the 3rd sector split is where your lap ends so you you will have to take your lap times like this unfortunately there is no work around for it but i hope you all enjoy!