Get set for the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Moving Motor Show

The Moving Motor Show today will kick-off the four-day motoring extravaganza, showcasing at least 15 brand-new models of motors and giving hundreds of visitors the chance to get behind the wheel and take a look around – and there’ll even be a surprise reveal or two.

And we have a live blog for everyone to enjoy.

Motor show visitors also get a sneak preview of the Festival of Speed paddocks and displays, including full access to the Formula One paddock, Cartier Style et Luxe lawn and plenty more.

It then kicks up a gear tomorrow (Friday, June 26) with the three-day Festival of Speed which has become known and loved by enthusiasts far and wide – with last year’s record crowd of 202,000 over four days proving its appeal.

There are always huge names from all arms of motorsport at Goodwood but one making his FoS debut this year – on two wheels – is Valentino Rossi, reputed by many to be the greatest motorcycle GP racer of all time.

He can be seen on Sunday riding Yamaha’s current MotoGP bike in celebration of 60 years of the Yamaha Motor Co.

Lord March said: “I have a very good feeling about the 2015 Festival of Speed, which celebrates the theme: ‘Flat-Out and Fearless – Racing on the Edge’. I’ve said this before but, when I look at the entry list and see who’s coming and what they’re driving, I know we can look forward to another sensational event.

“This is a very special year for bike fans. Not only does MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi make his Goodwood debut, on his current Yamaha race bike in celebration of Yamaha Motor Co’s 60th anniversary, but Casey Stoner will be with us too, as well as fellow World Champions Giacomo Agostini, John Surtees, Kenny Roberts, Jim Redman, Freddie Spencer, Sylvain Guintoli, Dave Thorpe and Chaz Davies. And the incredible Bienville Legacy – one of the most powerful road bikes ever made – makes its world debut too.”

Don’t miss Ken Block, star of the Gymkhana videos that have achieved more than 300 million YouTube views, bringing his ‘Hoonicorn’ Ford Mustang and heading up an all-new class for drifting that also features ‘Mad’ Mike Whiddett and 2014 European champion James Deane.

And there’s a special category celebrating the 40th anniversary of Pagham 
resident Derek Bell’s maiden Le Mans 24 Hours win. Around 15 cars from his career feature – and Bell, of course, will be at Goodwood.

This year is the 60th anniversary of Sir Stirling Moss’s Mille Miglia win and it is celebrated as he is reunited with the #722 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR he drove to that win in 1955. Only eight SLRs remain and seven of them will be together for the first time.

Another 60th anniversary being celebrated at FoS is that of Alpine, with a class of their cars on show.

The F1 element of FoS is always a big draw and there will be five current F1 teams appearing – Ferrari, 
Williams, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull – with current stars Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button all confirmed.

The ever-popular Michelin Supercar run features the biggest collection of modern supercars ever assembled – an impressive 42 of them are set to battle against the clock on Saturday’s timed run.

FoS 2015 boasts the largest-ever selection of Americana, including drag racing godfather Don Garlits, NASCAR’s most successful driver of all time, Richard Petty with his 1970 Plymouth Superbird, and the debuts of Robby Gordon’s Stadium Supertrucks and ‘Ballistic’ BJ Baldwin’s Baja Trophy Truck in the enlarged Activities Field.

Lord March said: I’m always excited by the NASCAR contingent and this year Richard ‘The King’ Petty brings his spectacular 1970 Plymouth Superbird, fired up and ready to run in public for the first time in 40 years. Bobby Labonte will go for a time on the hill in Richard Childress Racing’s Chevy while 1995 Truck Series Champion Mike Skinner has spent a fortune modifying his truck into a Hillclimb Special. The competition should be intense.”

Elsewhere, Britain’s two biggest rally stars will be among those tackling the Forest Rally Stage – Kris Meeke in his Citroen DS3 WRC and Elfyn Evans in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta R5.

Last for now but certainly not least, don’t miss the first public run for 101 years for the ‘Beast of Turin’, Duncan Pittaway’s incredible Fiat S76.

Cartier celebrates its 20th year at the festival with a wonderful collection of Figoni et Falaschi cars from Peter Mullin’s museum in California in the ‘Style et Luxe’ concours d’elegance, while the Bonhams sale will include a number of cars from Rolling Stone Bill Wyman’s collection.

For more details about ticket availability, which is limited, call 01243 755055.

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