One of the most eagerly-anticipated moments of every FoS is the reveal of Gerry Judah’s Central Feature.

One of the most eagerly-anticipated moments of every Festival of Speed is the reveal of Gerry Judah’s Central Feature, this year sponsored by honoured marque BMW in celebration of their Centenary.

Unveiled each year at a private party on the eve of the Festival, the first public viewing of the iconic sculpture marks the official opening of the Festival weekend.

‘I’ve been producing a sculpture for the Celebrated Marque at Goodwood for the last 19 years,’ says Gerry. ‘Every year I like to think of something that is very different to anything we’ve done before. Indeed, the hardest thing about designing these sculptures is trying to avoid any similarity, any conceptual connection, with anything I’ve done before.’

BMW’s Centenary piece is Gerry’s 20^th sculpture for the Festival of Speed and his resolute determination to push the boundaries of what is possible never ceases to amaze. Gerry says of his work at Goodwood: ‘The critical thing for these pieces is that they have to be iconic. Coco Chanel said: “I don’t do anything innovative; I want to make something that’s classic.” Everything I do I try and make it so that it’s classic: different, unique, but classic.’

Gerry’s work at FoS has become the symbol of the Festival for the 200,000 strong crowd, and has varied from the rustic steel framework of the Land Rover sculpture in 2008, to the beautiful reconstructed Jaguar E-Type model made from 174 tonnes of steel tubes and reminiscent of a vast church organ in 2011, and last year’s twisting, Japanese-inspired Mazda celebration, which towered high above Goodwood House. Each piece takes eight months from conception to build, and the Sculptures are now Europe’s biggest regularly commissioned installations.

Each year the exact design of the Central Feature is a closely guarded secret, and Gerry isn’t giving much away about his plans for this year, but he did say: “the sculpture, displaying three iconic BMW race cars, will stretch well outside its boundaries, soaring over us and into the sky".

Goodwood presents a short film in celebration of Gerry’s work and a glorious look back at the motorsport milestones he has immortalised on the turning circle across the years:

http://player.theplatform.com/p/TCy-PC/GoodwoodProdPlayer/embed/select/media/HUJC_dtuEmkM?form=html

Central Features of the Festival of Speed listed: 

1993 – The first Festival of Speed, at which a brand new Aston Martin DB7 was displayed on the Turning Circle outside Goodwood House

1994 – The first Central Feature celebrates 100 Years of Motorsport

1995 – The beautiful 1929 Golden Arrow Land Speed Record takes Central Feature position

1996 – Current LSR holder Thrust ‘SSC’ takes Central Feature position for its first public appearance

1997 – Gerry Judah’s first collaboration celebrating 50 years of Ferrari

1998 – Gerry Judah – 50 years of Porsche

1999 – Gerry Judah – 90 years of Audi

2000 – Gerry Judah – Jaguar returns to Formula 1

2001 – Gerry Judah – 100 years of Mercedes-Benz

2002 – Gerry Judah – Renault returns to Formula 1 as a constructor

2003 – Gerry Judah – 50 years of Ford

2004 – Gerry Judah – 100 years of Rolls-Royce

2005 – Gerry Judah – 40 years of Honda Grand Prix success

2006 – Gerry Judah – 100 years of Renault success in Grands Prix

2007 – Gerry Judah – 50 years of Toyota in motorsport

2008 – Gerry Judah – 60 years of Land Rover

2009 – Gerry Judah – 100 years of Audi

2010 – Gerry Judah – 100 years of Alfa Romeo

2011 – Gerry Judah – 50 years of the Jaguar E-type

2012 – Gerry Judah – 60 years of Lotus

2013 – Gerry Judah – 50 years of the Porsche 911

2014 – Gerry Judah – 120 years of Mercedes-Benz in motorsport

2015 – Gerry Judah – Mazda in motorsport 

The Festival of Speed will take place from 23-26 June 2016.

Lord March introduces the Festival of Speed 2016 in a video that showcases the past, the present and future.

Lord March introduces the Festival of Speed 2016 in this film:

http://player.theplatform.com/p/TCy-PC/GoodwoodProdPlayer/embed/select/media/jQecJXJ6OBt7?form=html

The 2016 Festival of Speed theme is “Full Throttle – The Endless Pursuit of Power”, celebrating the most epic machinery ever to grace the race tracks of the world.

Goodwood presents the Full Throttle theme in this film:

http://player.theplatform.com/p/TCy-PC/GoodwoodProdPlayer/embed/select/media/XHZFfszQBVRk?form=html

Since its pioneering days, motorsport’s insatiable thirst for increased speed has been underscored by a parallel quest for power. This year’s Festival will feature the racing machines that, more than any others, have pushed the power envelope, and the intrepid pilots who tamed them.

From monstrous aero-engined leviathans to flame-spitting turbo F1 cars, titanic pre-war Silver Arrows to thundering Can-Am monsters, and fearsome two-stroke Grand Prix bikes to brutal Group B rally cars, the 2016 Festival will feature cars and motorcycles which prove beyond doubt that, where power is concerned, bigger really is better.

Alongside this central theme, the 2016 Festival will pay tribute to BMW’s rich motorsport heritage, as the German manufacturer marks its centenary, with an amazing line-up of cars and bikes. Also celebrated will be 50 years since the inaugural Can-Am championship and the first of the GT40’s four Le Mans win, and 40 years since James Hunt’s World Championship victory.

Thursday 23^rd June will launch the Festival with Press & Preview Day, when the Moving Motor Show will see many cars revealed by their manufacturers in this country for the first time, giving Press and visitors the rare opportunity to get behind the wheel on a drive up the infamous Goodwood Hillclimb.

Goodwood offer the opportunity for a lucky winner to experience the Rally drive of a lifetime during the Festival, with competition details soon to appear on www.goodwood.com.

Festival of Speed founder Lord March said: ‘This year’s Festival will see the wildest, fastest, craziest, baddest cars and bikes ever to ascend the Goodwood Hill. Not to mention of course the heroes that tamed those mighty machines. There will be lots of noise, speed, colour and, of course, power. That’s what the Festival of Speed’s all about. I’m really excited about it and hope it will be an absolutely spectacular and memorable weekend.’’ 

BMW becomes this years Central Feature Marque at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

BMW will be the Central Feature Marque at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed. In its centenary year, the company will take centre stage at the world’s most prestigious motoring festival.  Showcasing the diversity of its brands - BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad - BMW Group will celebrate its illustrious sporting past, alongside the stylish cars and bikes of its current range. 

Epitomising this year’s Festival of Speed theme – ‘Full Throttle – The Endless Pursuit of Power’ – the Central Feature will celebrate BMW’s myriad motorsport successes. Taking a starring role on the sculpture created by Gerry Judah will be the legendary BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster, the Gordon Murray-designed Brabham-BMW BT52, and the Le Mans-winning BMW V12 LMR.

Visitors will be able to see and hear many products from BMW’s past that continue to make their mark on the company today. Cars steering their way up Goodwood’s famous 1.16-mile course include a beautiful 1957 BMW 507, the Mille Miglia-winning BMW 328 Touring Coupé from 1940, and a 1965 BMW 1800 TiSA – an early example of BMW’s unparalleled success in touring car racing. Meanwhile, motorbike enthusiasts will be treated to an array of classic and modern bikes including a 1966 BMW R50 S Kaczor, a 1976 BMW R90 S 76 and legendary WR 750 Kompressor from 1929.

This summer’s festival also promises one of the most exciting displays ever for BMW Motorsport GmbH.Representing the most recent expression of the BMW M philosophy, the BMW M4 GTS will be seen for the first time at Goodwood – both up the hill and on display – powered by a six-cylinder in-line engine that develops 500bhp with the help of a new water injection system.

A unique ‘M Avenue’ will celebrate iconic BMW M cars from the last 40 years alongside the hottest new M products, including the new BMW M2 – the latest compact sports coupé in a long line of legendary road and racing BMWs. Meanwhile, visitors will be enticed to the BMW Pavilion to see the Bavarian manufacturer’s newest models, including the special edition BMW i8 Protonic Red Edition.

Graeme Grieve, BMW Group UK’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Throughout our 100-year history, BMW has always proved to be a highly innovative company which has defined change and looked to the future. From our first racing success in 1924 through to our plug-in hybrid model BMW i8, BMW Group has played a pioneering role in the automotive world. I am delighted that we will be celebrating our landmarks and achievements at Goodwood this year.” 

The Earl of March, Chairman of the Goodwood Group of Companies said, “In its 100-year history, BMW has created many landmark cars, and has an exceptional motorsport heritage in Formula 1, Formula 2, at Le Mans, and in a variety of touring car series around the world. BMW has been one of the Festival’s most loyal and enthusiastic partners for 19 years. I am thrilled to be celebrating their centenary, and our long-standing relationship, with a BMW Central Feature. The sculpture will feature three cars which epitomise BMW's competitive instincts and pursuit of technology in creating the ultimate driving machine.”

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is being held from 23-26 June 2016, beginning with Press Preview Day featuring the Moving Motor Show on Thursday 23.