8 Reasons Why The Goodwood FOS Is The Best Car Show You'll Ever Visit

We’re absolutely buzzing after a fantastic weekend at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed. It’s an event which we hugely enjoy every year, and it’s a firm favourite for petrolheads across the globe. But why is that? Here are the reasons why we think it’s the best car show in world.

The Hillclimb

Go to a motor race at a proper circuit, and you’re usually hidden from the action, often with a fence and a large expanse of run-off area between you and the speeding cars. Not so at Goodwood, where the cars tear up the hillclimb - a narrow ribbon of tarmac that’s essentially Goodwood House’s driveway - right in front of your eyes, with just a hay bale between the spectators and the drama.

It’s not just the close proximity to the action, it’s also the variety of the cars. There really is something for everyone: pre-war Grand Prix cars, modern race cars and supercars, classics from throughout the history of motoring and even motorbikes.

The Moving Motor Show

The British International Motor Show hasn’t been around since 2008, so Goodwood shrewdly made its own motor show, starting in 2010. Dubbed the ‘Moving Motor Show’ and taking place on the Thursday before the festival every year, it gives ordinary punters the chance to drive pretty much any car they like up the Goodwood Hillclimb.

The incredible manufacturer stands

Goodwood has filled the void left by the British Motor Show in more ways than its own Moving Motor Show. Car makers have really thrown their weight behind the whole festival, and much of the estate is dominated by hugely impressive - often multi-story - show stands. On first glance, it’s hard to believe that these hulking buildings are temporary structures.

Niche manufacturers

It’s easy to find the gigantic manufacturer buildings a bit too much, but there is an antidote to those in the form of the smaller stands populated by niche manufacturers. They tend to be much less crowded than the major carmaker stands, and give you the chance to speak to key people behind some very exciting companies. This year, for example, we had a great time finding out more about what’s to come from track day car manufacturers Zenos and Elemental.

Supercars, supercars everywhere...

If you’re into supercars, Goodwood is for you. Countless supercars are on display throughout the estate, but most importantly, you’ll see a jaw-dropping array of exotic metal blast up the hill as part of the Supercar Run.

The final shoot-out

If you visit the event on Sunday, you’ll get to see the the final shoot-out, in which a selection of drivers charge up the hill as quickly as possible. This year Sébastien Loeb clocked the fastest time with a 44.6sec run up the hill in the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak car.

The fastest time ever recorded was 41.6 seconds, set in 2001 by Nick Heidfeld aboard a McLaren MP4/13. F1 cars are no longer allowed timed runs for safety reasons, so it’s a record that’s proving difficult to beat.

The drivers

Goodwood is a big draw for famous names, and the fact that it’s deliberately organised so it doesn’t clash with major motorsport events like Formula 1 Grand Prix means there’s no shortage of world-class drivers around to come and take on the hill climb. But it’s not just about seeing the stars drive as quickly as possible up the hillclimb. Whether it’s autograph signings, catching drivers in the paddock or bumping into one just wandering across the estate, you have a better chance of meeting one of your heroes at Goodwood than at pretty much any other event.

The paddock

Are your heroes made of metal rather than flesh and bones? Goodwood has you covered. The paddock is entirely open for all guests, so you can wander round and take in the sight of an incredibly varied line-up of cars before they make their run up the hill.

Did you go to the Goodwood FOS this year? If so, what were your highlights?