Volkswagen ID.R sets new outright Goodwood hill record

The incredible ID.R – which had already set an electric lap record around the fearsome Nürburgring Nordschleife last month, after famously having smashed the Pikes Peak record outright in 2018 – returned to the Festival ready to have a go at the all-time record. And it duly did, with Romain Dumas slicing half a second off the previous record, famously held by Nick Heidfeld in a McLaren MP4/13 for over 20 years with a 41.1 second run on the Friday.

But rather than settle on their laurals, Romain and his team set out to do it again, this time causing an audible draw of breath in the crowd as the ID.R crossed the line in just 39.9 seconds – a full 1.7 seconds faster the Heidfeld's iconic 1999 run.

Romain and the Volkswagen team therefore left Goodwood holding the all-time outright fastest time ever seen on the Goodwood hill, and would also walk away with the title of Timed Shootout champions for a second year running. Unfortunatly conditions were less favourable on the final day of the Festival, meaning Romain had to settle for 39.9 being his fastest time of the weekend, and meaning that Nick Heidfeld's 41.6 would remain the fastest time ever set in the shootout.

Volkswagen dominated the timed runs at the Festival this year, setting fastest times each session, including an incredible run on Sunday morning for Petter Solberg in Polo WRX, when the wet conditions allowed Solberg to just edge out Dumas.