It’s just a matter of weeks before the one-off Goodwood SpeedWeek presented by Mastercard starts (of if you are reading this closer to the event, maybe even days). We’re very happy with the way that things are shaping up for this amazing event, and the VIP drivers are confirming their attendance. So we wanted to let you know exactly which star racers will be heading down to the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
This is not an exhaustive list – there will be literally hundreds of drivers racing over the weekend – and right now it isn’t a complete list, but these are the people we really think you should know about. The list and article will be updated regularly between now and SpeedWeek, and if you want to keep up with all our driver announcements follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/grr.
Our first wave of confirmed drivers are the stars of the Le Mans 24 Hours over the last two decades. We begin with a three-time winner, one time Formula 1 racer, Formula E podium sitter, and winner of the RAC TT Celebration at the 2019 Goodwood Revival. Yes, Andre Lotterer is becoming a dab hand at this classic racing lark, so he’s coming back for more at SpeedWeek. His former Porsche team-mate, double Le Mans winner, and Goodwood hill record holder Romain Dumas will also be racing, and attempting to set a new outright circuit record in the Volkwagen ID.R.
Also joining from the world of sportscars is Mr Le Mans himself, a multiple Goodwood race-winner as well, Tom Kristensen, who will race in a variety of cars over the weekend as well as taking part in the SpeedWeek Shootout presented by Mastercard, 2016 Le Mans winner Neel Jani and triple Le Mans champ Marco Werner. He’ll be joined on track by Le Mans podium finisher and TV icon Tiff Needell, and Le Mans winners Guy Smith and David Brabham. Other legends of both Goodwood and motorsport in general joining the weekend will be Sir Jackie Stewart – driving in our F1 demonstration – and Adrian Newey, bringing his awesome Williams FW15C.
The four Members’ Meeting team captains, Nic Minassian, Emanuele Pirro, Jochen Mass and the irrepressible Anthony Reid will all be in attendance too, as will Top Gear presenter Chris Harris, Sky F1 pundit and ex-F1 driver and Le Mans winner Martin Brundle (who is driving at the same meeting as son Alex), fellow Sky regular Karun Chandhok and BTCC champ turned commentator Tim Harvey.
From the rest of the Motorsport world we can confirm that Dario Franchitti, the four-time IndyCar champion and triple Indy 500 winner who made his return to racing at Revival last year, six years after an horrific crash in Houston that ended his modern motorsport career. Dario will be joined by 2013 BTCC champion, and Goodwood official track tester, Andrew Jordan. Others from the world of the BTCC are multiple champions and former Honda team-mates Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden, who are set to go head-to-head on track alongside fellow current championship contender Tom Ingram. Also joining us from the BTCC grid will be Jack Goff – again piloting a Rolls-Royce in our First Glance category – Adam Morgan who will race a Ford Capri in the Gerry Marshall Trophy, and recent first-time winner Tom Oliphant.
Also on the growing list of racers is former touring car racer Sam Tordoff, ex-bike racer and Goodwood regular Stuart Graham, WRC legend Stig Blomqvist, racing alongside son Tom, and drift hero, and owner of the wildest Nissan GTR we’ve ever seen, Steve “Baggsy” Biagioni.
The world of motoring journalism will also provide some stars for the weekend. Richard Meaden – perhaps most famous for his incredible St. Mary’s Trophy battle with Mike Jordan – will return to race in several races, while his former Evo colleague, ex-GRR writer and now Top Gear presenter Chris Harris will race against him in the Gerry Marshall Trophy.
SpeedWeek
Andre Lotterer
Tom Kristensen
Andrew Jordan
Emanuele Pirro
Tiff Needell
Dario Franchitti
Romain Dumas
Matt Neal
Gordon Shedden
Jochen Mass
Anthony Reid
Nic Minassian
Karun Chandhok
Martin Brundle
Chris Harris
Sam Tordoff