Can you believe it, it’s that time of year again – sunshine has graced the United Kingdom and the non-stop summer of sport is underway, and from 9 to 12 July, the famous 1.16-mile hillclimb outside Goodwood House becomes the centre of the motoring world for four exhilarating days. The 2026 edition, themed around 'The Rivals: Epic Racing Duels', has the kind of lineup that makes you wish the weekend lasted a little longer.
The theme couldn't be better chosen. The 2026 event coincides with the 60th anniversary of the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, when Ford's GT MkIIs took an extraordinary 1-2-3 finish against Ferrari, and those three very cars will reunite on the Hill for a rare demonstration. Alongside that, 50 years since James Hunt and Niki Lauda's legendary 1976 Formula 1 title battle gets its own moment in the sun, giving the weekend a historical backbone that other events would struggle to match.
On the F1 front, reigning World Champion Lando Norris will make a spectacular drive up the hill on Saturday in the MCL60, allowing fans to celebrate Britain's newest Formula 1 World Champion in proper style. McLaren is also bringing the MP4/8, the car Ayrton Senna drove to victory at the 1993 Australian Grand Prix, alongside the MP4/8B, which hasn't been seen in public since Senna and Häkkinen tested it at Estoril in 1993. That alone is worth the trip. Meanwhile, Damon Hill will be behind the wheel of the restored FW18, the car he drove to his 1996 World Championship title with Williams, climbing the hill thirty years on from that famous season.
Away from the nostalgia, the new car launches are shaping up to be just as exciting. The new Bentley Continental Supersports makes its UK debut, a rear-wheel-drive, hybrid-free hooligan in a Savile Row suit, while Renault brings the 547bhp 5 Turbo 3E, an all-electric homage to the original Group B homologation special. For something properly left-field, BMW is previewing the future of the M brand with the Vision M Concept, which directly previews a next-generation M3 with a quad-motor electric powertrain. And if that's not enough, Singer has been named as partner brand for Goodwood's iconic Central Feature sculpture, designed as always by Gerry Judah, with the finished design staying under wraps until the gates open on Thursday.
We’ll be bringing you behind the scenes from this unmissable event, so be sure to follow our Instagram channel to stay up to date.
Photos: Goodwood Festival of Speed, Rob Cooper and Błażej Żuławski for Classic Driver
