Goodwood show gathering pace

By Jon Morgan

19th April 2010

Britain’s new premier motor show is moving ahead at a pace! A total of 16 manufacturers – including BMW, Audi and Nissan – have already signed up to the Moving Motor Show at July’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, with many more set to follow.

UK debuts include the McLaren MP4-12C supercar, plus Audi’s R8 Spyder and A1 supermini, the Nissan Juke, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Ferrari 458 Italia and BMW 5-Series Touring. And they threaten to overshadow star appearances from Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton in their McLaren F1 racer!

Some heavyweights – such as Ford, Renault and Toyota – have yet to confirm they will be attending. But the promise of a crowd of nearly 200,000 people over the Festival of Speed weekend, from 1 July, is attracting many makers which were never loyal to the official British Motor Show.

And visitors can even have a go in the cars, with most makers offering drives or rides at the Moving Motor Show, which is on the Thursday before the Festival. Over the day, 2,500 drives will take place on the hillclimb course in front of Lord March’s West Sussex mansion, while a new loop will allow an additional eight-mile test drive.

Tickets for the Moving Motor Show cost £20, and will either be offered via the manufacturers – which plan to offer them through competitions or through dealers – or by calling the Goodwood ticket office on 01243 755 055. All the cars will be on display during the rest of the weekend. Tickets cost £35 for Friday, £50 for Saturday or Sunday and £107 for all three days.