Goodwood preview

By Jack Rix

14th March 2011

It’s the number one event in the UK’s motoring calendar, and Auto Express will be on the front line! While the actual Goodwood Festival of Speed doesn’t take place until June 30 to July 3, the fun begins this Thursday with the official press launch at Goodwood house in the heart of Sussex.

All the cars set to take a starring role in the summer will be putting in an appearance this week too – including the new 186mph Jaguar XKR-S. Jaguar’s famously flamboyant test driver, Mike Cross, will be driving the firm’s fastest model flat-out up the hill climb course.

And we’ll be tackling Lord March’s 1.1-mile driveway ourselves in a selection of exotic machinery – including the McLaren MP4-12C and the new V8-powered Audi R8 Spyder. Will we make it to the top in one piece?

Also blasting its way up the hill, and on display for all to see, will be new BMW 1-Series M Coupe - the spiritual successor to the original M3 – plus the incredible M3 GTS, a harder and faster version of the current M3 with a £117,630 price tag to match. Plus Porsche will be showing off its 612bhp GT2 RS and MINI will be offering the chance to poke around its WRC S2000 car.

Log on later in the week when we’ll have all the pictures, news and views from this exciting preview event.