Motor racing returned to Goodwood after 27-year hiatus in 1993. That year, Lord March tentatively hosted the first Festival of Speed. Even that first edition attracted a surprisingly large crowd of 25,000 enthusiasts and the event soon grew out to be the single largest of its kind now welcoming over 185,000 visitors. This year, the Festival of Speed will celebrate its 20th anniversary with 'the best of the first 20 years'. Other celebrations will include the 50th anniversary of McLaren, Lamborghini and the Porsche 911. In 1998, the racing program was expanded with the Revival meeting on the old circuit. This period pageant proved an equally great success. This September the career of the late Jim Clark will be marked, while the 50th anniversaries of the Ford GT40 and Ferrari 250 LM will also take centre stage.
To announce the plans for the 2013 season, Lord March invited the media to the Goodwood House this week for the official Press Day. The 141-strong entry-list was more than strong enough to carry a full event but at Goodwood it provides only a taster of what is to come. We were on hand and have captured all the action in this 150-shot gallery.