Goodwood celebrates sports car racing at 2012 Festival of Speed

This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (28 June – 1 July 2012), will mark two key anniversaries, with the peak of sports car racing 40 years ago, and the launch of the exciting Group C era 30 years back.

Forty years ago, the 1972 season was a pivotal year in sports car racing. In America, Can-Am was at its peak, with a fascinating battle for supremacy between McLaren, Porsche, Shadow and Lola, while in Europe a change in regulations prompted an intriguing fight between Ferrari, Matra and Alfa Romeo. Although ostensibly similar in appearance, these cars were very different in design philosophy, highlighting fundamental differences between European and American racing – technical sophistication versus raw power. A special class at the 2012 Festival of Speed will bring these cars together, providing a unique opportunity to witness the most exciting sports racing prototypes of all time in no-holds-barred action.

A decade later, the Group C era began in 1982, and went on to become one of the most competitive in sports car racing history, with an unprecedented number of factory teams. This summer’s Festival of Speed will celebrate 30 years since the launch of Group C, with a dedicated class including cars from Porsche, Jaguar, Mercedes, Toyota, Nissan, Aston Martin, Lancia and Peugeot. As well as a stunning sight in the Festival paddock, these cars are sure to be amongst the fastest up the famous Goodwood Hill, with many in the running for fastest time of the weekend.

Full details of the sports car racers and driver line-up due to appear at Goodwood will be revealed over the coming months.

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