6:30pm Saturday 3rd July 2010
By Ruth Lumley
Motorsport fans came in their droves to the first day of the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Visitors enjoyed the glorious sunshine yeseterday as they stood trackside to get a glimpse of the motor racing action in the grounds of the estate near Chichester.
The event, which has been running for almost two decades, is expected to attract more than 150,000 petrolheads over the three days.
The theme for this year's event is Viva Veloce! - The Passion for Speed, which celebrates Italy's fascination with motor racing and its global influence on the sport.
For those that cannot make it, live video and radio is being streamed through the Festival of Speed website and Sky Sports are also broadcasting the event.
Goodwood is celebrating 60 years of the Formula One World Championship this year by gathering cars and drivers who have shaped the history of motorsport.
The new cars and guitars section will see rock guitar legends appear with their own distinctive and cherished cars and guitars. They will play a live guitar solo to Festival Of Speed enthusiasts.
Names confirmed include Jeff Beck, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
The Hillclimb, the Festival of Speed's principal attraction, is back for another year and will take place throughout the weekend.
The challenging 1.16-mile course starts as a tree-lined run through the southern corner of the Goodwood Estate which then turns past the front of Goodwood House before climbing a steep and narrow estate road bordered by flint walls and dense woodland groves.
The course rises more than 300ft from the start line to the finish and is technical and challenging, putting the skills of the world's very best drivers and riders to the ultimate test of concentration and speed.
There will also be plenty to entertain children at the Junior Festival of Speed including The Wacky Races, performances from BMX and skateboard champions Team Extreme and art workshops.
A spokesman for Goodwood said: “The 2010 Festival will honour the cars, motorcycles, drivers and riders that raced with unbridled Latin zeal, and the legendary feats they achieved, with a particular emphasis on the centenary of one of Italy’s most celebrated marques – Alfa Romeo.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theargus.co.uk/trade_directory/