Valentino Rossi Makes Debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

For the very first time, seven-time MotoGP World Champion, Valentino Rossi, participated in the Goodwood Festival of Speed on its final day. The Italian legend put on some spectacular ‘Flat-out and Fearless’ displays in front of a sell-out crowd on both two and four wheels.

For his Goodwood debut on two wheels, ‘The Doctor’ rode his Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike carrying a special livery to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Yamaha Motor Co, and then rode the machine into Goodwood House before appearing on the balcony with Lord March and Suzi Perry.

On four wheels, Rossi drove the legendary 1991 Le Mans-winning Mazda 787B; the same car saw soaring out of the sky above Goodwood House in this year’s Central Feature, as well as an ex-Henri Toivonen Lancia Delta S4 Group B rally car.

The renowned ‘Festival of Speed Sunday Shootout’ was declared open by Rossi as he paraded up the Hillclimb in an ex-Jacky Ickx/Jochen Mass Porsche 962C. Following his run, the clocks were set and 35 cars ascended the iconic 1.16-mile course in a bid for 2015’s fastest time. The thrilling competition was broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.

British Time Attack Champion, Olly Clark, claimed victory in his Subaru Impreza ‘Gobstopper II’ with a time of 44.91 seconds. The son of twice-RAC Rally winner, Roger Clark, defeated the Mitjet Mini Pikes Peak of ice racing king Jean-Philippe Dayraut and the Toyota Celica ‘Pikes Peak’ of New Zealander, Rod Millen.

The Festival of Speed attracts stars of motor sport from around the world and today was no exception. Current Mercedes F1 title contender, Nico Rosberg, celebrated his 30th birthday weekend with a blast up the Hill in his 2013 race-winning grand prix car; the Mercedes F1 W04.

Kris Meeke, who became a World Rally winner for the first time in 2015, took overall victory on the Forest Rally Stage in his Citroen DS3 WRC while fellow WRC competitors, Elfyn Evans, and twice British Rally Champion, David Llewellyn, were among the other famous faces.

In the annual Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ concours d’elegance a judging panel that included Ferrari design chief Flavio Manzoni, TV presenter, Jodie Kidd, and Queen drummer, Roger Taylor, chose the exquisite Peter Mullin-owned Talbot-Lago T150 C SS as overall winner.

And in the GAS (Goodwood Action Sports) Arena powered by TomTom Bandit, victories in the competitive Freestyle Motocross and BMX categories went to Luc Ackermann and Ben Wallace respectively.