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From YourSITE.com Events Coverage Most definitely an event on the “Must See” list for serious auto enthusiasts, the Goodwood Festival of Speed continues to up its game. That it could be called the pinnacle automotive event in the UK, combined with the UK being Audi’s second-largest market, Goodwood has always been an important exhibition for the four rings. This year was no exception, with numerous spectacles from Audi, including a run by Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason at the wheel of an Auto Union silver arrow.
Nick Mason and Audi Tradition Audi’s recent relationship with the Pink Floyd drummer began when Audi Tradition approached Mason about a particular car, or rather body, they wanted to display in a Le Mans-themed exhibition at the Museum Mobile in Ingolstadt. About the time Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” was coming out, Mr. Mason planned to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As the project took shape, a Wall-inspired livery was painted on the body of the prototype he had intended to race. At the last minute, so the story goes, the record label pulled the plug, keeping Mason from taking part in the dangerous race. However, Pink Floyd’s drummer still had the body and Audi displayed it… fittingly… on a wall of the Museum Mobile during that exhibition.
As plans began to form for Audi’s presence at Goodwood this year, Audi Tradition approached the rock legend and consummate car guy about driving one of their Auto Union Type C racecars in an exhibition run at the event. As you can imagine, it was an offer even Nick Mason couldn’t refuse. Donned with the white racing coveralls that were standard issue in the 1930’s when the Auto Union Type Cs last took to the track in formal competition, Mason looked the part as he blasted up the hill on the grounds of the Goodwood Estate save for a modern helmet that he wore when the car was on the track. Retired racecar driver Emmerson Fittipaldi didn’t drive the Auto Union Type C at Goodwood, but he certainly didn’t mind climbing in the seat to get a better feel for one of motorsport’s most legendary racecars.
Forest Rally Stage Brits love rally racing, so perhaps it’s no surprise that Goodwood has revised and lengthened their on-site Forest Rally Stage. While Audi no longer campaigns in the sport and couldn’t join the four current racing teams in the exhibition of modern WRC cars, Ingolstadt does have a rich racing heritage in the often off-road racing genre and showed off a number of vintage rally cars.
Audi UK invited several stars of Audi racing lore to drop by Goodwood for a quick run in a familiar ride. Female rally sensation Michele Mouton took to the course in her 1985 Pikes Peak quattro S1 currently owned by private collector John Hanlon. Stig Blomqvist blasted around in a quattro S1 (E2) from 1985. This same car had history at the 1985 Olympus Rally at the hands of Hannu Mikkola.
In the meantime, Goodwood regular Hannu Mikkola was on hand, though driving other cars with which he had a little bit of history. First up was a quattro S1 that he’d piloted in the 1986 British Open Championship. Next, the “Flying Finn” showed off in an A2 Group B quattro in which he’d competed at Corsica in 1983.
Modern Cars and Stars Of course, Goodwood isn’t just about the vintage metal. Modern automobiles are also welcome, and Audi wasn’t about to skip out on the fun. Scottish driver Allan McNish attended the event, taking a turn at the wheel of the #1 Le Mans winning Audi R10 that had been piloted to victory by his teammates in La Sarthe just weeks ago.
In the “Super Car” category, a new R8 sportscar also competed in the event. The black mid-engined coupe may hit the hill under wet conditions, so former Grand Prix driver and 1970 Le Mans winner Richard Attwood probably didn’t mind the surefootedness of the car’s quattro all-wheel drive.
If you’re a car enthusiast of any sort, much less an Audi enthusiast, Goodwood should be on your list of “must see” events. We can’t think of a better reason for a visit to the UK during the month of June that doesn’t involve shacking up in houses belonging to the royal family or the like.
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