Vintage News
75+ Drivers, Including Plethora of Audi Driving Stars, Confirmed for 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed
By source: Goodwood Festival of Speed
Jun 3, 2009, 20:28

With just five weeks to go until the 2009 Festival of Speed (3-5 July), Goodwood can already confirm that over 75 of the greatest motor racing drivers and riders will be present at the world’s largest celebration of motoring culture, with more big names expected to follow over the coming weeks.

For the first time in its 17 years history, the Festival of Speed will be attended by both the reigning Formula One and WRC World Champions. Formula One ace and Goodwood regular Lewis Hamilton will be on hand to entertain the Festival crowds, as will five-times WRC champion and Festival rookie Sebastian Loeb. The current 2009 season Formula One championship leader Jenson Button is also confirmed for Goodwood, as are fellow F1 drivers Mark Webber and Timo Glock. In all six of the current-season F1 teams are scheduled to attend the Festival, including McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, Toyota and Red Bull, plus the new Brawn GP team.

Joining Sebastian Loeb in action on the Goodwood Forest Rally Stage will be a who’s who of rallying legends, including Walter Rohl, Bjorn Waldegaard, Stig Blomqvist, Hannu Mikkola, and Rauno Aaltonen.

Two-wheel heroes in action up the Goodwood Hill are set to include former World Champions Mick Doohan and Max Biaggi, as well as current World Superbike and World Supersport title contenders Troy Corser, Yukio Kagayama, Leon Haslam, Jonathon Rea, Cal Crutchlow, Troy Bayliss and Broc Parkes.

Famous names from motor racing’s past at the Festival will include Sir Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Eddie Irvine, David Coulthard, Dan Gurney, Derek Bell, Damon Hill, Jacky Ickx, John Surtees, Rusty Wallace, and Takuma Sato.

Popular stars and vehicle enthusiasts from the world of entertainment will also be at Goodwood to enjoy the action, including cult American talk show host Jay Leno, Hollywood acting legend Peter Fonda, rock musician Nick Mason and celebrity chef James Martin.

As a major sponsor of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and celebrating their 100th anniversary, Audi is planning a significant presence of incredibly significant cars piloted by great drivers from throughout its history in addition to Jacky Ickx and Pink Floyd's Nick Mason driving Auto Union silver arrows. A summary of the drivers-of-interest, along with the vehicles they will be running up the challenging 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb, can be seen below.

DRIVERS/CARS OF INTEREST TO AUDI ENTHUSIASTS:

Biela, Frank (Status: Expected) - Will drive an Audi A4 BTCC of the type he drove to the 1996 British Touring Car Championship Blomqvist, Stig (Status: Confirmed) - Expected to drive a Ford RS200, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus and Audi S1 on the hill Capello, Dindo (Status: Expected) - Will drive an Audi R8R on the hill Demuth, Harold (Status: Expected) - Will drive an Audi Trans-Am car on the hill Ickx, Jacky (Status: Confirmed) - Will drive an Auto Union Type C Grand Prix car on the hill Kristensen, Tom (Status: Confirmed) - Expected to be in action in an Audi on the hill Mason, Nick (Status: Confirmed) - Will drive an Auto Union Type D on the hill McNish, Allan (Status: Confirmed) - Will drive Audi R8 and R15 prototypes Mikkola, Hannu (Status: Confirmed) - Will drive an Audi Quattro on the Rally Stage & World Cup Ford Escort Mk1 on the hill Pirro, Emanuele (Status: Confirmed) - Will drive one of his former Audi prototypes Rohrl, Walter (Status: Expected) - Expected to drive an IMSA GTO Audi and Audi Quattro S1 Pikes Peak car Werner, Marco (Status: Expected) - Will drive and Audi R120 prototype

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