BMW heads up 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed

BMW has announced it will take the main stage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year.

Reflecting this year’s Festival of Speed theme, ‘Full Throttle – The Endless Pursuit of Power’, the central feature will focus on BMW’s motorsport successes.

As BMW celebrates its centenary year in 2016, the event will showcase BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce models, as well as BMW Motorrad motorcycles, which BMW says will demonstrate “its illustrious sporting past, alongside the stylish cars and bikes of its current range”.

The sculpture created by Gerry Judah will show the legendary BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster, the Gordon Murray-designed Brabham-BMW BT52, and the Le Mans-winning BMW V12 LMR.

This now-famous display in front of Goodwood House was first commissioned to Gerry Judah in 1997 when Ferrari took the role of central feature marque. Last year, Mazda and its legendary rotary-engined 787B Le Mans racer and LM55 Gran Turismo Vision concept enjoyed the limelight.

Cars on Goodwood’s famous 1.16-mile course will include a 1957 BMW 507, the Mille Miglia-winning BMW 328 Touring Coupé from 1940, and a 1965 BMW 1800 TiSA – an early example of BMW’s success in touring car racing.

The super-hot M4 GTS will make its Goodwood debut, both on the hill and on display, while a so-called ‘M Avenue’ will have BMW M cars from the last 40 years alongside the newest additions to the line-up including the M2.

The BMW Pavilion will show a broader selection of the Bavarian manufacturer’s newest models, including the special edition BMW i8 Protonic Red Edition.

Meanwhile, motorbike enthusiasts can see a selection of classic and modern bikes on display, including a 1966 BMW R50 S Kaczor, a 1976 BMW R90 S 76 and legendary WR 750 Kompressor from 1929.

Goodwood’s owner The Earl of March, said: “BMW has been one of the Festival’s most loyal and enthusiastic partners for 19 years. I am thrilled to be celebrating their centenary, and our long-standing relationship, with a BMW Central Feature. The sculpture will feature three cars which epitomise BMW's competitive instincts and pursuit of technology in creating the ultimate driving machine.”

BMW is making the most of its 100th anniversary, having already unveiled the Vision Next 100, an advanced new self-driving concept car, while BMW boss Harald Kruger says a series of four similarly-themed concept cars are also under construction at BMW brands Mini and Rolls-Royce. A Vision concept motorcycle, with the theme of 'The Great Escape', will be unveiled at the LA motor show in October.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is being held from 23-26 June 2016.