Mercedes-Benz is celebrating 130 years of motorsport at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which runs from July 11 to 14, 2024. This event, renowned as the “largest motorised garden party in the world,” will feature a spectacular array of the brand’s iconic racing cars from various eras, showcasing their significant contributions to motorsport history.
The festival will highlight vehicles ranging from the original 1924 Mercedes Targa Florio racing car, meticulously restored to its former glory, to the current Formula One models. This impressive lineup reflects Mercedes-Benz’s enduring legacy and its role in shaping the world of motor racing since the Paris to Rouen race on July 22, 1894, which marked the dawn of motorsport.
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Mercedes-Benz Classic will present a collection of historic cars, each representing a milestone in the brand’s racing heritage. This includes the Daimler two-cylinder V-engine from 1894, which powered the first-ever motor race, and the 1924 Mercedes 2-litre Targa Florio, a winner of the legendary Sicilian road race. The lineup also features the 1934 Mercedes-Benz 750-kilogram formula racing car W 25, known as the first Silver Arrow, and the 1955 W 196 R Formula One car, which brought Grand Prix glory with Juan Manuel Fangio.
Further notable entries include the unique 1955 Mercedes-Benz express racing car transporter, famously dubbed the “Blue Wonder” for its remarkable speed, the 1990 Mercedes-Benz C 11 Group C racing sports car, and the 1998 Mercedes-Benz GT racing car CLK LM, a dominant force in the FIA GT Championship. More recent models like the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, which triumphed at the Dubai 24-hour race, will also be showcased.
These classic vehicles will be displayed in the Ballroom Paddock and will participate in the hill climb, thrilling spectators with their enduring performance and historical significance.
In addition to these historic cars, Mercedes-Benz Classic will be represented by brand ambassadors such as Klaus Ludwig, a three-time DTM champion; Bernd Mayländer, the official Formula One safety car driver since 2000; and Karl Wendlinger, a former member of the Mercedes-Benz junior team alongside Michael Schumacher.
Mercedes-AMG will have a prominent presence as well, featuring two Formula One cars from the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One team. The AMG Ballroom Paddock will display a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with a special livery celebrating 130 years of motorsport, along with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 RAW SPEC and the track-focused Mercedes-AMG GT2 PRO. Additional models like the Mercedes-AMG SL 55 4MATIC+ and the Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology will be displayed in the First Glance Paddock, while the latest Mercedes-Benz EQS will be featured in the Electric Car Park.
This year’s festival, themed “Horseless to Hybrid: Revolutions in Power,” will take place at Goodwood House in Sussex, England. Organised by Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, since 1993, the event celebrates the evolution of the automobile from its invention by Carl Benz in 1886 to the present day. The festival is expected to attract around 250,000 visitors, who will enjoy a variety of sports cars on the 1.86-kilometre hill climb circuit, as well as displays in the Forest Rally Stage and the Off-Road Arena.
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