The Goodwood Festival of Speed has long been a pilgrimage for automotive enthusiasts, but beginning next year, the Goodwood experience will no longer be limited to West Sussex. Announced during the opening day of the 2026 Festival of Speed, Goodwood has revealed plans to launch the Goodwood Road Racing Club of America (GRRC America), bringing its renowned automotive community to the United States for the first time.
The California-based club is scheduled to open in early 2027 and represents the first phase of a broader American expansion. Rather than centering on a permanent venue, the organization will offer members a year-round calendar of driving-focused experiences throughout California and Nevada, including track days, road tours, private automotive events and social gatherings. The inaugural signature event is already planned for Willow Springs International Raceway in 2028, one of America’s most historic road courses.
Unlike marque-specific organizations, the Goodwood Road Racing Club of America will welcome enthusiasts regardless of what they drive. The concept mirrors the philosophy of the UK’s Goodwood Road Racing Club, which has spent nearly three decades building a community around motorsport, driving and automotive culture rather than individual manufacturers. Membership will also include reciprocal access to Goodwood’s events in England, strengthening the connection between enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic.
The announcement comes during a Festival of Speed with a distinctly American theme, coinciding with celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of the United States. Goodwood highlighted its long-standing relationship with American motorsport, from the many U.S. drivers who competed at the circuit during its original racing era to the growing number of American participants and visitors who now attend the Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival each year.
Supporting the new venture are three founding patrons whose careers span multiple generations of motorsport: Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and Richard Petty. Their involvement reflects Goodwood’s intention to create a club that embraces every corner of automotive enthusiasm, from Formula 1 and endurance racing to NASCAR and American road racing.
For American enthusiasts, the selection of California as the launch point is fitting. The state has long been one of the world’s epicenters of collector cars, motorsport and automotive lifestyle, while Willow Springs provides an equally historic backdrop for Goodwood’s first signature event on U.S. soil. Additional details, including membership benefits and the full calendar of activities, are expected to be announced ahead of the club’s 2027 launch.
Customers can join the waitlist now to become Founding Members at grrcamerica.com