There are few events quite like the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Equal parts concours, motorsport reunion, manufacturer showcase and hillclimb, it has become one of the automotive calendar’s most important gatherings. New models debut alongside historic race cars, Formula 1 champions mingle with fans and manufacturers use the famous driveway at Goodwood House as dynamic show of capability rather than simply a display stand.
Audi arrived here this year with headliners that included the dynamic debut of the new Nuvolari supercar, the public driving premiere of the recreated Auto Union Lucca Rekordwagen and the latest RS 5. Beyond the four rings, Audi’s group luxury brand siblings Lamborghini and Bentley each brought their own distinct headliners, making Goodwood one of the best places to see the breadth of the Audi family in a single weekend.
Racing legend Tom Kristensen races Audi Nuvolari up the 1.86-kilometer Hillclimb in the grounds of Goodwood House. The Nuvolari is the fastest and most powerful production vehicle in the brand’s history — and the first to follow Audi’s new design philosophy. (photo: Audi AG)
THE NUVOLARI TAKES THE HILL
The biggest attraction was undoubtedly the Audi Nuvolari.
Following its world premiere in Antibes and UK debut in London just days earlier, the limited-production supercar made its first public runs up the famous 1.86-kilometer (1.16-mile) Goodwood Hillclimb. Behind the wheel was nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, who demonstrated the near-production prototype in front of thousands of spectators lining the course.
The Nuvolari is significant for far more than its performance figures. Producing 1,001 horsepower from its hybrid drivetrain, it becomes the fastest and most powerful production Audi ever built while introducing the company’s new design language and next generation of performance technologies. Active aerodynamics, advanced energy management and an all-new evolution of quattro all-wheel drive all point toward where Audi Sport is heading.
With production limited to 499 examples and deliveries beginning in the first half of 2027, Goodwood offered enthusiasts one of their first opportunities to experience the car as it was intended—at speed.
Audi Tradition showcases the Auto Union Lucca at Goodwood. Pictured: Dindo Capello, former Audi racing driver and three-time Le Mans winner. (photo: Audi AG)
A SILVER ARROW RETURNS TO LIFE
For those who appreciate Audi’s history as much as its future, another debut may have been even more significant.
After its unveiling in Lucca earlier this year, the recreated Auto Union Rekordwagen made its first public appearance in motion at Goodwood. The project represents one of Audi Tradition’s most ambitious recreations to date, painstakingly built from surviving photographs and period technical documentation.
The original Rennlimousine occupies a unique place in Auto Union history. Built for high-speed record attempts rather than Grand Prix competition, it established a flying-start mile record in 1935 with a calculated average speed of 320.267 km/h (198.9 mph). Unlike the famous Grand Prix cars, few enthusiasts have ever seen the Lucca outside of historic photographs, making its appearance on the Hill one of the weekend’s genuine highlights.
The Lucca shared the spotlight with other icons from Audi Tradition, including Auto Union Type C and Type D Grand Prix cars along with legendary rally and Le Mans machinery that continues to define the company’s competition heritage.
Massimo Frascella (left) and Tom Kristensen (right) pose for a selfie by Audi Nuvolari before taking to the Goodwood hill (photo: Tom Kristensen)
THE NEXT CHAPTER OF RS
Audi Sport also used Goodwood to showcase where its road cars are heading.
The new RS 5 appeared at Goodwood Circuit alongside two models that helped establish Audi’s high-performance wagon legacy: the RS2 Avant and the RS 4 Avant. Demonstration drives highlighted the new plug-in hybrid RS flagship while visually connecting more than three decades of RS development.
It’s a fitting display for a company whose performance identity continues to evolve without forgetting the cars that created it.
Audi has partnered with the Festival of Speed since 2025, and Goodwood increasingly feels like a natural home for the brand’s blend of innovation and heritage.
LAMBORGHINI SHOWS ITS HYBRID FUTURE
Lamborghini also arrived with one clear message: electrification has become central to the brand’s performance philosophy.
Leading the display was the first public appearance of the new Urus SE Performante. Producing 812 horsepower and 1,000 Nm (738 lb-ft) of torque from its plug-in hybrid twin-turbocharged V8, it becomes the most powerful Urus yet while reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.3 seconds.
The Hillclimb also featured the Revuelto, Temerario, Urus SE and Urus SE Performante, giving spectators a chance to see Lamborghini’s fully hybrid production lineup in action. Rather than presenting electrification as a necessity, Lamborghini positioned it as another way to expand performance while remaining unmistakably Lamborghini.
BENTLEY CELEBRATES THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CARS
Bentley’s display took a different approach.
Instead of centering mainly on new models, the Crewe manufacturer also centered on the craftsmen, engineers, heritage technicians and designers responsible for building every Bentley. Visitors could watch steering wheels being hand-trimmed, speak with Mulliner designers about bespoke commissions and observe technicians preparing heritage cars for Hillclimb demonstrations.
It was a reminder that while Goodwood celebrates extraordinary automobiles, it also celebrates the people who create them.
F1 World Champion Lando Norris during a balcony moment at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Saturday 11, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. (photo: Jas Lehal/PA Media Assignments)
MORE THAN A HILLCLIMB
This year’s Festival embraced the theme The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels, bringing together an extraordinary mix of racing legends and manufacturers.
Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris, Valentino Rossi, Gerhard Berger, Damon Hill, John McGuinness and many others appeared throughout the weekend. Singer’s Porsche-inspired Central Feature dominated the lawn in front of Goodwood House, while world premieres from manufacturers across the industry reinforced Goodwood’s growing role as one of the world’s premier launch venues.
The event also continued expanding beyond automobiles through Future Lab, showcasing advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, sustainable mobility and space technology.
F1 World Champion Lando Norris signs autographs at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Saturday 11, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. (photo: Matt Alexanderl/PA Media Assignments)
LOOKING AHEAD
For Audi, the Nuvolari’s arrival at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed demonstrated where the brand is headed. The Auto Union Lucca reminded visitors where that journey began. The RS 5 connected today’s performance lineup to three decades of RS history, while Lamborghini and Bentley showcased how two very different luxury brand siblings continue to evolve under Audi’s stewardship.
If you want to see all this for yourself, then go ahead and save the date. The 2027 Goodwood Festival of Speed is confirmed for Thursday, July 15 through Sunday, July 18, 2027, with tickets already on sale for Members and Fellows of the Goodwood Road Racing Club before opening to the general public later this year.
Special thanks to Tom Kristensen and Constantine Boyadjiev for sharing their own exclusive photos with this website in order to better illustrate this amazing event.
PHOTO GALLERY
Racing legend Tom Kristensen races Audi Nuvolari up the 1.86-kilometer Hillclimb in the grounds of Goodwood House. The Nuvolari is the fastest and most powerful production vehicle in the brand’s history — and the first to follow Audi’s new design philosophy.Racing legend Tom Kristensen races Audi Nuvolari up the 1.86-kilometer Hillclimb in the grounds of Goodwood House. The Nuvolari is the fastest and most powerful production vehicle in the brand’s history — and the first to follow Audi’s new design philosophy.Racing legend Tom Kristensen races Audi Nuvolari up the 1.86-kilometer Hillclimb in the grounds of Goodwood House. The Nuvolari is the fastest and most powerful production vehicle in the brand’s history — and the first to follow Audi’s new design philosophy.Racing legend Tom Kristensen races Audi Nuvolari up the 1.86-kilometer Hillclimb in the grounds of Goodwood House. The Nuvolari is the fastest and most powerful production vehicle in the brand’s history — and the first to follow Audi’s new design philosophy.Racing legend Tom Kristensen races Audi Nuvolari up the 1.86-kilometer Hillclimb in the grounds of Goodwood House. The Nuvolari is the fastest and most powerful production vehicle in the brand’s history — and the first to follow Audi’s new design philosophy.Audi Tradition showcases the Auto Union Lucca at Goodwood.Audi Tradition showcases the Auto Union Lucca at Goodwood. Pictured: Dindo Capello, former Audi racing driver and three-time Le Mans winner.Audi Tradition showcases the Auto Union Lucca at Goodwood.A visitor at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Sunday 12, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Jas Lehal/PA Media AssignmentsXXX at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Saturday 11, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Jas Lehal/PA Media AssignmentsLightning McQueen on the Goodwood Hill Climb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Saturday 11, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Jas Lehal/PA Media AssignmentsF1 World Champion Lando Norris during a balcony moment at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Saturday 11, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Jas Lehal/PA Media AssignmentsF1 World Champion Lando Norris signs autographs at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Saturday 11, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Matt Alexanderl/PA Media AssignmentsF1 World Champion Lando Norris waves to crowds at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Saturday 11, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Matt Alexanderl/PA Media AssignmentsLaura Bassilious views cars on display for Cartier Style et Luxe at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Friday 10, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Jas Matt Alexander/PA Media AssignmentsA general view at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Friday 10, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Matt Alexander/PA Media AssignmentsAndrea Kimi Antonelli (left) and The Duke of Richmond at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Thursday 9, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Matt Alexander/PA Media AssignmentsValentino Rossi (second from right) and F1 World Champion Lando Norris (right) during a balcony moment at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Friday 10, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Jas Lehal/PA Media AssignmentsAndrea Kimi Antonelli in conversation at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Thursday 9, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Jas Lehal/PA Media AssignmentsValentino Rossi (left) at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Saturday 11, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Matt Alexanderl/PA Media AssignmentsFireworks doing the Singer central feature moment at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Thursday 9, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Matt Alexander/PA Media AssignmentsA general view at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, which takes place in the parkland surrounding Goodwood House in West Sussex. Picture date: Saturday 11, 2026. This year’s theme, ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’, showcases some of the most iconic head-to-head battles in motorsport history. The event runs from July 9-12. Photo credit should read Matt Alexanderl/PA Media Assignments
