-
Nelson Piquet to drive F1 Brabham BT52, 30 years after Championship victory
-
UK premiere of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé
-
MINI dodgem cars jostle for position on a packed MINI stand
-
BMW in the Moving Motor Show
- BMW at the
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013
.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed 11 – 14 July 2013 will provide the perfect setting to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Nelson Piquet wining the 1983 Formula 1 World Championship in a BMW-powered Brabham BT52. Nelson Piquet, will drive up the famous 1.16 mile hill in a car fully restored by BMW Group Classic to mark the occasion. Meanwhile the BMW pavilion will showcase the UK premiere of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé along with a selection of the Bavarian manufacturer’s hottest current M cars.
MINI has its own attractions and will feature a dodgem track with 10 MINI dodgem cars to entice visitors to an already exciting stand featuring a ‘Best of British’ themed area that will feature a current MINI and classic Mini side by side.
The Brabham BT52 breathes again
In a corner of BMW Group Classic’s workshop in Munich, a group of retired engineers used the latest F1 technology to rebuild a Brabham BT52 to help mark the first Formula 1 title for a turbocharged engine. Designed by legendary BMW engineer Paul Rosche, the BT52’s turbocharged 1.5 litre inline four-cylinder BMW powerplant was capable of producing 1,500bhp in Gordon Murray’s stunning car.
Nelson Piquet will reacquaint himself with his championship-winning car with runs up the hill in the ‘The Turbo Era & Beyond’ class at The Festival of Speed. Widely accepted as one of the greatest ever Formula 1 drivers, Piquet will also be in the BMW pavilion for interviews and autographs.
Storming its way up Goodwood’s hill will be another car familiar to three-time F1 World Champion Piquet – the M1 Procar. This 470 hp racer was piloted in the specially created Procar series in 1980 by the Brazilian born racer. More recently it has been a regular sight to fans of DTM – one of the world’s most exciting and competitive touring car championships. BMW Group Classic has run an M1 Procar as a ‘race taxi’ to add even greater appeal to this year’s DTM season.
Joining the Brabham BT52 and M1Procar, will be a car which added another chapter to BMW’s long history of racing success. The BMW V12 LMR, with a 580 hp 12-cylinder engine, celebrated overall victory in the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours– one of the world’s toughest and most exhausting car races. At the wheel will be former F1 driver Marc Surer and, one of the UK’s best ever international racing drivers, Steve Soper.
The UK premiere of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé
Seen for the first time in the UK, the BMW pavilion will host the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé. This is a one-off and exclusive interpretation of a luxurious BMW Coupé as seen through the eyes of Pininfarina. Working in close consultation, the two design teams created a new automotive concept brimming with character – typically BMW while sporting the distinctive signature of Pininfarina.
Alongside this spectacular vehicle, the BMW pavilion will be the eagerly anticipated new M6 Gran Coupé. The new BMW M GmbH flagship costs £94,180 OTR and is powered by a high-revving V8 engine that boasts M TwinPower Turbo technology, develops 560hp and propels the BMW M6 Gran Coupé from 0 to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds.
On stand too will be the updated M5 Saloon, with subtle revisions to the styling and further advances to BMW technology with enhanced ConnectedDrive functionality. Also on display will be the potent M6 Convertible and another true M Performance vehicle, the M135i.
Visitors to the BMW Pavilion will be able to meet the BBC’s former expert anchor for Formula 1 coverage, and new presenter for BT Vision’s Premier League football coverage, Jake Humphreys. Joining Jake on stand for interviews and autographs will be Steve Soper, and one of the UK’s best known television presenters and ex-racing driver, Tiff Needell.
Tiff will also bring a frisson of colour and brightness to the Sussex countryside, as he steers a striking Sakihr Orange coloured M6 Gran Coupé up Goodwood’s hill in the ‘First Glance’ category.
Once again this year, BMW and MINI owners will be able to access the exclusive BMW Owners’ Lounge, on the first floor of the Pavilion, by presenting their keys at the entrance.
MINI dodgem cars and a packed MINI stand
MINI always does things a little differently at The Goodwood Festival of Speed and this year is no exception. For 2013 MINI will feature a dodgem track with 10 MINI dodgem cars for visitors to the stand to enjoy.
MINI fans will also be able to experience the MINI range including the new MINI Paceman. Featuring a sporty exterior design, lowered suspension for a dynamic ride and an exciting reinterpretation of MINI’s familiar interior, the MINI Cooper Paceman starts at £18,975 OTR.
Motorsport fans will be treated to a trio of John Cooper Works models – John Cooper Works Paceman, John Cooper Works Roadster, and John Cooper Works Countryman – and will have the opportunity to meet a legend. Paddy Hopkirk, winner of the 1964 Monte Carlo rally, will be on the MINI stand on Saturday to answer questions and sign autographs. Questions can be submitted ahead of Saturday on MINI UK’s Facebook page or via @MINIUK on Twitter.
Every car on display will feature a totem with details of the model and a QR code, which visitors can scan via their smartphone to see the car in action.
Finally, in a year when MINI Plant Oxford led the celebrations of a centenary of car-making in Oxford, MINI has a ‘Best of British’ themed area that will have a current MINI and classic Mini side by side. Following a competition held on MINI UK’s Facebook page, a classic Mini was selected by a panel of esteemed judges to showcase on the stand which will be displayed over the course of the festival.
BMW in the Moving Motor Show
Once again, The Goodwood Festival of Speed will present the Moving Motor Show. This exclusive event, on Thursday 11 July, enables participating manufacturers to invite selected customers, media and corporate clients to a privileged preview of the Festival and to drive production cars up the hill.
This year the M5 Saloon and M6 Coupé will be in action whilst at the BMW Moving Motor Show stand, the BMW M3 DTM race car will be on display. Currently competing in the 2013 DTM season, the BMW M3 DTM raced to victory last year in the DTM race series after an absence of nearly 20 years.
Also on display will be a BMW 1800 TI/SA. Produced in 1965 specifically for works teams, only 200 such cars were built featuring twin carburettors, a higher compression ratio and a five speed gearbox. The 130bhp TI/SA won many races including a second place finish the 24 Hours of Spa. The car will next make an appearance at the Silverstone Classic, 26-28 July 2013, when it will driven by BMW M3 DTM driver Andy Priaulx.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is being held from 11-14 July 2013.