This July, the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard will roar to life with its most ambitious celebration yet — the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship. At the heart of the festivities, one of Britain’s greatest motorsport heroes, Nigel Mansell, will make a triumphant return to Goodwood, piloting two of the most iconic machines of his career: the Williams FW11 and the legendary FW14B.
Running from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 July 2025, this year’s Festival will welcome Mansell for his fourth appearance at the famed Sussex event. For fans of Formula 1 — and particularly of Mansell’s brand of tenacious, no-holds-barred racing — his participation is more than a nostalgic nod; it is a homecoming of a legend whose daring defined a golden era of motorsport.
Mansell will take to the hill in the very car that delivered him to his long-awaited 1992 World Championship, the technologically groundbreaking Williams FW14B. He’ll also reunite with the FW11, the machine that might have made him champion in 1986, had fate not intervened with a cruel tyre failure just laps from the season finale’s chequered flag. The latter will be supported by the Honda Collection Hall, paying tribute to its powerful V6 turbo era.
Few drivers have commanded the global stage with such a visceral mix of passion, drama, and resilience. From his early days as the last protégé of Lotus founder Colin Chapman, through his dominant 1992 campaign with Williams, and on to conquering the American IndyCar series the following year — Mansell’s career has been a masterclass in perseverance. His story is one of fierce rivalries, fanatical fan support, and wheel-to-wheel brilliance. It’s little wonder that he remains one of the most revered figures in the history of the sport.
His fearless overtakes — many etched into the pantheon of Formula 1 folklore — remain vivid memories for fans: the dummy pass on Nelson Piquet at Silverstone in ’87; the cunning move past Senna at Hungary in ’89; the brave sweep around the outside of Berger in Mexico ’90; and the breathtaking duel with Senna down Barcelona’s straight in ’91. These moments, each dripping with theatre and bravado, exemplified the spirit of ‘Il Leone’ — the nickname bestowed upon him by the Tifosi during his time at Ferrari.
The Duke of Richmond, founder of the Festival of Speed, summed it up best: “Nigel was more than just a legend of the sport, he was a hero… he inspired a level of devotion amongst British fans the like of which we have never seen before or since.” That fervour — dubbed ‘Mansell Mania’ — is expected to return in force this July.
Mansell will be joined in the prestigious “Champions” class by fellow icons Alain Prost and Mario Andretti, with more revered names set to be announced. His appearance builds on a legacy of unforgettable moments at Goodwood, from driving the Lotus 91 — Chapman’s final Grand Prix-winning design — to his emotional 2022 reunion with the FW14B, three decades after clinching the title.
“I’m looking forward to returning to the Festival of Speed this summer and celebrating 75 years of the Formula 1 World Championship,” said Mansell. “It’s been amazing to drive the Goodwood hillclimb in a number of my cars over the years, and I can’t wait to do it all again!”
Alongside Mansell’s drive and the gathering of F1 greats, this year’s Festival will also feature a tribute to four-time WorldSBK Champion Carl Fogarty and Gordon Murray Automotive’s jaw-dropping Central Feature sculpture — promising yet another unforgettable chapter in Goodwood’s motoring history.
With Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets already sold out, fans hoping to witness the return of a lion in full flight will need to act fast. Limited Thursday tickets remain at goodwood.com.
The roar of history awaits.
