Goodwood Festival of Speed

Held annually in West Sussex, in the South of England, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is best known for its iconic hill climb track, and as a celebration of the world’s most alluring and exotic cars. So, Bentley Motors invited our Stephanie Hart to experience this year’s Goodwood first hand.

STEPHANIE HART: I’m in England at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Sixty-thousand people a day over three days flock here to see modern and historic racing vehicles

Eye candy on four wheels, one after another. Despite the soggy weather, car enthusiasts from around the world soaked in all of the sights– hundreds of cars, everything from dream machines to daily drivers. I am really excited to be here!

There’s so much history here at Goodwood?

WAYNE BRUCE: Essentially, we’re in the back garden of the Duke of Richmond’s house. Many global manufacturers are here, not just Bentley, making their global debuts. You’ve got luxury lifestyle brands here as well entertaining customers. All walks of society are coming here to Goodwood.

STEPHANIE HART: One of the truly unique things about Goodwood is that people can experience the cars at speed, driving up their famous hill climb. There’s nothing else like this in the world.

I’m going to be a passenger in the Batur. It’s a one of two prototype. I’m going to be headed up the hill. It has 740 horsepower. This is gonna be quite an experience

And a huge honor! This is the most powerful Bentley ever made.

PAUL WILLIAMS: And these are very unique cars which are a coach-built body and a unique powertrain on top of a standard Continental GT.

STEPHANIE HART: Built by Bentley’s bespoke division, 18 were produced and each sold for about $1.8 million dollars. Behind the wheel of our Batur, is Andy Marson, Functional Manager- Vehicle Dynamics for Bentley Motors.

ANDY MARSON: So, he wants to see your wristband again.

STEPHANIE HART: Sure.

ANDY MARSON: Here you go.

SECURITY: Okay, thank you.

ANDY MARSON: Thank you.

STEPHANIE HART: In order to make good time up the Goodwood hill, we would have to hit 125 miles per hour. I have never done a hill climb before at racing speeds and I could feel the fear of the unknown creeping in.

ANDY MARSON: If on the run you’re not comfortable with how fast I’m going then just put your hands up so I can see it.

STEPHANIE HART: Oh, okay.

Our Goodwood hill climb in the Batur is part of Bentley’s celebration commemorating 20 years of its mighty W12 engine, which has been the performance backbone of the brand since the launch of the Continental GT in 2003.

Sounds like that tell me we’re getting close to launching. Then this happened:

SECURITY: Sorry, you’ve got to have trousers on.

STEPHANIE HART: Oh I do, miss.

ANDY MARSON: She has, she has.

SECURITY: Oh, that’s right. Okay, have a good day.

STEPHANIE HART: Thank you. Alright, we’re now crossing the starting line now…

ANDY MARSON: Top of the hill..

STEPHANIE HART: That was so much fun! *Laughing*

ANDY MARSON: Was that good?

STEPHANIE HART: That was a blast.

ANDY MARSON: You weren’t too scared?

STEPHANIE HART: No, that was great! That was great!

ANDY MARSON: And we were on the live stream as well so we will watch it back.

STEPHANIE HART: Yes, that was awesome! You are an amazing driver! I’m so glad I did it.

What a fantastic way for the Bentley Batur to officially debut in the UK! Plus, it did it on renewable fuel. What that means is there’s an 85 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to ordinary gasoline.

The 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed was incredible! An unforgettable experience celebrating the speed and glamour of the automobile- past, present and future.