The World’s Most Luxurious Parking Lot (Inside the Goodwood Festival of Speed)
The sun is rapidly warming guests at Goodwood, turning everyone’s attentions to drink. The rain has held off. It’s a perfect English summer day.
At McLaren House, a private outdoor courtyard and bar tucked behind the Estate, it’s time for afternoon tea: triangle-shaped cucumber sandwiches served with scones and jam and clotted cream on a silver pyramid of gluttony.
McLaren has a tragic record at Goodwood. Nearly 45 years ago to the day, company founder Bruce McLaren died at the race track in a fatal crash.
On the lawn in front of the tent: the new McLaren 570S, running for the first time in public; a 650S Spyder customized by McLaren Special Operations; and a P1 — behind a glass fence — with one-off Ayrton Senna livery.
It’s quieter in the McLaren tent, away from the 80,000 or so spectators who turn up to the Festival. Access offers peace, away from the masses all jockeying for a selfie with their favourite supercar.
Eventually, it’s my turn to take a run up the hill. I’m escorted into a previously restricted building called The Driver’s Club. Outside, crowds wait to catch a glimpse of, or autograph from, a great driver. They’re disappointed when I walk out. But now I have a wristband that says PASSENGER. These are rare. It’s the second-best wristband you can have at Goodwood. The McLaren test driver in the left seat has the best one; his wristband says DRIVER.
There’s lots of waiting in the sweltering heat. The limited edition McLaren 650S Le Mans looks hungry. There’s a carbon-fibre air scoop right above my helmeted head to feed air into the engine bay behind us. Only 50 of these cars will be built. I dare not ask the price. It feels improper.
McLaren company has a tragic record at Goodwood. Nearly 45 years ago to the day, on June 2nd 1970, company founder Bruce McLaren died at the Goodwood race track in a fatal crash while testing one of his racecars. Just the thing to remember as a marshal in a white onesie gives the driver of the 650S the go-ahead.
