Practice for the Timed Shootout took place on Friday
The first competitive action got underway at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday as drivers took to the hill for two practice sessions of the Timed Shootout.
Friday is always the day in which the Festival really gets going at Goodwood, and this year it was no different.
Rain fell early in the morning, but had all cleared by lunchtime, allowing some rubber to be laid down on the track before the afternoon practice session for the Timed Shootout.
And it was Scott Speed who set the pace in practice, setting a time of 47.05 seconds in the Subaru Motorsports WRC: Project Midnight car.
Credit: PHD Photo
That time was a tenth faster than the Ford Transit Supervan that came second overall, while Travis Pastrana was third fastest in the Subaru GL Wagon 'Huckster'.
There's still likely more pace to come from the competitors as more rubber gets laid down over the weekend, but Nick Padmore - who's driving the Lotus 77 Formula 1 car in the shootout - said that for him, it was all about having fun, rather than being ultra-competitive.
"I think you can get all carried away and get deadly serious about it," Padmore explained to The Pit Stop.
Credit: PHD Photo
"But at the end of the day, this is one big festival for the crowds. So it’s just putting on a good show for them.
"Have a lot of fun and when you look at the car now, it’s the colour scheme that a lot of people love. So it’s a privilege to be driving it for Chrome Cars and Britec running it."
Friday wasn't just about the timed shootout though. In the morning Red Bull unveiled its RB17 Hypercar that has been designed by outgoing design guru Adrian Newey.
The first competitive action got underway at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday as drivers took to the hill for two practice sessions of the Timed Shootout.
Friday is always the day in which the Festival really gets going at Goodwood, and this year it was no different.
Rain fell early in the morning, but had all cleared by lunchtime, allowing some rubber to be laid down on the track before the afternoon practice session for the Timed Shootout.
And it was Scott Speed who set the pace in practice, setting a time of 47.05 seconds in the Subaru Motorsports WRC: Project Midnight car.
That time was a tenth faster than the Ford Transit Supervan that came second overall, while Travis Pastrana was third fastest in the Subaru GL Wagon 'Huckster'.
There's still likely more pace to come from the competitors as more rubber gets laid down over the weekend, but Nick Padmore - who's driving the Lotus 77 Formula 1 car in the shootout - said that for him, it was all about having fun, rather than being ultra-competitive.
"I think you can get all carried away and get deadly serious about it," Padmore explained to The Pit Stop.
"But at the end of the day, this is one big festival for the crowds. So it’s just putting on a good show for them.
"Have a lot of fun and when you look at the car now, it’s the colour scheme that a lot of people love. So it’s a privilege to be driving it for Chrome Cars and Britec running it."
Friday wasn't just about the timed shootout though. In the morning Red Bull unveiled its RB17 Hypercar that has been designed by outgoing design guru Adrian Newey.
And at lunchtime, it was time for another F1 legend to take centre stage, when Fernando Alonso made an appearance.
Alonso drove the Aston Martin Valiant up the hill, in what was the first public display for the car commissioned by Alonso himself.
Two days remain at the Festival of Speed, with the event concluding on Sunday evening.
Read Next
How Ford is tackling the rest of its Hypercar testing programme
It has an intense few months on the horizon
Mike Conway to retire at end of 2026 WEC season
Conway's last race will be at the 6 Hours of Monza
Two Hypercars to contest2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series
The championship has 47 entries for this year's season
Verstappen to make GT World Challenge debut at Portimao
The F1 world champion will take part in the season finale