The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a cornerstone of the global automotive calendar, but how does the estate decide who secures the famous central spot on the lawn?
Charles Gordon Lennox, the 11th Duke of Richmond, has revealed the process behind the feature to Autocar’s editor-at-large, Steve Cropley. You can listen below.
This year the honour falls to Singer, Rob Dickinson’s famed Porsche restomodding firm. The sculpture will celebrate Singer’s influence and be flanked by a collection of its cars.
When it comes to who is honoured by the annual artwork, there isn’t any sort of shortlist. It all depends on which manufacturers want to do it or if there’s an anniversary worth celebrating.
But mostly it comes down to what feels right, according to the Duke. He told the Autocar podcast: “We felt Singer was the right moment to do it – and the cars are so popular, to see lots of them together, it’d be pretty spectacular.”
The Duke and his family are huge fans of Singer, he added: “I love them. My son Charlie’s driven them more than me. Annoyingly, I’m usually too caught up, but he’s driven quite a lot at the events.”
The structures are created by designer Gerry Judah, who has collaborated with Goodwood for years. “He’s not a car guy, really, he’s an artist, and he has a great feel for brands, what they stand for,” said the Duke.
Judah will work on a design, then he and the Duke will present it to the client, who will then be able to ask for additional changes or requests.
Finally, there is the question of engineering. While some brands have ambitiously requested carbonfibre or glass, practicality usually dictates the final product. “We know what works, and we know that steel is the best material,” the Duke said.
Crucially, the steel construction means the towering sculptures are entirely recyclable, destined to be melted down and repurposed once the festival weekend concludes. Some clients request to keep the sculptures, but that’s a rarity.
