Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021 returns with major debuts

The Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021 opens its gates today (the event runs until 11 July), signalling the return of this hugely popular meeting after the pandemic forced its cancellation last year.

Over recent years, the Festival of Speed has grown sharply in profile and audience, even "stealing" some of the spotlight from more traditional motor shows. Increasingly, carmakers have chosen Goodwood as the stage to unveil key new models publicly - and, in many cases, to give them their first dynamic outing on the famous hill.

This year is no exception, with a long list of brands using Goodwood to showcase their latest headline acts.

British debuts at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021

Lotus revealed the Emira a couple of days ago and is now showing it to the public for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Aston Martin is bringing the Valkyrie, which is moving steadily towards the start of production after the project experienced delays and even significant restructuring within the manufacturer.

McLaren is displaying the Artura for the first time - its new plug-in hybrid supercar that pairs an all-new turbocharged V6 with an electric motor.

Without being a brand-new launch, MINI is exhibiting the Pacesetter, Formula E’s safety car. It is based on the Mini Electric, but with styling heavily influenced by the extreme JCW GP.

International premieres and performance prototypes

Moving beyond the British brands, arguably the biggest new arrival at Goodwood is the BMW 2 Series Coupé G42 which, like the Emira, was only unveiled two days ago.

Sweden’s Polestar has brought a high-performance prototype based on the Polestar 2 to the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021. It is more powerful (350 kW or 476 hp), with tracks widened by 20 mm and new 21" wheels. The chassis has also been reworked, with ground clearance reduced by 25 mm and an uprated braking system featuring six-piston front calipers.

Is a more performance-focused Polestar 2 on the way? It certainly looks that way.

Another outright novelty - at least on this side of the Atlantic - is the first public appearance of the new Toyota GR 86, which replaces the GT 86.

Ford has not held back and, through M-Sport, has shown its next warrior for WRC 2022: the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, built to the new regulations and featuring hybrid power.

Further highlights from across the show

Among other first showings, visitors can also see the Kia EV6 - which we have already had the chance to see in person - and the Genesis G70 Shooting Brake (which we still do not know whether it will be sold in Portugal).

From Italy, the impressive and already familiar Maserati MC20, Ferrari SF90 Spider and Roma, and Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm will be present. Also from Italy comes the Kimera Evo37, a modernised interpretation of the rally legend, the Lancia 037.

As is usually the case, there should be many more machines on display - both road cars and competition vehicles - a subject we will return to shortly.