For the first time in the history of the world’s most popular automotive garden party, the 2017 Festival of Speed at Goodwood will celebrate the life of an individual, honoring Bernie Ecclestone and his long extraordinary career.
The Festival’s central structure will be dedicated to the man who made a huge contribution into making F1 the king of motorsport and a global phenomenon.
Bernie Ecclestone started racing both bikes and cars in the late ‘40s and ‘50s, even entering the Monaco GP with a Connaught in 1958. He then switched to driver management with Stuart Lewis-Evans and 1970 World Champion Jochen Rindt before buying the Brabham F1 Team in 1971.
In 1974, Bernie takes over the F1 Constructors’ Association (FOCA) and for other three decades he was the man responsible for turning F1 into the most watched sport in the world.
“This is not so much a tribute, but rather a Goodwood celebration of a racer who has had such a huge influence on the sport we all love,” said Lord March. “It’s wonderful that Bernie has agreed to spend the weekend at the Festival with many of the great names with whom he has worked during a life dedicated to racing.”