Yes, that is a genuine Rothmans-liveried, Dakar rally spec Porsche 959, and yes, it’s elevated about a hundred feet off the ground, on the end of  a very elaborate stick. That’s the kind of thing you get when the Goodwood Festival of Speed has a Silver Jubilee to celebrate.
There are motoring events, and there are motoring events, and the FoS falls into the latter category. “Festival of Speed” is to sell it short — this here is a celebration of the car, pure and simple. It just so happens that there be speed thrown into the equation. Quite a lot of it.


As the gobsmacking sculpture — as always, envisioned, designed and created by the masterful Gerry Judah — holds six Porsches aloft, and it’s the German firm that takes centre stage as sponsor for this year’s event. And why not, because Porsche has an anniversary of its own to celebrate this year; 70 years since the 356 first snarled into life, and would form a template that has remained core to the brand ever since.
As ever, there’s a bewildering amount of stuff going on , and you can get yourself right into the thick of the action with the Festival’s live streaming channel via youtube. I’m going to be generally milling about the place for today and tomorrow, and I’ll share anything I see that I reckon might press our collective buttons.
Welcome to the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
(All images copyright Chris Haining / Hooniverse 2018)