Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011 – Saturday

We arrived at the festival at the very early time of around 9:30am, having woken at 5:30 to Kai’s calls of ‘it’s F1 Christmas!’ and Janna’s wonderful cup of tea. Never have I been so excited to be up so early!

We started the day looking at some of the manufacturer exhibition stalls, and then popped over the bridge again this time to the super car paddock, waving to Jake Humphrey (what the hell!), and snapping a pic of Tom Chilton on out way round.

© Lou

Before returning back to the paddock where after meeting Karun Chandock, and Kai some more famous Indy car driver, we met up with Pat for a second day and Lukeh.

We waited for a while, and well here comes my one and only disappointment of the Festival this year, we didn’t see Jenson. We saw his Mum, physiotherapist and girlfriend but not a glimpse of the man himself, unless you count his run up the hill. From what I can gather his movements were limited in the festival and I think he was partially kept away from the fans. This isn’t uncommon at the festival, it usually happens to Hamilton for example. It’s the first year it’s happened to this extreme with Jenson. I understand why, and it didn’t spoil my weekend at all, as I have so many photos of him already. Maybe we were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but this year was a Jenson free year. I don’t think it was helped by the fact that this year he wasn’t driving an F1 car, so it was difficult to judge where he would be over the weekend. Ah well next time! Still plenty of awesome things to tell you about!

We saw Dario Franchitti, who made friends with Kai , and then were off to watch the F1 cars return to the paddock once again. There were a few more people there compared to Friday.

© Lou

Once that excitement was over, Pat recommended we head over to the Super Car paddock to watch those cars return. Wow, what a good idea that was! I got the chance to be front row watching them all return, the exhaust fumes warming my ankles and the smell of burning rubber perfuming the air. What a delight to see some beautiful cars pass us. One of my favourites has to be the new Mclaren MP4 -12C, such a pretty car. I watch amazed as some of the cars I’ve only ever seen in static passed by us, Bugattis, Ferraris, Pagani Zondas, and my absolute favourite Lamborghinis. Just wow!

© Lou

After  spot of lunch we rushed back over the bridge to some of the car and team exhibition areas, 5 live’s David Croft was conducting an interview with Clive Chapman, Nigel Mansell, Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna – no way were we going to miss that! On the way we bumped into a familiar face who was also running a bit late.

© Lou

Once the interview had finished we managed to catch our friend David Croft for a quick chat and a photo. What a lovely man!

© Lou

Time was running out for our Goodwood weekend so we headed back over the bridge back to the paddock for one final time (goodness that bridge is hard work when you’re tired!). This last time just so happened to be my favourite. Spotting Sam Bird heading down for his run on the hill I rushed over to take a photos and to my surprised noticed someone standing just behind him who I just had to have a chat to! The very talented F1 photographer Andy Hone. Andy has been so helpful giving great advice to me over the past year or so on twitter and things and I couldn’t pass up the chance to meet him. I called over and he and his friends were ever so kind and happy to give up their time for a quick chat. Meeting an actual f1 photographer was a pretty big moment for me and I couldn’t help but notice he was wearing his official F1 jacket… ahh maybe one day.

We headed back shortly after this, having been at the festival from 9:30ish we were all very tired and I had a train to catch!

I really can’t thank Janna, Kai , Pat  and Lukeh  enough for their company over this weekend. It was great to share another fabulous few days in Chichester with such lovely people. Oh and thank you to all the wonderful drivers and f1 related people who stopped for a photo/autograph/chat too, you’re wonderful as well.

You can check out the rest of my photos from Saturday here  and my write up from Friday here.