The Goodwood Festival of Speed gives motorsport fans the chance to meet their heroes and celebrate their triumphs. Where better for Lewis Hamilton to get back together with the car that propelled him to the Formula 1 World Championship in 2008?
This year's theme was Viva Veloce - "The Passion For Speed" - and it featured all manner of automotive exotica as well as personal appearances by motor racing personalities. In between a busy schedule of TV interviews and autographing sessions on Sunday, Lewis drove Alain Prost's 1986 championship-winning McLaren MP4/2C up the legendary hillclimb course.
"When you go to a race like the Santander British Grand Prix, every minute of the day you're working on the car - you're in engineering meetings or driving - and you don't get as much time as you'd like to get out there and meet the fans," said Lewis. "At Goodwood it's very relaxed, you can step back and enjoy yourself. Without the fans, motor racing wouldn't be what it is, so it's a pleasure to give something back.
After meeting Lord March at the Cartier ‘Style et Luxe' concours d'elegance, Lewis demonstrated the new McLaren MP4-12C supercar, making its public debut at Goodwood this weekend. The car will not go on sale until early next year.
"I'm so glad that McLaren is building another supercar," said Lewis. "The McLaren F1 was an iconic car for me when I was growing up, and the LM model that won Le Mans was my dream car. To see both of them at the McLaren Automotive stand here at Goodwood was special for me, and I expect the MP4-12C to inspire the next generation in the same way."
For Lewis's final run up the hill he returned to familiar territory: the cockpit of the MP4-23 which he drove so memorably (and dramatically) to claim the drivers' title in 2008.
"It was an extraordinary feeling to get back in that car," he said. "It really was the ultimate expression of aerodynamic science in that era, with all those beautifully sculpted flicks and winglets. Every time I drive that car I feel proud of all the people whose efforts came together to make it what it was."
