Check out some of the supercars and hypercars from the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
When you think about how significant the Goodwood Festival of Speed has become, you can’t help but marvel at the unique status it holds on planet car. The location ever since its inception in 1993 at Goodwood estate was never the intention, Lord March wanted to bring motorsport back to the Goodwood circuit, but he didn’t have the necessary permit to stage the race event at the venue.
Therefore, he hosted it on his own grounds instead. With a small selection of invited classic car entrants taking part, the first one day event was attended by a crowd of 25,000, making the inaugural meeting a success. Since then, the Festival of Speed has grown exponentially; it now spans across four days and avoids clashing with the motorsport calendar to allow teams to participate.
When you reflect about what the Goodwood Festival of Speed symbolizes, it does represent one of the best celebrations of car culture in the world. With unrestricted access to exhibitors, visitors have the chance to look closely at road and race cars and bikes in ways that nowhere else provide the possibility for doing so. That sort of permittance for entrants is unrivalled, and would otherwise come at a premium.
For a car fanatic, it’s an opportunity to encounter one of the most comprehensive events of its kind, which does make for an unmissable occasion. From a personal perspective, the Festival of Speed is one of the most interesting and exciting fixtures I have experienced, the accessibility really is such a liberating factor. The inclusivity is fundamental to its very appeal, as it’s not contingent on socio-economics.
The sense of anticipation that arises from attending the Festival of Speed is palpable, and there are several parts of the event that captivate me in particular. But the supercar paddock is what fascinates me most of all. It’s the best place to see the fastest and most powerful cars in the world. As a car fanatic, this paddock sparks my imagination like nothing else. As you walk through the arches that are positioned over every entry and exit, you can sense that it’s an important place.
"There is something mythical about Ferrari, they are an incredibly seductive carmaker, and you can’t help but gravitate towards them"
On show is a mind-blowing mix of supercars and hypercars that always transfixes me. As I walk around the paddock looking at the supercars and hypercars on display, I recite the facts and stats about them, wondering what they are like to drive, and talking to anyone about them who is prepared to listen. Now, there are too many supercars and hypercars in the paddock to discuss individually in this piece, but I shall round-up some of the highlights.
There is something mythical about Ferrari, they are an incredibly seductive carmaker, and you can’t help but gravitate towards them if you are a car fanatic, like me. The company celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2022, and I think the mystique has something to do with the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team, and the fact that they make some of the best supercars. I think the alluring red colour that the company is synonymous with plays a part too, as does the enchantment of Italy.
It was a pleasure to view a selection of Ferraris from the model range in the supercar paddock. The specific car I want to talk about though is the 296 GTB, because I think it’s a seismic moment in the marque’s illustrious history, as it’s the first road car Ferrari have made with rear-wheel drive plug-in hybrid technology. This marks a new milestone for the company, and signals the start of the turbo-hybrid era at Ferrari.
That means the combustion engine is integrated with an electric motor, and it's an opportunity to exploit the potential for performance purposes as much for emission reasons. So, the 654bhp that the 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6 engine produces, in combination with the 165bhp from the electric motor, adds up to 819bhp. It equates to 0-62mph in just 2.9 seconds, 0-124mph in only 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 205mph. I think it’s great. But there is another company that has developed a high-performance hybrid supercar which puts the spanner in the works.
McLaren Automotive have come a long way since they re-entered the road car game in 2011 with the MP4-12C, the company’s first since the iconic F1 that was manufactured between 1992 and 1998. In 2022, the model range spans three segments, and the McLaren I’m referring to is called the Artura, which is the amalgamation of lessons learnt from road and race McLarens from the past.
In that regard, it’s as much an evolutionary stepping stone as it is a revolutionary leap into a new era for the brand. And in that respect, there are noticeable similarities between the 296 GTB and the Artura. You get the sense that Maranello and Woking are scoring points off each other, such is the rivalry. For instance, the McLaren hybrid powertrain comprises an all-new 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6 engine producing 577bhp, with the electric motor making 94bhp, so the combined output is 671bhp.
That’s a considerable amount less than the 296 GTS, which does reflect in performance terms to an extent. But even so, there’s not too much to choose between the pair. The Artura does have slower acceleration: 0-62mph is done in 3 seconds and 0-124mph is reached in 8.3 seconds, but the McLaren does have the same 205mph top speed as the Ferrari. The factual resemblance is apparent, and it’s clear they’re pitched against each other. In other words, the difference between them is as much about personal preference.
However there’s another company that without, the car itself wouldn’t exist. Mercedes is an epic brand with such a rich history. In the 55th anniversary year of AMG, Mercedes brought the highly anticipated AMG One hypercar to the supercar paddock. It’s a unique addition because it’s essentially a Formula One car for the road. The 1.6 litre turbo hybrid is the actual power unit from the 2015 W06 Hybrid car, which is insane when you think about it.
To make the race engine compatible for road use, Mercedes-AMG worked closely with the high-performance powertrains factory in Brixworth, so the internal componentry is identical. The turbocharger is carried over from Formula One, with the gas turbine and compressor turbine positioned separately and connected by a shaft. The hybrid technology is also carried over from Formula One, and one electric motor is mounted on the turbo, driving it up to 100,000rpm from which the exhaust gas flow takes over.
The three other electric motors are positioned elsewhere, two on the front axle and one on the engine, with each able to spin up to 50,000rpm. The design of the AMG One has been influenced entirely by aerodynamics to create downforce. Just looking at the exterior design, you can see that form follows function, and that everything has a purpose. Only 275 examples of the AMG One will be made, and cost £2.5million each.
"the impression you get from the 718 GT4 RS is that everything is temporary, and nothing lasts forever"
It’s such an extreme car. Yet there’s another in the supercar paddock that’s just as radical, as it shares a similar philosophy. It’s called the Valkyrie, and it’s the result of collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing Advanced Technologies. A good amount of the hybrid hypercar was designed by Adrian Newey, the respected Chief Technical Officer at the Red Bull Formula One team.
In every conceivable way, like the Mercedes-AMG One, the Valkyrie resembles a race car more than a road car. It has an open underfloor which works on the venturi effect and produces 1814kg of downforce. The 6.5 litre V12 engine developed in cooperation with Cosworth produces 1000bhp and has an 11,100rpm red line, making it the most powerful naturally aspirated engine ever fitted to a road car, as well as the highest revving.
Add into the equation the kinetic energy recovery hybrid system which contributes an additional 160bhp, and the total output is 1160bhp. It makes for some pulverising performance: the 0-62mph time is 2.6 seconds; the top speed is 250mph. The Valkyrie is a joint effort from specialist companies all contributing to make one of the maddest hypercars. It will also be one of the most exclusive and expensive; just 150 versions will be made, and cost £2.5million each.
Porsche have brought an impressive pairing to the supercar paddock. The reputation of the 992 GT3 as one of the most complete and best supercars is well documented. But the 718 GT4 RS is a different proposition altogether. It’s the fastest and hardest version of the Cayman that Porsche have produced, and the first time the GT-Department have been able to modify it. And given the track record of this division, it’s unlikely to disappoint.
That’s because it has the same 4.0 litre naturally aspirated flat six engine as in the 992 GT3 that revs all the way to 9000rpm. It produces 493bhp, and with seven-speed PDK transmission, the 718 GT4 RS will do 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds, and reach a top speed of 195mph. With a Nürburgring lap time of 7minutes 4.5seconds, it’s only six seconds slower than the 992 GT3 too, which is quite a feat when you think about what the 992 GT3 represents for Porsche.
The similarities start diverging from there though, as the 718 GT4 RS isn’t the same serious track weapon for outright performance as the 992 GT3; it operates on a different frequency. Yet the impression you get from the 718 GT4 RS is that everything is temporary, and nothing lasts forever. The combustion engine is nearing the end, and the electric era is on the horizon. For Porsche, it was getting to the point of now or never for the aspiration of creating the 718 GT4 RS to be realised.
I’m glad it has been, because it could well be one of the last cars of its kind. Whereas, Singer Vehicle Design specialises is restoring and reimagining 911 models from the past, and there are a few in the supercar paddock. The most eye catching is the Turbo study that has been based on the 964 generation 911. You notice the attention to detail, and how everything is important, and you realise that it’s one of the most gorgeous cars in the supercar paddock; it looks like an art sculpture.
Looks can deceptive though, as is the case here, because there is substance to match the style. The Turbo study is fitted with an air-cooled 3.8 litre flat six that has air-to-water intercooling, so the engine produces 510bhp. That power is sent through a six-speed manual gearbox, which promises to engage the driver in a fulfilling way. Prospective clients can choose between rear and four-wheel drive, a dilemma which opens up the scope of the car considerably.
And with a 1270kg kerbweight, it should deliver some real pace. That’s made more likely if you tick the Lightweighting option, which drops another 100kg from that figure. There’s no limit on production of the Turbo study, but it costs £556,000, which does prohibit who can purchase one. Yet the supercar paddock wouldn’t be the same without the current fastest production road car in the world. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ is quite a sight to behold; it does have such a presence.
The record-breaking 304.77mph top speed was undertaken on 2 August 2019 at Volkswagen's test facility in Ehra-Lessien, and it highlights just what an astounding piece of design and engineering it is. With an 8.0 litre quad-turbocharged W12 that produces 1600bhp, performance is uncompromising. Of course, it’s not all about power; aerodynamic modifications to increase downforce and decrease drag were added to upgrade the Chiron Super Sport 300+ to accomplish the ambition.
"it ignites my passion just by looking and talking about them. Just imagine what they must be like to drive"
Just contemplating what it can do, it’s sensational to see it. This happened before the symbiotic arrangement between the Bugatti and Rimac occurred in July 2021. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership, with Porsche the linchpin providing financial and strategic input. This way, the three companies can pool resources between themselves to the betterment of each other. It’s unsurprising then that Rimac are lined up alongside Bugatti in the supercar paddock. The all-electric hypercar has savage performance, the sort that can demolish hypercars with combustion engines.
It’s named after a sudden Mediterranean storm that’s charged by lightning, called Nevera. The similarities with the all-electric hypercar resonated strongly, as it shares some common traits. The Rimac Nevera is powerful, it produces 1914bhp, and that’s pushed performance to the edge of what’s possible. It has lightning quick acceleration: 0-60mph takes just 1.85 seconds, 0-180 mph takes only 9.3 seconds, and it will reach a top speed of 258mph.
Enabling that velocity are four electric motors, one for each wheel that distribute the 2360nm of torque from the 120kwh battery. The Rimac Nevera is quite spectacular, and it does fly under the radar in the supercar paddock compared to more established brands. It’s amazing to think what the Bugatti/Rimac/Porsche alliance can accomplish together in the years ahead; the prospect interests and excites me tremendously.
I suppose I had better wrap things up there. I haven’t mentioned the sensational Koenigsegg Regera, Jesko and Gemera, or the flamboyant Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae and Huracan STO, or the appealing Maserati MC20 Cielo Spyder, or the monstrous Hennessey Venom F5. And that’s just to name some of the most prominent car companies. The paddock is a stupendous gathering of the best supercars and hypercars, and for a car fanatic like me, it ignites my passion just by looking and talking about them.
Just imagine what they must be like to drive.
Photos: Callum Alexander
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