Speed Champions
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is coming up this weekend, July 4-7, and we've seen the announcement that there's going to be a whole new area - 'The Arena presented by Forza Horizon 4: LEGO Speed Champions' - a dedicated drift and stunt space. Naturally we had to take a look at what was happening, as we've been to the Festival of Speed before and it can be a great day out.
Goodwood describe The Arena as 'an amphitheatre of action' - visitors will be able to watch drift cars and stunt drivers doing crazy things, along with fan interaction. The drift events will include a 700 hp Toyota GR Supra Drift car drifted by Nobuteru Taniguchi. Goodwood are also giving away a passenger ride around The Arena with Ken Block on Friday 5th July, as well as two entry tickets to the event so give that a look if you're reading this in time. The Arena will feature shows from Ken Block, Petter Solberg, Terry Grant and Samsung and feature both cars and motorcycles, if you're more interested in two wheels than four.
The Festival of Speed has a strong connection to motorsport video games, with both the Forza and Gran Turismo series featuring at the event on simulators. The Gran Turismo franchise recently added the Goodwood Circuit to the track roster of GT Sport, so it's possible to get some of the action even if you're not there. We have our fingers crossed that there may be some Goodwood content in the latest Forza Horizon 4, since it's set in the UK, but so far there's not been a lot of sign of that.
The full-size LEGO McLaren Senna, first seen at the launch of the Speed Champions expansion for Forza Horizon 4, will be appearing at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed
One other trend we've seen at the Festival of Speed is LEGO tie ins for manufacturers like Porsche or McLaren, or via Michelin. Last year we saw the lime-green full size Porsche 911 Turbo 3.0 (964) from Set 75888 appear at Porsche's stand, and attendees helped to finish an orange LEGO McLaren 720S. With the full-size McLaren Senna LEGO model already confirmed for attendance. we wouldn't be surprised to see the full size LEGO models of cars like the 911 RSR or even some unseen creations appear at the show (we'll obviously post about it if so!)
Update: Sure enough, the Forza Horizon 4 LEGO Speed Champions connection was prominent at the festival - see below for how this was promoted in the feed from Goodwood.
Update: The Forza Horizon 4 LEGO Speed Champions branding was prominent in the Goodwood TV feed from The Arena