Star drivers and riders at the 2024 Festival of Speed

He won’t be the only F1 champion at the 2024 Festival of Speed, though, as he takes to the Hill on Sunday 14^th July at the wheel of his title-winning Red Bull RB16B. He’ll be joined by 2005 and ’06 champion Fernando Alonso, who’ll be driving the new Aston Martin Valiant on Friday 12^th and Mika Hakkinen, the 1998 and '99 champion is set to drive the 2023 Timed Shootout-winning McLaren Solus GT. Damon Hill winner of the 1996 F1 world championship, will climb into the cockpit of a 1975 Shadow DN4B over the course of the four-day event, and 1974 champion Emerson Fittipaldi, will return to the Festival of Speed to drive his title-winning McLaren M23.

Verstappen will also be joined by many other of his grid-mates from the current 2024 F1 season. His team-mate Sergio Perez will also be taking to the Hill in the RB18, as will Daniel Ricciardo in the 2011 championship-winning RB7. Yuki Tsunoda completes the current Red Bull stable’s attendance.

Completing this year’s current F1 line-up are Williams team-mates Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, who will be sharing driving duties in Keke Rosberg’s 1982 championship-winning FW08.

How many world champions are coming to the Festival of Speed?

Aside from the F1 cohort, the 2024 Festival of Speed is set to be rammed with world championship winners. Kalle Rovanperä and Sebastian Ogier bring ten WRC titles along with them. Both will be in action on the Forest Rally Stage, while Rovanperä will also be showing off his new pastime for 2024 in his Toyota GR Supra drift car.

Fifteen-time world motorcycle champion Giacomo Agostini will be back in the saddle for several runs up the Hill on a MV Agusta 500 Three, a bike that he rode to seven consecutive 500cc world titles from 1966-1972.

Motorcycle royalty will be out in force over Festival of Speed weekend. Joining Agostini will be two other multiple world champions: Mick Doohan and Kenny Roberts. Sidecars will also return to Goodwood after their astonishing competitive debut at the 81^st Members’ Meeting, with the pairs of eight-time world champion Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes, and current champions Todd Ellis and Emanuelle Clement set to take to the Hill.

From endurance racing, there will be two World Endurance Champions in action.  Romain Dumas, who returns to action on the Hill with Ford’s latest creation, the Supervan 4.2, which will no doubt provide several more highlights over the course of the weekend. He’ll be joined by Benoit Treluyer, who will be getting behind the wheel of an Audi R18 TDI Ultra, a car he took to Le Mans victory in 2011. World Sportscar Champion and two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Hans-Joachim Stuck will also be busy throughout the Festival of Speed, he’s taking up driving duties of a Shadow DN9 and the Auto Union Type 52.

Legends of motorsport coming to Festival of Speed

Where better to start than with the King himself, Richard Petty? The seven-time NASCAR champion will be starring on all four days of the Festival of Speed as we celebrate the life and career of one of motorsport’s most charismatic figures. He’ll be celebrated in a special balcony moment on Friday 12^th July.

Five-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Emanuele Pirro will once again return to Goodwood, where once again his passion for motorsport, and his unmistakable charm will light up the proceedings both on and off the Hill. He’s set to drive an Audi R10 TDI of a type he drove to his last two victories at Le Mans in 2006 and 2007.

Meanwhile, it wouldn’t be a Goodwood event these days without Dario Franchitti getting stuck into some driving theatrics inside one of GMA’s latest creations. The Festival of Speed will continue the trend, as Dario will take to the Hill in the screaming V12 T.50.

And you can’t talk about motorsport legends without mentioning Michael Dunlop. The most successful rider in the history of the Isle of Man TT, Dunlop has claimed a record 29 race wins over 16 events since his debut in 2007, and his achievements will be commemorated in a special balcony moment on Saturday 13th July.

The TT legend will be joined by his contemporaries, Peter Hickman, himself a 14-time TT winner, and Davey Todd, a two-time TT winner, who will both be riding up the Hill on BMW M1000RR bikes, and Maria Costello atop an LCR 600 F2.

Ex-F1 drivers to see at the Festival of Speed

The list doesn’t end there, nor does it get any less exciting. Thirteen-time F1 grand prix-winner David Coulthard and eight-time winner Mark Webber will be joining the cohort of Red Bull stars at the wheel of the 2013 world championship-winning RB9 and RB6 respectively. Christian Klien and Patrick Friesacher complete the list of Red Bull alumni heading to Festival of Speed in 2024.

On the topic of former F1 drivers, the Festival of Speed is set to host several fan favourites. Juan Pablo Montoya is bound to cause a stir when he drives the Williams FW26 up the Hill. Friend of Goodwood Karun Chandhok will be busy over the weekend, driving a handful of cars including the current Jaguar I-Type 6 Formula E racer, a Ferrari 333SP, Ferrari 312 T2 and Shadow DN2.

Bruno Senna will be driving his uncle Ayrton’s McLaren MP4/4, four-time Rallycross champion Scott Speed will wrestle the Subaru WRX: Project Midnight up the Hill and five-time F1 grand prix winner John Watson will be at the wheel of the Brabham BT46B fan car.

Karl Wendlinger, Marc Gene, David Brabham, Jackie Oliver, Stefan Johansson and Andrea Montermini are all former F1 drivers that will be in action over the course of the four-day event.

Other big names not to miss at the Festival of Speed

It’s not all about success on the track, though. As some of the greatest drivers to ever grace the Festival of Speed can attest to. Travis Pastrana is slowly making a name for himself as Mr. Festival of Speed, as each and every year he brings one of his incredible creations to sling up the Hill in ever more entertaining and breathtaking fashion. The four-time Rally America champion returns in 2024 with his Subaru GL Wagon ‘Huckster’, and we can’t wait to see how quick he can go.

Speaking of entertaining drivers we love to see at Goodwood, ‘Mad’ Mike Whiddett will again be in action throughout the weekend, no doubt shrouding the entire Festival of Speed arena in smoke as he sends his new Lanzante McLaren P1 GTR drift machine up the Hill for the first time.

Current BTCC stars set to be in attendance include Jake Hill, while 1998 IndyCar champion Kenny Brack will be in action on the Hill behind the wheel of a very special Lanzante P1 HDK LM 25.

Junior drivers set to star at the Festival of Speed

As always, however, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is as much about looking to the future as it is about reminiscing about the past. Attendees over the four days will have the opportunity to see several motorsport stars of the future in action on the Hill, many who will be getting their first experience behind the wheel of an F1 car.

Alpine is bringing three of its Academy drivers to the Festival of Speed. Current Alpine F1 reserve driver Jack Doohan will be stepping into the E20 F1 car, as will current F2 driver Kush Maini and F3 stalwart Sophie Floersch.

The 2024 Festival of Speed is set to be another memorable event at Goodwood, don't forget to check out the full entry list of cars and drivers, and the timetable of when they can be expected out on the Hill.

The 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from the 11th-14th July, and you can watch every moment of the action on our live stream right here on GRR!