Hot Holdens star at UK Festival of Speed
The fastest Holden was the 2008 Holden Racing Team (HRT) VE Commodore driving by current British Touring Car Champion Jake Hill, who clocked a 48.35-second run up the narrow 1.86km course.
That was good enough to come home fifth overall in the 20-car field, won by the 43.22 second run set by a 1030kW electric Ford Supertruck driven by Romain Dumas, who set an unofficial lap record around Bathurst in an electric Ford Transit in 2024.
The VE Commodore V8 Supercar that Hill drove at Goodwood ran HRT's 2008 livery and, while it was originally built by the factory Holden team, the car was first raced that season by sister outfit, the HSV Dealer Team, by Rick Kelly.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
New Zealand Supercars star Greg 'Murph' Murphy – a four-time Bathurst 1000 winner – was also in top form at the wheel of the Holden Monaro 427C which he co-drove with Peter Brock, Todd Kelly and Jason Bright to win the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour.
The Monaro 427C was built by Garry Rogers Motorsport for the Australian Nations Cup Championship, with its crown jewel event a 24-hour race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
It was so-named as the road-going Monaro's 5.7-litre V8 was replaced by a 7.0-litre version – which is 427 cubic inches – with the wild Monaro winning both 24-hour Bathurst races held in 2002 and 2003 and spawning a limited-edition 'HRT 427' showroom model.
Running it in its 2003 Bathurst race livery, including Peter Brock's famous '05' racing number, 'Murph' took the red Monaro up the Goodwood hill more than two seconds faster in his last run for a 50.37 time.
The effort saw the Kiwi jump from 11th in provisional runs to storm home seventh overall, pipping the Ford Mustang GTD of Dirk Muller in the process.
Making it three antipodean top ten results, fellow New Zealander Steven Richards – a five-time Bathurst winner – came home tenth in the Nissan Skyline GTS-R which took the 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship by his father, Jim.
MORE: Holden
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
A pair of legendary Holden race cars have starred at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, knocking off rivals including the Ford Mustang GTD, TWR Supercat and Porsche 911 GT3 R in the final of the timed shoot-out.
The fastest Holden was the 2008 Holden Racing Team (HRT) VE Commodore driving by current British Touring Car Champion Jake Hill, who clocked a 48.35-second run up the narrow 1.86km course.
That was good enough to come home fifth overall in the 20-car field, won by the 43.22 second run set by a 1030kW electric Ford Supertruck driven by Romain Dumas, who set an unofficial lap record around Bathurst in an electric Ford Transit in 2024.
The VE Commodore V8 Supercar that Hill drove at Goodwood ran HRT's 2008 livery and, while it was originally built by the factory Holden team, the car was first raced that season by sister outfit, the HSV Dealer Team, by Rick Kelly.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
New Zealand Supercars star Greg 'Murph' Murphy – a four-time Bathurst 1000 winner – was also in top form at the wheel of the Holden Monaro 427C which he co-drove with Peter Brock, Todd Kelly and Jason Bright to win the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour.
The Monaro 427C was built by Garry Rogers Motorsport for the Australian Nations Cup Championship, with its crown jewel event a 24-hour race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
It was so-named as the road-going Monaro's 5.7-litre V8 was replaced by a 7.0-litre version – which is 427 cubic inches – with the wild Monaro winning both 24-hour Bathurst races held in 2002 and 2003 and spawning a limited-edition 'HRT 427' showroom model.
Running it in its 2003 Bathurst race livery, including Peter Brock's famous '05' racing number, 'Murph' took the red Monaro up the Goodwood hill more than two seconds faster in his last run for a 50.37 time.
The effort saw the Kiwi jump from 11th in provisional runs to storm home seventh overall, pipping the Ford Mustang GTD of Dirk Muller in the process.
Making it three antipodean top ten results, fellow New Zealander Steven Richards – a five-time Bathurst winner – came home tenth in the Nissan Skyline GTS-R which took the 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship by his father, Jim.
MORE: Holden
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
A pair of legendary Holden race cars have starred at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, knocking off rivals including the Ford Mustang GTD, TWR Supercat and Porsche 911 GT3 R in the final of the timed shoot-out.
The fastest Holden was the 2008 Holden Racing Team (HRT) VE Commodore driving by current British Touring Car Champion Jake Hill, who clocked a 48.35-second run up the narrow 1.86km course.
That was good enough to come home fifth overall in the 20-car field, won by the 43.22 second run set by a 1030kW electric Ford Supertruck driven by Romain Dumas, who set an unofficial lap record around Bathurst in an electric Ford Transit in 2024.
The VE Commodore V8 Supercar that Hill drove at Goodwood ran HRT's 2008 livery and, while it was originally built by the factory Holden team, the car was first raced that season by sister outfit, the HSV Dealer Team, by Rick Kelly.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
New Zealand Supercars star Greg 'Murph' Murphy – a four-time Bathurst 1000 winner – was also in top form at the wheel of the Holden Monaro 427C which he co-drove with Peter Brock, Todd Kelly and Jason Bright to win the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour.
The Monaro 427C was built by Garry Rogers Motorsport for the Australian Nations Cup Championship, with its crown jewel event a 24-hour race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
It was so-named as the road-going Monaro's 5.7-litre V8 was replaced by a 7.0-litre version – which is 427 cubic inches – with the wild Monaro winning both 24-hour Bathurst races held in 2002 and 2003 and spawning a limited-edition 'HRT 427' showroom model.
Running it in its 2003 Bathurst race livery, including Peter Brock's famous '05' racing number, 'Murph' took the red Monaro up the Goodwood hill more than two seconds faster in his last run for a 50.37 time.
The effort saw the Kiwi jump from 11th in provisional runs to storm home seventh overall, pipping the Ford Mustang GTD of Dirk Muller in the process.
Making it three antipodean top ten results, fellow New Zealander Steven Richards – a five-time Bathurst winner – came home tenth in the Nissan Skyline GTS-R which took the 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship by his father, Jim.
MORE: Holden
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
A pair of legendary Holden race cars have starred at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, knocking off rivals including the Ford Mustang GTD, TWR Supercat and Porsche 911 GT3 R in the final of the timed shoot-out.
The fastest Holden was the 2008 Holden Racing Team (HRT) VE Commodore driving by current British Touring Car Champion Jake Hill, who clocked a 48.35-second run up the narrow 1.86km course.
That was good enough to come home fifth overall in the 20-car field, won by the 43.22 second run set by a 1030kW electric Ford Supertruck driven by Romain Dumas, who set an unofficial lap record around Bathurst in an electric Ford Transit in 2024.
The VE Commodore V8 Supercar that Hill drove at Goodwood ran HRT's 2008 livery and, while it was originally built by the factory Holden team, the car was first raced that season by sister outfit, the HSV Dealer Team, by Rick Kelly.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
New Zealand Supercars star Greg 'Murph' Murphy – a four-time Bathurst 1000 winner – was also in top form at the wheel of the Holden Monaro 427C which he co-drove with Peter Brock, Todd Kelly and Jason Bright to win the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour.
The Monaro 427C was built by Garry Rogers Motorsport for the Australian Nations Cup Championship, with its crown jewel event a 24-hour race at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
It was so-named as the road-going Monaro's 5.7-litre V8 was replaced by a 7.0-litre version – which is 427 cubic inches – with the wild Monaro winning both 24-hour Bathurst races held in 2002 and 2003 and spawning a limited-edition 'HRT 427' showroom model.
Running it in its 2003 Bathurst race livery, including Peter Brock's famous '05' racing number, 'Murph' took the red Monaro up the Goodwood hill more than two seconds faster in his last run for a 50.37 time.
The effort saw the Kiwi jump from 11th in provisional runs to storm home seventh overall, pipping the Ford Mustang GTD of Dirk Muller in the process.
Making it three antipodean top ten results, fellow New Zealander Steven Richards – a five-time Bathurst winner – came home tenth in the Nissan Skyline GTS-R which took the 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship by his father, Jim.
MORE: Holden
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
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My first taste of Goodwood brought to you by Aston Martin
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a mainstay bucket list item for car enthusiasts of all ages, as is getting a ride-along in an exotic supercar with a seasoned racing driver behind the wheel. On a recent holiday to Europe and the UK, I was in the right place at the right time and was offered the incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed as a media guest of Aston Martin, including a stint in the passenger seat of a DB12 Volante fanging up the famed hillclimb. Obviously, I accepted this invitation with no hesitation, and after a 2.5-hour drive from my friend's house in London (shoutout to Kia UK for loaning me a new EV6), I made it to the hallowed grounds of the Goodwood event. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. After being chaperoned by Aston Martin staff through a special entrance and to the marque's guest tent, I was soon whisked away again towards the Supercar Paddock, where a slew of very high-end vehicles are kept on display to the public. It was here I was greeted by a beautiful burgundy DB12 Volante that would be my ride for the morning run, sitting alongside the new Vanquish Volante, the Vantage S, as well as Aston Martin's Valkyrie Le Mans-inspired hybrid hypercar and the new Valhalla mid-engine plug-in hybrid supercar. As a '90s kid who grew up only dreaming of ever seeing this kind of metal in person, let alone sitting in them as well as hearing their sonorous exhaust notes in real life, I was simply in awe. Our group signed indemnity forms and then quickly slipped into full-length trousers and a jumper per motorsport safety rules – mind you, it was quite possibly the hottest day of the year in the UK on that fabled Friday, peaking at around 34 degrees Celsius. Above: Assembling the Astons at Supercar Paddock No matter. Despite numerous questions of concern from Aston Martin staff that I may overheat while waiting to head to the start line, I was grinning from ear to ear and brimming with excitement for what was to come. Driving me in the DB12 Volante would be Ben Seyfried, factory driver for not only Aston Martin but also Ferrari and Maserati; he has also participated in competitive motorsport for 25 years across numerous disciplines. Big thank you to Ben for being an absolute legend and making my day. The crew of Aston Martins made a procession up towards the start line alongside other members of the 'supercar' group, which included a number of new and recent McLarens like the Artura and P1 GTR, as well as the new Lamborghini Temerario, works by Gordon Murray, and even a Pagani Huayra R. Festival goers lined the makeshift road ahead. It felt like I was part of some parade. The excitement and passion was palpable, and I think some of them might have thought I was one of Aston's racing drivers – as a Leo, I was happy to make-believe for my five minutes of supposed fame. Above: Weird and wonderful metal lining up for the Goodwood Hillclimb Rolling up to the start line there were even more incredible cars lining up for their blat up the hill. Coach-built restomods, working concepts and design studies. Stuff that I had only ever seen in pictures or video games – they were all here. In my excitement I realise I took mostly videos, not photos, of all the incredibly exotic and expensive metal that I rolled past at the starting area. If you'd like to see more, I have a special highlight on my Instagram profile here which documents my day at the event. As we slowly snaked our way around the makeshift cul-de-sac and headed towards the start line – which took what felt like an eternity – Ben and I would have little chats with staff as they walked past and did their checks. I was also busy making sure I knew how to turn on the in-car camera suctioned to the windscreen because, content. I'd hear the cars ahead go for their runs one by one, usually signalled by clouds of smoke and the symphony of engines revving to their redlines. There comes a point where all the intoxicating sounds sort of mesh together and you can't even pick up which car is setting off. I was kind of in a daze. Finally, we were rolling up to the start line. I squeezed my head (and hair) into the supplied Aston-branded race helmet. "Strapped in?" Ben asked – I tugged twice at my seatbelt to make sure (having already done this 50 times while I waited) – "yep!" I replied, then he lit up the rear tyres for dramatic effect and off we went. The DB12 Volante can be described as a seriously quick car, quoting a 0-100km/h dash in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 325km/h, but amongst its exotic company at the bottom of the Goodwood hill some might label it as mundane by comparison. I certainly had no such thought, having driven one myself back home last year. And while the Volante might be seen as a Sunset Boulevard cruiser rather than a circuit bruiser like its hard-topped sibling, I'd argue that a moment like this is best enjoyed with no roof – which is exactly what we did. The bellow of the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 behind me, the cheers of the crowd around us, and the sheer excitement of seeing the short hillclimb stage coming through the windscreen was an incredible delight for the senses. Ben was hard on the throttle, then the brakes, then the throttle, with tight turns thrown in there for good measure. I was too focused on what was in front of me to really check the speedo, which mind you was also in miles per hour, but I'm pretty sure I glanced over and saw a big number starting with '9' on the digital speedo at one point, which means we hit at least 145km/h somewhere. Before I know it, we've crossed the finish line. Ben hits the brakes, and we coast towards the end of the track where the cars that went before us have collected in what looks like a very expensive meet. It appears the most elite of Goodwood guests have access to seating areas around the end of the track where they can see each car come through one-by-one after they've completed their run. Given the balmy English conditions, some were understandably puzzled at my fully sleeved and trousered fit compared to their shorts and T-shirts. We were quickly ushered back into our cars for the leisurely parade back to the paddock. "Have a wave if you like," Ben says, as we roll past spectators and track marshalls giving us a nod and a wave. Maybe I will. I arrived back at Supercar Paddock and had to pinch myself. What an incredible experience for my first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not only did I get a front row seat at one of the world's largest automotive events with some of the coolest cars and race cars in history on display – as part of the 75 years of Formula 1 celebrations, as well as a spotlight on Gordon Murray Automotive – but I got to experience first hand what it's like to do a timed run up the famed hillclimb. I then proceeded to have a quick walk around the grounds, capping it at around one hour before making a break for the carpark so I didn't pass out in the heat. Several people told me I'd need days to see it all, and they weren't joking, I'd probably need several more laps of the grounds to get the full picture. Britain's car culture is really something to be admired. People there are really passionate about everything on four wheels and will proudly use their prized possessions as modes of transport (you should have seen the carpark finds), rather than cooping it up in a glass box or trying to flip it for a profit six to twelve months after taking delivery. I look forward to attending the Festival of Speed in future years, and absolutely cannot recommend it enough if you happen to be in the UK when it's on – just make sure you get tickets quickly, they sell out fast! Lastly, a big thank you to the team at Aston Martin and EVH Agency for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that made a little boy's dream come Explore the Aston Martin DB12 showroom Content originally sourced from: The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a mainstay bucket list item for car enthusiasts of all ages, as is getting a ride-along in an exotic supercar with a seasoned racing driver behind the wheel. On a recent holiday to Europe and the UK, I was in the right place at the right time and was offered the incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed as a media guest of Aston Martin, including a stint in the passenger seat of a DB12 Volante fanging up the famed hillclimb. Obviously, I accepted this invitation with no hesitation, and after a 2.5-hour drive from my friend's house in London (shoutout to Kia UK for loaning me a new EV6), I made it to the hallowed grounds of the Goodwood event. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. After being chaperoned by Aston Martin staff through a special entrance and to the marque's guest tent, I was soon whisked away again towards the Supercar Paddock, where a slew of very high-end vehicles are kept on display to the public. It was here I was greeted by a beautiful burgundy DB12 Volante that would be my ride for the morning run, sitting alongside the new Vanquish Volante, the Vantage S, as well as Aston Martin's Valkyrie Le Mans-inspired hybrid hypercar and the new Valhalla mid-engine plug-in hybrid supercar. As a '90s kid who grew up only dreaming of ever seeing this kind of metal in person, let alone sitting in them as well as hearing their sonorous exhaust notes in real life, I was simply in awe. Our group signed indemnity forms and then quickly slipped into full-length trousers and a jumper per motorsport safety rules – mind you, it was quite possibly the hottest day of the year in the UK on that fabled Friday, peaking at around 34 degrees Celsius. Above: Assembling the Astons at Supercar Paddock No matter. Despite numerous questions of concern from Aston Martin staff that I may overheat while waiting to head to the start line, I was grinning from ear to ear and brimming with excitement for what was to come. Driving me in the DB12 Volante would be Ben Seyfried, factory driver for not only Aston Martin but also Ferrari and Maserati; he has also participated in competitive motorsport for 25 years across numerous disciplines. Big thank you to Ben for being an absolute legend and making my day. The crew of Aston Martins made a procession up towards the start line alongside other members of the 'supercar' group, which included a number of new and recent McLarens like the Artura and P1 GTR, as well as the new Lamborghini Temerario, works by Gordon Murray, and even a Pagani Huayra R. Festival goers lined the makeshift road ahead. It felt like I was part of some parade. The excitement and passion was palpable, and I think some of them might have thought I was one of Aston's racing drivers – as a Leo, I was happy to make-believe for my five minutes of supposed fame. Above: Weird and wonderful metal lining up for the Goodwood Hillclimb Rolling up to the start line there were even more incredible cars lining up for their blat up the hill. Coach-built restomods, working concepts and design studies. Stuff that I had only ever seen in pictures or video games – they were all here. In my excitement I realise I took mostly videos, not photos, of all the incredibly exotic and expensive metal that I rolled past at the starting area. If you'd like to see more, I have a special highlight on my Instagram profile here which documents my day at the event. As we slowly snaked our way around the makeshift cul-de-sac and headed towards the start line – which took what felt like an eternity – Ben and I would have little chats with staff as they walked past and did their checks. I was also busy making sure I knew how to turn on the in-car camera suctioned to the windscreen because, content. I'd hear the cars ahead go for their runs one by one, usually signalled by clouds of smoke and the symphony of engines revving to their redlines. There comes a point where all the intoxicating sounds sort of mesh together and you can't even pick up which car is setting off. I was kind of in a daze. Finally, we were rolling up to the start line. I squeezed my head (and hair) into the supplied Aston-branded race helmet. "Strapped in?" Ben asked – I tugged twice at my seatbelt to make sure (having already done this 50 times while I waited) – "yep!" I replied, then he lit up the rear tyres for dramatic effect and off we went. The DB12 Volante can be described as a seriously quick car, quoting a 0-100km/h dash in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 325km/h, but amongst its exotic company at the bottom of the Goodwood hill some might label it as mundane by comparison. I certainly had no such thought, having driven one myself back home last year. And while the Volante might be seen as a Sunset Boulevard cruiser rather than a circuit bruiser like its hard-topped sibling, I'd argue that a moment like this is best enjoyed with no roof – which is exactly what we did. The bellow of the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 behind me, the cheers of the crowd around us, and the sheer excitement of seeing the short hillclimb stage coming through the windscreen was an incredible delight for the senses. Ben was hard on the throttle, then the brakes, then the throttle, with tight turns thrown in there for good measure. I was too focused on what was in front of me to really check the speedo, which mind you was also in miles per hour, but I'm pretty sure I glanced over and saw a big number starting with '9' on the digital speedo at one point, which means we hit at least 145km/h somewhere. Before I know it, we've crossed the finish line. Ben hits the brakes, and we coast towards the end of the track where the cars that went before us have collected in what looks like a very expensive meet. It appears the most elite of Goodwood guests have access to seating areas around the end of the track where they can see each car come through one-by-one after they've completed their run. Given the balmy English conditions, some were understandably puzzled at my fully sleeved and trousered fit compared to their shorts and T-shirts. We were quickly ushered back into our cars for the leisurely parade back to the paddock. "Have a wave if you like," Ben says, as we roll past spectators and track marshalls giving us a nod and a wave. Maybe I will. I arrived back at Supercar Paddock and had to pinch myself. What an incredible experience for my first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not only did I get a front row seat at one of the world's largest automotive events with some of the coolest cars and race cars in history on display – as part of the 75 years of Formula 1 celebrations, as well as a spotlight on Gordon Murray Automotive – but I got to experience first hand what it's like to do a timed run up the famed hillclimb. I then proceeded to have a quick walk around the grounds, capping it at around one hour before making a break for the carpark so I didn't pass out in the heat. Several people told me I'd need days to see it all, and they weren't joking, I'd probably need several more laps of the grounds to get the full picture. Britain's car culture is really something to be admired. People there are really passionate about everything on four wheels and will proudly use their prized possessions as modes of transport (you should have seen the carpark finds), rather than cooping it up in a glass box or trying to flip it for a profit six to twelve months after taking delivery. I look forward to attending the Festival of Speed in future years, and absolutely cannot recommend it enough if you happen to be in the UK when it's on – just make sure you get tickets quickly, they sell out fast! Lastly, a big thank you to the team at Aston Martin and EVH Agency for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that made a little boy's dream come Explore the Aston Martin DB12 showroom Content originally sourced from: The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a mainstay bucket list item for car enthusiasts of all ages, as is getting a ride-along in an exotic supercar with a seasoned racing driver behind the wheel. On a recent holiday to Europe and the UK, I was in the right place at the right time and was offered the incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed as a media guest of Aston Martin, including a stint in the passenger seat of a DB12 Volante fanging up the famed hillclimb. Obviously, I accepted this invitation with no hesitation, and after a 2.5-hour drive from my friend's house in London (shoutout to Kia UK for loaning me a new EV6), I made it to the hallowed grounds of the Goodwood event. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. After being chaperoned by Aston Martin staff through a special entrance and to the marque's guest tent, I was soon whisked away again towards the Supercar Paddock, where a slew of very high-end vehicles are kept on display to the public. It was here I was greeted by a beautiful burgundy DB12 Volante that would be my ride for the morning run, sitting alongside the new Vanquish Volante, the Vantage S, as well as Aston Martin's Valkyrie Le Mans-inspired hybrid hypercar and the new Valhalla mid-engine plug-in hybrid supercar. As a '90s kid who grew up only dreaming of ever seeing this kind of metal in person, let alone sitting in them as well as hearing their sonorous exhaust notes in real life, I was simply in awe. Our group signed indemnity forms and then quickly slipped into full-length trousers and a jumper per motorsport safety rules – mind you, it was quite possibly the hottest day of the year in the UK on that fabled Friday, peaking at around 34 degrees Celsius. Above: Assembling the Astons at Supercar Paddock No matter. Despite numerous questions of concern from Aston Martin staff that I may overheat while waiting to head to the start line, I was grinning from ear to ear and brimming with excitement for what was to come. Driving me in the DB12 Volante would be Ben Seyfried, factory driver for not only Aston Martin but also Ferrari and Maserati; he has also participated in competitive motorsport for 25 years across numerous disciplines. Big thank you to Ben for being an absolute legend and making my day. The crew of Aston Martins made a procession up towards the start line alongside other members of the 'supercar' group, which included a number of new and recent McLarens like the Artura and P1 GTR, as well as the new Lamborghini Temerario, works by Gordon Murray, and even a Pagani Huayra R. Festival goers lined the makeshift road ahead. It felt like I was part of some parade. The excitement and passion was palpable, and I think some of them might have thought I was one of Aston's racing drivers – as a Leo, I was happy to make-believe for my five minutes of supposed fame. Above: Weird and wonderful metal lining up for the Goodwood Hillclimb Rolling up to the start line there were even more incredible cars lining up for their blat up the hill. Coach-built restomods, working concepts and design studies. Stuff that I had only ever seen in pictures or video games – they were all here. In my excitement I realise I took mostly videos, not photos, of all the incredibly exotic and expensive metal that I rolled past at the starting area. If you'd like to see more, I have a special highlight on my Instagram profile here which documents my day at the event. As we slowly snaked our way around the makeshift cul-de-sac and headed towards the start line – which took what felt like an eternity – Ben and I would have little chats with staff as they walked past and did their checks. I was also busy making sure I knew how to turn on the in-car camera suctioned to the windscreen because, content. I'd hear the cars ahead go for their runs one by one, usually signalled by clouds of smoke and the symphony of engines revving to their redlines. There comes a point where all the intoxicating sounds sort of mesh together and you can't even pick up which car is setting off. I was kind of in a daze. Finally, we were rolling up to the start line. I squeezed my head (and hair) into the supplied Aston-branded race helmet. "Strapped in?" Ben asked – I tugged twice at my seatbelt to make sure (having already done this 50 times while I waited) – "yep!" I replied, then he lit up the rear tyres for dramatic effect and off we went. The DB12 Volante can be described as a seriously quick car, quoting a 0-100km/h dash in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 325km/h, but amongst its exotic company at the bottom of the Goodwood hill some might label it as mundane by comparison. I certainly had no such thought, having driven one myself back home last year. And while the Volante might be seen as a Sunset Boulevard cruiser rather than a circuit bruiser like its hard-topped sibling, I'd argue that a moment like this is best enjoyed with no roof – which is exactly what we did. The bellow of the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 behind me, the cheers of the crowd around us, and the sheer excitement of seeing the short hillclimb stage coming through the windscreen was an incredible delight for the senses. Ben was hard on the throttle, then the brakes, then the throttle, with tight turns thrown in there for good measure. I was too focused on what was in front of me to really check the speedo, which mind you was also in miles per hour, but I'm pretty sure I glanced over and saw a big number starting with '9' on the digital speedo at one point, which means we hit at least 145km/h somewhere. Before I know it, we've crossed the finish line. Ben hits the brakes, and we coast towards the end of the track where the cars that went before us have collected in what looks like a very expensive meet. It appears the most elite of Goodwood guests have access to seating areas around the end of the track where they can see each car come through one-by-one after they've completed their run. Given the balmy English conditions, some were understandably puzzled at my fully sleeved and trousered fit compared to their shorts and T-shirts. We were quickly ushered back into our cars for the leisurely parade back to the paddock. "Have a wave if you like," Ben says, as we roll past spectators and track marshalls giving us a nod and a wave. Maybe I will. I arrived back at Supercar Paddock and had to pinch myself. What an incredible experience for my first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not only did I get a front row seat at one of the world's largest automotive events with some of the coolest cars and race cars in history on display – as part of the 75 years of Formula 1 celebrations, as well as a spotlight on Gordon Murray Automotive – but I got to experience first hand what it's like to do a timed run up the famed hillclimb. I then proceeded to have a quick walk around the grounds, capping it at around one hour before making a break for the carpark so I didn't pass out in the heat. Several people told me I'd need days to see it all, and they weren't joking, I'd probably need several more laps of the grounds to get the full picture. Britain's car culture is really something to be admired. People there are really passionate about everything on four wheels and will proudly use their prized possessions as modes of transport (you should have seen the carpark finds), rather than cooping it up in a glass box or trying to flip it for a profit six to twelve months after taking delivery. I look forward to attending the Festival of Speed in future years, and absolutely cannot recommend it enough if you happen to be in the UK when it's on – just make sure you get tickets quickly, they sell out fast! Lastly, a big thank you to the team at Aston Martin and EVH Agency for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that made a little boy's dream come Explore the Aston Martin DB12 showroom Content originally sourced from: The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a mainstay bucket list item for car enthusiasts of all ages, as is getting a ride-along in an exotic supercar with a seasoned racing driver behind the wheel. On a recent holiday to Europe and the UK, I was in the right place at the right time and was offered the incredible opportunity to attend the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed as a media guest of Aston Martin, including a stint in the passenger seat of a DB12 Volante fanging up the famed hillclimb. Obviously, I accepted this invitation with no hesitation, and after a 2.5-hour drive from my friend's house in London (shoutout to Kia UK for loaning me a new EV6), I made it to the hallowed grounds of the Goodwood event. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. After being chaperoned by Aston Martin staff through a special entrance and to the marque's guest tent, I was soon whisked away again towards the Supercar Paddock, where a slew of very high-end vehicles are kept on display to the public. It was here I was greeted by a beautiful burgundy DB12 Volante that would be my ride for the morning run, sitting alongside the new Vanquish Volante, the Vantage S, as well as Aston Martin's Valkyrie Le Mans-inspired hybrid hypercar and the new Valhalla mid-engine plug-in hybrid supercar. As a '90s kid who grew up only dreaming of ever seeing this kind of metal in person, let alone sitting in them as well as hearing their sonorous exhaust notes in real life, I was simply in awe. Our group signed indemnity forms and then quickly slipped into full-length trousers and a jumper per motorsport safety rules – mind you, it was quite possibly the hottest day of the year in the UK on that fabled Friday, peaking at around 34 degrees Celsius. Above: Assembling the Astons at Supercar Paddock No matter. Despite numerous questions of concern from Aston Martin staff that I may overheat while waiting to head to the start line, I was grinning from ear to ear and brimming with excitement for what was to come. Driving me in the DB12 Volante would be Ben Seyfried, factory driver for not only Aston Martin but also Ferrari and Maserati; he has also participated in competitive motorsport for 25 years across numerous disciplines. Big thank you to Ben for being an absolute legend and making my day. The crew of Aston Martins made a procession up towards the start line alongside other members of the 'supercar' group, which included a number of new and recent McLarens like the Artura and P1 GTR, as well as the new Lamborghini Temerario, works by Gordon Murray, and even a Pagani Huayra R. Festival goers lined the makeshift road ahead. It felt like I was part of some parade. The excitement and passion was palpable, and I think some of them might have thought I was one of Aston's racing drivers – as a Leo, I was happy to make-believe for my five minutes of supposed fame. Above: Weird and wonderful metal lining up for the Goodwood Hillclimb Rolling up to the start line there were even more incredible cars lining up for their blat up the hill. Coach-built restomods, working concepts and design studies. Stuff that I had only ever seen in pictures or video games – they were all here. In my excitement I realise I took mostly videos, not photos, of all the incredibly exotic and expensive metal that I rolled past at the starting area. If you'd like to see more, I have a special highlight on my Instagram profile here which documents my day at the event. As we slowly snaked our way around the makeshift cul-de-sac and headed towards the start line – which took what felt like an eternity – Ben and I would have little chats with staff as they walked past and did their checks. I was also busy making sure I knew how to turn on the in-car camera suctioned to the windscreen because, content. I'd hear the cars ahead go for their runs one by one, usually signalled by clouds of smoke and the symphony of engines revving to their redlines. There comes a point where all the intoxicating sounds sort of mesh together and you can't even pick up which car is setting off. I was kind of in a daze. Finally, we were rolling up to the start line. I squeezed my head (and hair) into the supplied Aston-branded race helmet. "Strapped in?" Ben asked – I tugged twice at my seatbelt to make sure (having already done this 50 times while I waited) – "yep!" I replied, then he lit up the rear tyres for dramatic effect and off we went. The DB12 Volante can be described as a seriously quick car, quoting a 0-100km/h dash in just 3.7 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 325km/h, but amongst its exotic company at the bottom of the Goodwood hill some might label it as mundane by comparison. I certainly had no such thought, having driven one myself back home last year. And while the Volante might be seen as a Sunset Boulevard cruiser rather than a circuit bruiser like its hard-topped sibling, I'd argue that a moment like this is best enjoyed with no roof – which is exactly what we did. The bellow of the 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 behind me, the cheers of the crowd around us, and the sheer excitement of seeing the short hillclimb stage coming through the windscreen was an incredible delight for the senses. Ben was hard on the throttle, then the brakes, then the throttle, with tight turns thrown in there for good measure. I was too focused on what was in front of me to really check the speedo, which mind you was also in miles per hour, but I'm pretty sure I glanced over and saw a big number starting with '9' on the digital speedo at one point, which means we hit at least 145km/h somewhere. Before I know it, we've crossed the finish line. Ben hits the brakes, and we coast towards the end of the track where the cars that went before us have collected in what looks like a very expensive meet. It appears the most elite of Goodwood guests have access to seating areas around the end of the track where they can see each car come through one-by-one after they've completed their run. Given the balmy English conditions, some were understandably puzzled at my fully sleeved and trousered fit compared to their shorts and T-shirts. We were quickly ushered back into our cars for the leisurely parade back to the paddock. "Have a wave if you like," Ben says, as we roll past spectators and track marshalls giving us a nod and a wave. Maybe I will. I arrived back at Supercar Paddock and had to pinch myself. What an incredible experience for my first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not only did I get a front row seat at one of the world's largest automotive events with some of the coolest cars and race cars in history on display – as part of the 75 years of Formula 1 celebrations, as well as a spotlight on Gordon Murray Automotive – but I got to experience first hand what it's like to do a timed run up the famed hillclimb. I then proceeded to have a quick walk around the grounds, capping it at around one hour before making a break for the carpark so I didn't pass out in the heat. Several people told me I'd need days to see it all, and they weren't joking, I'd probably need several more laps of the grounds to get the full picture. Britain's car culture is really something to be admired. People there are really passionate about everything on four wheels and will proudly use their prized possessions as modes of transport (you should have seen the carpark finds), rather than cooping it up in a glass box or trying to flip it for a profit six to twelve months after taking delivery. I look forward to attending the Festival of Speed in future years, and absolutely cannot recommend it enough if you happen to be in the UK when it's on – just make sure you get tickets quickly, they sell out fast! Lastly, a big thank you to the team at Aston Martin and EVH Agency for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that made a little boy's dream come Explore the Aston Martin DB12 showroom Content originally sourced from:
Man of Many
06-08-2025
- Man of Many
GT-Based Lexus LFR Rumoured to Take On Porsche GT3 RS With 900HP Twin-Turbo V8
By Ben McKimm - News Published: 6 Aug 2025 Share Copy Link 0 Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Set to be revealed in 2026, the Toyota GT concept previews the production Lexus LFR LFR will most likely have a twin-turbo V8 with hybrid assistance Australia launch is likely by next year, with more allocation than the previous LFA Lexus is readying its successor to the iconic LFA, rumoured to be called LFR. Based on the Toyota GT GT3 Concept revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon in 2022, it's shaping up as a more mainstream model, rather than a millionaire collector's toy. However, a hybrid twin-turbo V8 powertrain and a tasty soundtrack should be enough for Porsche GT3 RS customers to consider the Japanese supercar over a German scalpel. That means that, unlike the LFA, which was designed as a flag bearer for the Lexus brand in the supercar space, the new LFR will not have a high-revving V10 with Yamaha fingerprints. Still, despite being down on cylinders, the V8 is expected to produce more power, up to 670kW, with a bellowing V8 soundtrack, as seen recently in its outing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The V10-engined LFA has gained cult status over the years for its spine-tingling soundtrack and stunning attention to detail. With the LFR, Lexus wants to compete with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS in the high-end luxury sports car segment. 2026 Lexus LFR | Image' Supplied / Goodwood FOS 2025 We first tasted the LFR at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, driven by Haas F1 racers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon. The camouflaged duo of the 'Toyota Racing' concepts, as it is officially called right now, included a bewinged GT3 racer version, which caused quite a stir at the event. 'I got a chance to drive the race car yesterday, and Ollie was driving the road car,' said Ocon in an interview with 'We swapped today, so got a bit of the feel, a bit more comfort this morning than yesterday.' 'But honestly, it's incredibly fast, incredibly capable, and a big thank you to Toyota for trusting us to drive these beasts today.' While we still don't know exactly what's under the bonnet, Ollie Bearman added that the GT, which is still rumoured to use the twin-turbo V8 engine supported by an electric motor, is faster than the road-going model, 'but both are amazing cars in their own right.' 'The GT car is really more suited to a track like this,' said Bearman. 'You know, in F1, we're not really pushing. We have a few too many horsepower and missing a bit of rubber – let's say at the rear tyres – to push. But with the GT car, it really – that track comes alive, and I really, really enjoyed it.' 'It was the first time I actually pushed around Goodwood, and I really, really had fun.' 2026 Lexus LFR | Image' Supplied / Goodwood FOS 2025 The cars the F1 drivers displayed at Goodwood have sharp lines and a shark-nose-like front end, resembling the LFA. We love the aggressive styling, which undoubtedly adds a different flavour to a segment dominated by curvy German sports cars. Even the interior will have its fair share of drama, with red leather scattered everywhere amongst carbon fibre bucket seats. The main centre console will bisect the cabin and feature various physical controls, similar to the AMG GT. It's unclear when the production-spec LFR will eventually arrive. Expect it to sell in much higher numbers than the LFA, of which only eight cars ever came here. Plus, unlike the LFA, the gestation period would be much shorter this time, and we can expect the LFR to make its global debut by next year.
Herald Sun
04-08-2025
- Herald Sun
EVs embrace wireless charging
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. Aussies could be soon charging their cars as easily and effortlessly as they charge their mobile phone, courtesy of game-changing new technology. A decade since Tesla debuted it's autonomous 'snake' charging technology, that never went into production, Chinese carmaker Li Auto has launched its own version of self-chargeding to the acclaim of many car lovers and tech enthusiasts on social media. The video of the family SUV charging itself via a robotic arm on a charging station stunned viewers and offered a glimpse of what motorists can expect in the very near future. MORE: Chinese brand moves into Holden's home Like something out of Terminator 2 or Blade Runner, the robotic arm reaches for the charging cable and using a laser scanning system inserts the charging cable into the car's electric charging outlet. It then unlocks and releases the cable when the charging is finished and is able to do so for all cars in the several bays of the charging station. However it appears the future might be even brighter than this. Self proclaimed 'optimistic futurist; CEO Elon Musk has indicated his EV darling Tesla will go even further, very soon. The laser scans the charging port. Musk has indicated induction charging – which like wireless charging for mobile phones is the process of transferring electrical energy between two objects using electromagnetic induction – could be available as soon as next year. Tesla's Cybercab service has been launched to much fanfare in Austin Texas and San Francisco. And if Musk is right, induction charging would allow the cars to be even more autonomous. It might not be that long before the cars don't need any human intervention at all. The other possibility is that Tesla's Optimus robot could perform the tasks around charging EVs and even maintenance that humans currently do. MORE: New ute to spark price war Iti's like something out of Terminator 2. Picture: Supplied Musk said on a recent earnings call for the car maker that he believes Tesla will be making 100,000 units of Optimus in five years time and predicts it will be the most sought-after product in the history of human kind. Musk has also indicated his Cybertaxis will use the wireless charging system and has rolled out a proof of concept as to how it will work, with the car moving over the top of the charge as it parks for charging to occur. It would appear to follow suit that inductive charging in EVs would take a substantially longer time than traditional charging via cables but Musk said that won't be the case. Aussies could be soon charging their cars as easily and effortlessly as they charge their mobile phone, courtesy of game-changing new technology. 'There is no meaningful efficiency difference between inductive and conductive charging if the system is designed right,' Musk wrote on X. There are also indications that the Cybertruck might be able to use induction charging when it is widely available and the applicable systems updates are made. Volvo is another leading carmaker moving down the road to induction charging. The Swedish car giant has begun real-world testing of the charging in partnership of Momentum Dynamics with its XC40 Recharge, reaching speeds of up to 40kW. Volvo is also going down the road of wireless charging. Photo by Thomas Wielecki Which would mean it could conceivable charge from 20 to 80 per cent in less than an hour. Originally published as EVs embrace wireless charging
