The 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed Forest Rally is not as popular as the Hillclimb, but it is just as awesome – (VIDEO)
When we hear about the Goodwood Festival of Speed, we only think about the 1.16 mile hillclimb up the most famous driveway in the World. However, there is also a little-known course that includes a forest rally stage that was designed by 1983 World Rally Champion Victor Hannu Mikkola.
Introduced in its current form in 2006, the Forest Rally stage is set at the top of the hill. For those looking to escape the crowds of the hillclimb, it is the best place to relax while watching the best super cars and racing cars being pushed to their limits and beyond.
While many manufacturers will bring their best cars and racing icons from their museums, most vehicles entered into the Forest Rally stage are driven by ‘privateers’. The end result is a huge assortment of vehicles ranging from iconic Group B rally cars from the 1980s such as the Audi Quattro and Ford RS200 to the more modern racers such as the Subaru Impreza WRX STI.
The Forest Rally stage is just like any other rally course in that it is quite technical, filled with sharp corners with tight switchbacks, a jump and a course run over many different terrain and gradients.
When watching the better-known Hillclimb, spectators are kept an arms length away from the racers. In true Rally fashion, spectators are separated from the cars with massive hay bales meaning that they can literally reach out and touch the cars as they go by.
