Electric Dominance: Highlights from the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed
The 2026 edition of the Goodwood Festival of Speed has recently concluded, showcasing the dominance of electric vehicles in the hillclimb event. The Ford Super Mustang Mach-E, driven by Romain Dumas, set the fastest time of 41.97 seconds, followed closely by Formula E's Gen4 car driven by Dan Ticktum with a time of 42.46 seconds. The third spot was claimed by the Shadow DN4, powered by an 8.1-liter Chevrolet V8 engine, driven by Alex Summers with a time of 46.30 seconds.
Electric vehicles excel in hillclimb events due to their instant torque, allowing them to accelerate quickly out of corners. The short 1.16-mile course enables EVs to showcase their performance without facing issues like battery overheating or added weight disadvantages that could arise in longer races.
In previous years, the all-electric Ford SuperTruck and SuperVan, both driven by Romain Dumas, also topped the hillclimb. The current record for the fastest hillclimb time at Goodwood belongs to the McMurtry Spéirling, an EV with innovative "fan car" technology, completing the course in 39.08 seconds in 2022.
The top 10 finishers at this year's event included a mix of vehicles like the Volkswagen Polo WRX, BMW M3 Touring 24H, Subaru Brataroo 9500 Turbo, Nissan 300ZX Turbo, Dodge Viper GTS-R, Porsche 911 Cup Type 992.2, and Toyota-Judd Formula Supra, showcasing a diverse range of performance cars.
Apart from the hillclimb, the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed also featured exciting debuts such as the Lexus LFA Concept, Hennessey Venom F5-M, and Zenvo Aurora Tur, highlighting cutting-edge technology and performance in the automotive industry. The next event on the Goodwood calendar is the Goodwood Revival, scheduled for September 18–20, 2026, focusing on historic and classic cars.