Ford's electric SuperVan dominates Goodwood Festival of Speed with record hillclimb

This weekend, the Goodwood Festival of Speed witnessed a historic moment as Ford's electric SuperVan outperformed all competitors, gas or electric, to clinch the top position in the hillclimb. The annual event, held at the historic Goodwood House estate in West Sussex, England, started in 1993 and has grown to become one of the world's most prestigious motorsports festivals.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is not just a race; it's a celebration of automotive culture. It attracts car enthusiasts, manufacturers, and race teams from around the globe. Many companies choose this venue to unveil new models, while others showcase rare or customised vehicles. The hillclimb, a 1.17-mile track with a 304-foot elevation gain, is the event's centrepiece. It's a short but thrilling race that allows participants to display the prowess of their vehicles.

The Electric SuperVan's Stunning Performance

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This year, the competition was fierce, especially between Subaru's "Project Midnight," a heavily modified WRX with a 670hp flat-four ICE engine driven by Scott Speed, and Ford's SuperVan, an E-Transit transformed into a 1,400hp racecar piloted by Romain Dumas. In qualifying, the SuperVan edged out the Subaru by a mere tenth of a second, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown.

On Sunday, the SuperVan delivered an astonishing performance, completing the hillclimb in 43.98 seconds, significantly ahead of the Subaru's 46.07 seconds. This victory adds to the SuperVan's impressive track record, including previous achievements at Bathurst and Pike's Peak.

An Electric Revolution at Goodwood

The festival also saw the debut of several electric vehicles, highlighting the shift towards sustainable and high-performance electric cars. Among the notable mentions were the MG Cyber GTS, Hispano Suiza's 1,114hp Carmen Sagrera, and Polestar's Concept BST and Concept 6. These vehicles participated in the hillclimb, with some aiming for the best time, while others showcased their capabilities to the enthusiastic crowd.

Record-Breaking Legacy

The Goodwood hillclimb has seen its share of record-breaking performances. For two decades, a 1998 V10 F1 car driven by Nick Heidfeld held the record until it was broken in 2019 by Romain Dumas in VW's ID.R electric racecar. The current record, set in 2022 by Max Chilton in the McMurtry Spierling "fan car," stands at 39.08 seconds. This year's competitors, including Ford's SuperVan, weren't aiming for this record but demonstrated remarkable performance nonetheless.

The Challenge of Racing Vans

The SuperVan's success is particularly noteworthy given its size. Traditional race cars are designed to be lightweight for better acceleration, braking, and handling. In contrast, the SuperVan's substantial weight makes its performance all the more impressive. Despite its bulk, the vehicle's engineering and power allowed it to outperform many traditional race cars.

A Setback for Lotus

Not all participants had a smooth run. Lotus brought its one-off, multi-million-dollar Evija X, which had set an impressive lap time at Nurburgring earlier this year. Unfortunately, the car crashed shortly after the starting line at Goodwood, its immense torque proving difficult to manage from a standstill.

The Future of Motorsport

The Goodwood Festival of Speed continues to be a beacon for innovation and competition in motorsport. This year's event highlighted the growing prominence of electric vehicles in racing, showcasing advancements in technology and performance. Ford's SuperVan, with its exceptional hillclimb victory, exemplifies the potential of electric racecars, challenging traditional notions of motorsport and paving the way for future developments.