The Goodwood Festival of Speed has announced that 2025’s Central Feature will pay tribute to a man whose influence has shaped modern motorsport and supercar design: Gordon Murray.
Celebrating six decades of groundbreaking engineering, the festival runs from 10 to 13 July and will also see the debut of a new Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) road car.
A fixture of the festival, artist Gerry Judah’s Central Feature draws crowds every year to the Duke of Richmond’s front lawn, never failing to spark debate. This year, it honours Murray’s guiding philosophy of lightweight efficiency and performance, accompanied by a display of cars spanning his early Formula 1 successes to his latest work at GMA.
Murray’s engineering career has left a distinct mark on motorsport, defined by championship-winning Formula 1 designs for Brabham and McLaren. Creative interpretations of the rule book also resulted in oddities such as the infamous Fan Car. Five championships later, he went on to design the legendary McLaren F1 – a car that redefined supercar performance and packaging. Murray eventually left McLaren and established Gordon Murray Design in 2007, which later evolved into Gordon Murray Automotive, where lightweight engineering remains the driving ethos.
In recent years, GMA has used Goodwood to unveil major models, including the first public outings of the T.50, T.33 and T.33 Spider, along with the dynamic debut of the T.50s at the 81st Members’ Meeting.
Reflecting on his career, Murray said: "For 60 years I have enjoyed the challenge of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – be that in racing or road cars. The supercars we build today at Gordon Murray Automotive are inspired by every car I’ve designed, raced and owned. Lightweight design, innovative materials and cutting-edge technologies remain at the heart of everything we do. I am thrilled to celebrate this milestone at the Goodwood Festival of Speed."
The Duke of Richmond, founder of the festival, added: "Gordon has been a part of this festival since its inception, and I am delighted he has chosen Goodwood to mark his 60-year career. His name is synonymous with engineering excellence and automotive design, from his Formula 1 triumphs to his revolutionary supercars."
Beyond the Central Feature, GMA’s presence will be felt throughout the festival. Its road cars will take pride of place in the Supercar Paddock, while a dedicated exhibition will chart Murray’s career. A special activation on the Cricket Pitch – within view of the Central Feature – will add to the celebration.
The 2025 festival will also feature the most extensive display of Formula 1 cars in Goodwood’s history, alongside appearances from four-time World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty, all presented under this year’s overarching theme: The Winning Formula.
With Saturday tickets already gone, visitors can still secure passes for Thursday, Friday and Sunday at goodwood.com.
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