4:15pm Friday 19th March 2010
By Glynn Williams
IT’S AN Italian Job in reverse – Alfa Romeo is stealing the scene at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed for the global celebrations of its centenary.
One of the world’s most revered automotive marques with an illustrious sporting history will be celebrating in real style at the 18th Festival on July 2-4.
In fact the party will start early with the media launch of the new Giulietta model around Goodwood the previous week, and then it will be a star of a Goodwood innovation – the Moving Motor Show.
Staged on the Thursday preceding the three-day automotive spectacular – the world’s biggest combination of rare racing cars and star drivers – the motor show will be Britain’s main shop window for the motor industry this year.
Manufacturers won’t just be showing cars but inviting potential buyers to drive them on a loop including the famous hillclimb course.
Centrepiece of the festivities though will be a striking automotive ‘sculpture’ in front of stately Goodwood House celebrating Alfa’s passion and speed.
In addition to the main central installation outside Goodwood House, a stunning display of desirable vehicles will be on show at the Festival, representing Alfa Romeo’s first 100 years. Included among these will be many cars never before seen in the UK, direct from the marque’s extensive Milan-based Museo Storico museum collection. It is expected that more than 50 important Alfa Romeos will attend the 2010 festival.
As host the Earl of March said at yesterday’s media launch, the festival has become established as the event of choice for manufacturers to unveil new models and it is only natural to develop the theme with the Moving Motor Show and a big new static display.
But as ever there will be plenty of celebrations of speed!
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