Defying gravity 

Few manufacturers have a relationship with the Goodwood Festival of Speed quite like Porsche. While the marque has been part of the event since its early years – with four different 911 models appearing in the Supercar Run as early as 1996 – it is the spectacular Central Features outside Goodwood House that have become the defining symbol of Porsche at the Festival of Speed over the years.

Porsche has been celebrated as the Festival’s featured marque on four occasions, each time to commemorate a major milestone. The first came in 1998 to mark the 50th anniversary of Porsche, with a second in 2013 to celebrate half a century of the legendary 911. Just five years later, in 2018, the marque’s 70th anniversary was honoured, followed by its 75th anniversary in 2023.

Each of the towering sculptures was conceived by British artist Gerry Judah, whose incredible Central Features have been synonymous with the Festival since 1997. Blending art, engineering and motorsport, Judah’s creations have showcased Porsche history in increasingly dramatic fashion, with iconic competition and road cars appearing to soar above Goodwood House.

The most recent of those installations has found a ‘forever’ home beyond the Festival. Originally unveiled in 2023, the 21-metre sculpture now stands outside the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone, carrying six generations of 911 finished in the colours of the Union Flag. It serves as a permanent reminder of one of the Festival of Speed’s longest and most celebrated partnerships, linking Goodwood’s past with the continuing story of Porsche in Great Britain.