It might have Vauxhall badges, but the English-specification VXR8 is otherwise 100 per cent HSV. And at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, there’s arguably no bigger fish out of water.
Unless, of course, you’re talking about yours truly. As I sit having a cuppa after signing in at the glamour Martini-sponsored Goodwood Drivers Club, I can see world champions and any number of motorsports illuminati. Derek Bell is two tables to my right. Tom Kristensen is doing his paperwork nearby. There’s a bevy of younger racers whose faces I recognize but names escape me.
But Goodwood is like that. As you fight your way through the crowds, you see people – who via their celebrity you feel you know. I bump into Brian Redman, almost literally. Sir Jackie Stewart is standing in the midst of the throng. Miko Hirvonen is alongside me in the documentation queue.
It’s boys own stuff
My first drive up Goodwood’s 1.86km hillclimb course in anger will be, in effect, aboard a HSV. It will also mark Holden’s last appearance in this form. The VXR8 is one of only 23 vehicles (15 sedans and eight Maloos) that will come to the UK this year priced at the equivalent of $A125,000. They are the last of their breed – in future, the flow of ‘Commodores’ will reverse and run downhill, from Europe to Australia.
If the Goodwood crowd’s reactions are anything to go by, they’ll miss the big-banger rear drive Holdens as much as we will. In the hour or so before my first run up the hill, I speak with dozens who want to know why the cars will no longer be built. I’m tempted to blame Brexit just for fun…
Indeed, don’t underestimate the Poms’ engagement when it comes to fast and furious Aussie muscle cars. They speak enthusiastically about our Supercar series and many know their stuff. Most are more than up to date with the performance credentials of the VXR8 – and plenty are keen to know whether Vauxhall will add any W1s to its farewell offer in the Old Dart.
Vauxhall’s media wrangler Simon Hucknall is apologetic with his numbers regarding the W1. The demand from Australian and NZ buyers was simply too strong. Vauxhall’s bid for an allotment fell on deaf ears; although at least one Goodwood visitor tells me they have one on the way.
After too many mishaps in previous years the organisers require drivers to hold a racing licence to drive up the Hill. Helmet, racesuit and the like are all on the agenda but the ‘First Glance’ group in which the VXR8 is ceded are all road cars. In effect, it’s a motor show outing with a difference.
Hucknall outlines the conduct that’s expected of me as a driver.
“If you wouldn’t mind possibly doing a bit of a burnout. If that’s not too much trouble of course, that would be great,” he implores.
Far be it from me to disappoint my Goodwood Hillclimb chaperone.
“And then there’s Molecomb,” Hucknall explains, referencing the left-hand off-camber corner that catches newbies and experienced drivers alike.
“It’s blind. If you wait to see it before setting up for it you’ll be in the hay bales. And that’s not ideal,” comes Hucknall’s classical English understatement.
Indeed, it’s only Friday when I head up the hill and it’s already caught out a number of drivers. A wonderful Ford RS200 Group B rally car leaves in a significantly less wonderful state. And who could forget cyclist turned racer Sir Chris Hoy’s effort in a Nismo GT3 GT-R just a couple of years ago.
“Ouch!” winces Hucknall.
Goodwood’s Hillclimb is the centrepiece of what is quite simply the best automotive event on the planet. There’s much more to the event now than just the sprint up the hill: it has become the de facto UK motor show and annually hosts global reveals of key cars. In 2017, Porsche chose Goodwood to lift the sheets of its most outrageous 911 yet, the 700hp (515kW) GT2 RS.
The VXR8 I’m rolling up to the start line in has only 105hp less than the Porsche (595PS the small print says in Vauxhall’s brochure, or 435kW to you and I), but fortunately for me it’s also packing another 500kg or so. Still, a dip of the clutch in the ‘tyre warming area’ has the rear Continentals disappearing into a cloud of smoke – and the small crowd and event marshalls performing their very best tennis claps.
And now it’s time. The car ahead of me launches and soon disappears around the corner at the end of the starting straight and I’m given the signal to go… revs, clutch first gear, short shift to second and hold the burnout to the rev-limiter and I’m grinning like a loon.
And the rest of the run disappears, seemingly in less time than it takes for the smoke to clear from the rear vision mirror. As instructed I brake early for Molecomb, tiptoe around it and it still feels loose. Sage advice, Mr Hucknall. Thanks.
The Flint Wall is tight and hard to see in the change from full sunlight to deep forested shade. Then the hill climbs sharply and after a long left-hander the VXR8 flashes through the finish. All that remains is to gather and the top of the hill and enjoy the view.
I’m directed to park – behind Mark Webber in the new Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo. @AussieGrit sees the big, blue Holden, err… Vauxhall, does a second take and then delivers a thumbs up.
Another driver taps on my window and I think I’m in trouble.
“Very, very good smoke,” he says in an Italian accent.
I like Goodwood. Perhaps I’m not such a fish out of water after all.
Bigger than Ben Hur…
Organisers claim the Goodwood Festival of Speed is “arguably the biggest greenfield event build in the world”.
Hosted in the grounds of Goodwood House, in 2017 it featured over 450 vehicles from across the globe including 180 racing cars and 60 racing motorcycles.
Supercars, “racecars for the road” and First Glance category (effectively manufacturer cars) included 70 cars alone. And in addition to the Hillclimb, there is a gravel stage with 80 historic and modern rally cars being driven in anger.
Then there’s static displays and auctions sponsored by names like Cartier and Bonhams.
Priceless Ferraris abound, so too classic Rolls Royces.
And pray tell, what’s the collective noun for Veyron? At the Festival of Speed this year, there are seven Veyron and a single example of the new Chiron in their own display. That’s circa $12m worth of hardware just there…
The scale of the event is mammoth. With approximately 300,000 visitors and 300 exhibitors, it accounts for around a quarter of the estate’s £100m annual revenues. Goodwood’s PR suggests they build over 18km of temporary paths, position over 1000 picnic tables and lay on enough generator capacity to power the nearby town of Chichester.
At the risk of being clichéd, it is a unique event. And only the Poms could pull it off…