PORSCHE’S ICONIC 911 TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT THE 2013 GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED

Goodwood is honouring one of the world’s most versatile and popular sports cars – the Porsche 911 - with the main ‘Central Feature’ at the 2013 Festival of Speed (11-14 July).  The one-off 911-inspired sculpture promises to be a highly distinctive ‘installation’ displayed prominently outside Goodwood House.
Marking the first half-century of the Porsche 911 at Goodwood is hugely appropriate in the Festival of Speed’s 20^th anniversary year.  To date, this legendary sports car has featured at every single Goodwood Festival, from the first event in 1993 - when an unexpectedly high 27,500 enthusiasts turned-up - to the 185,000+ visitors that attended the world’s greatest celebration of car culture last year.
Whether appearing in action in road and race form on the testing 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb, spitting gravel sideways around the Forest Rally Stage, or sitting serenely static yet inviting on the Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ concours lawn or Porsche exhibition stand, the 911 has played a key role in helping to put the Festival of Speed on the map over the last 20 years.
The 911 has been at the very heart of the Porsche brand for the past five decades.  Few other sports cars in the world can look back on such a long tradition and continuity as the Porsche 911. It has been inspiring car enthusiasts the world over since its debut as the model 901 at the IAA International Automotive Show at Frankfurt in September 1963. Today the truly versatile 911 is considered by its many devoted fans to be the quintessential sports car, and the central point of reference for all other Porsche series, as each of the marque’s other models carry a piece of the 911’s philosophy.
Over 820,000 Porsche 911s have been built since 1963, and examples of each of its seven generations will be present at the 2013 Festival of Speed.  From the very beginning the car has been at home on circuits all over the world, earning a reputation as a versatile and dependable winner, with two thirds of the 30,000 race victories achieved by Porsche to date being notched up by the 911.
In addition to Goodwood, Porsche will be celebrating the 911’s 50^th anniversary around the world, including the USA, China, Continental Europe and Australia.  During the summer the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart will also be marking ‘50 years of the Porsche 911’ with a special exhibition featuring the history and development of the car.
A number of significant 911s, along with other important competition Porsches, are set to be in action at the Festival, including examples of the 356, 908, 917 and 962.