Celebrate Honda's Triumphant Return at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
Breaking news! From July 11-14th, 2024, Honda will triumphantly return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed after a five-year absence, sparking anticipation and excitement among motorsports enthusiasts and festival visitors.
From modest beginnings 31 years ago, today, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is the most prestigious motorsports extravaganza in the UK.
In 2019, the Goodwood Festival of Speed rolled out the red carpet to celebrate Honda's 60 incredible years at the forefront of two-wheeled motorsport. It was a journey to evoke nostalgia and admiration for Honda's rich history.
Honda was the first Japanese motorcycle manufacturer to race in the UK. The 1959 Isle of Man TT, saw three RC142s finish in the top 10. Honda had arrived in style, and the stranglehold enjoyed by European manufacturers suddenly slackened its former tight grip.
For Honda's 2024 festival appearance, eventgoers will witness firsthand the manufacturer's ongoing commitment to producing cutting-edge racing motorcycles. Three iconic race-winning bikes spanning decades will be on show at the event: the RC142, RC213V, and 2024 Superstock Fireblade TT bike.
The 1959 RC142
This 125cc single overhead camshaft (SOHC), twin-cylinder bike broke the mold. It also signaled the beginning of Honda's commitment to motorsport and the Isle of Man TT. The diminutive twin pushed out a modest 18.5 bhp and featured spindly leading link forks. Although Honda didn't make the step up to the winner's podium in 1959, with four out of the five-strong race team in the top 11 finishers, Honda took the coveted manufacturer's trophy.
1966 RC173
This model is another landmark racing motorcycle from Honda. Here, the factory branched out with a 350cc inline 4-cylinder engine. The RC173 was a huge success, especially in the hands of Mike Hailwood. The professional motorcycle racer and racing driver won the 1966 350cc World Championship on board the slim red screamer, so-called for its four open megaphones and 13,000rpm red line.
The 2024 RC213V
This 1000cc V4 was a technological marvel explicitly built for the 2012 Moto GP series. The lightweight 90-degree race bike, piloted by Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, won 12 races and the Constructors' Championships in its debut year, leaving the world in awe of Honda's engineering prowess.
With young superstars such as Marc Marquez joining the team in 2013, the Honda RC213V went on to win a staggering 83 races. Between 2012 and 2019, the formidable V4 took the prestigious Constructors' Championships on no less than seven occasions.
The 2024 John McGuinness Isle Of Man Superstock Fireblade
McGuinness, Fireblade, and the TT are three inextricably linked names. In 2007, John McGuinness MBE became the first rider to break the seemingly impossible 130mph lap of the gruelling mountain course. The English motorcycle road racer created that milestone onboard a Honda CBR1000 Fireblade. Some 17 years later, McGuinness made his 109th TT start on his weapon of choice, the legendary Honda Fireblade. McGuiness's feat of staying fiercely competitive over such a lengthy, illustrious career is equaled only by Honda's ability to keep the Fireblade in its rightful place at the cutting edge of competition. The CBR1000RR-R Superstock Fireblade ridden by John in the 2024 IOM TT will take its rightful place amongst Honda's milestone race bikes on display. Joining them on the Honda stand at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed will be two motorcycles from Honda's current lineup and a true blast from the past.
Africa Twin Adventure Sports
With a nod to its 1980s namesake, the CRF1100 Africa Twin is a globetrotting adventure bike in the truest form. The modern-day 2024 1100cc Adventure Sports model enjoys stronger low and midrange power, electronic suspension, a wider fairing, and a 19-inch front wheel.
The Adventure Sport's lower center of gravity and greater road-centric geometry may make it a grand tourer, but it's still more than capable once the road ends.
ST125 Dax
Who says small bikes don't pack a punch? And it doesn't get much better than the 2024 125cc Dax, a faithful reproduction of the original 1969 'monkey bike.' While it's still every bit as much fun, its retro looks are merely skin deep. The 2024 Dax enjoys modern frame technology and disc brakes with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and LED lighting.
1992CBR 900RR Honda FireBlade
In the early 90s Honda launched a motorcycle that not only redefined sports motorcycling but also created the entire super sports genre. This motorcycle was the groundbreaking 900cc Honda Fireblade. The lightweight powerhouse turned the motorcycling world on its head, and a beautifully preserved 1992 launch model takes its rightful place in the Goodwood event's Honda lineup.
To highlight the Fireblade's evolution, visitors to the Festival of Speed will be able to compare the OG to the 2024 CBR1000RR-R. This incredible machine's latest incarnation features many important updates.
The 2024 Blade has new aerodynamic bodywork, a retuned engine, improved frame, suspension, and brakes. A new throttle-by-wire system, shorter gear ratios, and remapped electronics are only a few of the improvements guaranteed to ensure the 2024 Fireblade is streets ahead.
The Honda motorsport banner spans way further than two-wheeled racers. For 2024, the Goodwood Festival of Speed proudly marks 60 years of the Factory's Formula 1 participation with a selection of F1 cars across its rich history. Pride of place is the incredible RA272. This vehicle, designed and built in 1965, epitomises the finest Japanese technology.
With work's driver Richie Ginther leading every lap of the Mexican Grand Prix from the get-go, the RA272 stomped home to become the first Japanese car to win a Formula 1 race. The shock waves reverberated worldwide. Moreover, the sound of the 1.5 litre, 48-valve V12 accelerating through the gears is one of motorsport's most magical moments.
This year's Festival F1 fans are in for a treat. Former Honda work's star Hikaru Miyagi will give the car a thorough workout on Goodwood's famous hill climb course on the 13th July. Meanwhile, on Sunday, 14th July, Honda's current F1 wunderkind, Yuki Tsunoda, will put the RA272 through its paces.
While the track pushes the envelope for technological advances, road cars benefit in the real world. Making its first European public appearance at the show is Honda's eagerly awaited Prelude Concept Car. This sixth-generation Prelude continues the model's tradition of combining leading-edge design and technology.
Meanwhile, the advanced hybrid powertrain offers incredible efficiency without sacrificing performance, making it a true sporty hybrid. The new Prelude Concept Car embodies Honda's 25 years of pioneering research and development in hybrid technology.
As the Goodwood event's name suggests, this is an iconic festival of speed. The four-day event gathers some of the most legendary motorsport vehicles on the planet, along with their fearless riders and drivers. Add to this motor mad celebrities, a hill climb, the Red Arrows, a motor show and the Honda stand and it's little wonder Goodwood Festival of Speed is this summer's hot ticket!
Plan your day
Explore our map and start planning out your day. Don’t forget to download the Goodwood Motorsport App ahead of the event for your map and timetable on the go.
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