Ilmor heads to Goodwood Festival of Speed Brixworth 04.06.07: Ilmor GP will attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this month (22nd -24th June) with Jeremy McWilliams at the helm of the Ilmor GP bike. Team Principal Mario Illien has been an admirer of the event over the years and whilst his team continues to secure commercial partners he saw the perfect opportunity to get the bike back out in the public eye thousands of people attend the historical festival in Sussex each year. McWilliams is no stranger to the event having competed previously at Goodwood – most recently in 2006 on a BMW K1200R Power Cup racer where people say the shy and retiring Northern Irishman ‘stole the show’ riding the whole hillclimb on his rear tyre. He’ll be in good company this year as he joins motorsport legends such as Sir Stirling Moss, John Surtees and Sir Jack Brabham and rubs shoulders with some of today’s hottest properties such as Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Petter Solberg and Colin McRae. Jeremy McWilliams said: “I’m really looking forward to taking part again, it’s a great event last year the atmosphere really blew me away. The event covers every aspect of motorsport with the most astonishing collection of historical machinery and ex riders and drivers. Everyone comes together for Goodwood, I’ve never seen so many famous faces in one place. Obviously as well as the fun side, it’ll be great to get back on the bike.” The Festival of Speed famous for the hill climb is much more than an exhibition, the event can justifiably claim to be the world’s biggest and most diverse celebration of the history of motorsport. It is the only occasion where you will see in action the greatest competition cars and star drivers from all eras: everything from 19th century steam carriages to current racing motorcycles, Formula One cars, classic rally cars to 3000bhp dragsters. Motorcycles make up a key part of the Festival, over the years an enviable collection of machines and riders have gathered at Goodwood in celebration of motorcycling history. Around 40 bikes gather at the Festival each year, with entry by special invitation from Lord March. Some of the greatest names in motorcycle racing have ridden at Goodwood including Carl Fogarty, the late Barry Sheene, Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan, Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Giacomo Agostini, Luigi Taveri, John Surtees, Jim Redman, John Reynolds, Troy Baylis, Troy Corser, Randy Mamola, Paul Smart, Mick Grant and Marco Lucchinelli. Mario Illien said: “We’re still working very hard on the development of the bike and securing sponsorship for the team. Obviously I would love for us to be racing at Donington the weekend that we’re at Goodwood, but at least this way the British public will get a chance to see the bike and Jeremy in action in the mean time. We have built up a huge fan base since we launched last year in Estoril and the support from the public since we announced our plans to temporarily suspend racing has been phenomenal we’re still very focused on racing and we want to be back out on track as soon as possible.”