Goodwood is a historic estate in West Sussex, England, centered around Goodwood House, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Richmond. In 1993, Charles Gordon-Lennox, now the Duke of Richmond, founded the Goodwood Festival of Speed to revive the estate’s rich motorsport heritage. With the nearby Goodwood Motor Circuit, active from 1948 to 1966, not yet suitable for modern racing, he creatively hosted a Hillclimb event on the estate’s main driveway! If, like me, you’ve never really been into music festivals, this might be the type of festival for you. The event was an instant hit and has since grown into one of the world’s most prestigious motorsport festivals. Today, the popularity surrounding the festival is as high as it has ever been.
Although I have personally never attended the Goodwood Festival of Speed, yet, I can tell you that from the 10th to the 13th of July, my eyes will be glued to my television as I follow the livestream and action. From timed runs, parades, historic cars and the latest releases, Goodwood packs everything in one place. Turn away from your screen and you may miss Lando Norris driving up the hill in Senna’s iconic McLaren MP4/6. Go make yourself a cup of coffee, and you will miss the record-breaking run from Max Chilton in the McMurtry Spéirling, set at only 39.08 seconds. The car generates so much downforce that it can be driven upside down. Anyway, I’m getting carried away here, let’s talk watches!
Such an iconic event deserves an iconic partner, and who better than TAG Heuer? No watch brand has brought about innovation and visibility to the world of motorsport as much as them. You can read more about their iconic developments and partnerships with the world of Formula 1 here. Formula 1 is just an example of countless partners, ranging from Porsche to the Indianapolis 500. Now then, what have they reserved for Goodwood? A legend.
The Carrera Chronograph x Festival of Speed doesn’t shout, it resonates. TAG Heuer has taken the refined spirit of Goodwood and distilled it into every detail of this 42mm steel chronograph. The first thing that strikes you is the dial: a rich, textured British Racing Green, drawing from the same shade that once adorned the bodywork of Aston Martins and Bentleys tearing through post-war circuits. A hobnail pattern adds tactile complexity, offset with bold red accents that flash like taillights at night. My favorite detail is the brown perforated leather rally strap, complete with white stitching, which conjures up images of grainy 1970s racing reels and sun-drenched circuits.
Of course, beauty without substance wouldn’t do here, this is a racing watch after all. The engine of the piece is TAG Heuer’s Calibre TH20-00, an in-house movement built for both precision and endurance. It offers an 80-hour power reserve, ensuring the watch runs longer than a weekend at Goodwood, and features a column wheel and vertical clutch, hallmarks of high-performance chronographs. The transparent case back, engraved with the Goodwood Festival of Speed logo, is a subtle wink to the enthusiast. The watch is limited to just 100 pieces, initially offered to members of the Goodwood Road Racing Club. It looks like this year, cars will not be the only stars of the show at Goodwood!
