NINE DECADES OF HIGH SPEED - BMW GROUP MOBILE TRADITION AT THE GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2006.
A fine selection of vehicles, drawn from nine decades of BMW motor racing history, have been sent to the south of England for this internationally renowned event.
The car most steeped in tradition brings flair to Goodwood in the shape of the BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster. In 1940, the 328 Roadster finished third in the Mille Miglia, making a key contribution to the BMW team's win overall. Sitting at the wheel of the 130 bhp open two-seater this weekend will be BMW manager, Dr. Friedrich Nitschke.
As BMW’s representative of successful rally history, Herbert Reiter will be driving at Goodwood in his BMW 2002 ti - the car which was once successful at the hands of Rauno Aaltonen on the race tracks of Europe.
With the McLaren BMW F1 GTR, BMW will have one of the most powerful touring cars on the track: with a capacity of 6 litres, the BMW 12-cylinder engine has no less than 633 bhp. This car will be driven by Prof. Burkhard Göschel, Board Member of BMW AG for Development and Purchasing.
As in previous years, Mobile Tradition will once again show classic motorcycles at Goodwood. And there are two special premieres for visitors to look forward to this year. For the first time, the newly reconstructed factory racing machine BMW WR 750 will be seen on the race track again. BMW set numerous speed records as well as gaining national and international victories with this bike from 1929. Jürgen Schwarzmann, owner and restorer of the machine, will ride the WR 750 himself.
The Butler & Smith BMW R 90 S Superbike will also make a comeback to the race track. In 1976, Steve McLaughlin won the very first superbike race ever in motor racing history. BMW Group Mobile Tradition was able to acquire this rare specimen last year for its collection and after painstaking restoration, Jürgen Kübler of BMW M GmbH will present the 100 bhp machine to Goodwood visitors following its last appearance 30 years ago.
This press release did not come with any pictures, but seeing as they mentioned the F1, I'm sure there will be pictures soon. I shall post them as they come available.