2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed will celebrate Bernie Ecclestone

The 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed will be a celebration of Bernie Ecclestone according to Lord Charles March. Instead of celebrating a manufacturer or brand, the event will celebrate Ecclestone's place in Formula 1 and overall influence in the motorsport world.

"This is not so much a tribute, but rather a Goodwood celebration of a racer who has had such a huge influence on the sport that we all love," said Lord March. "Now that Bernie has stepped aside from running Formula 1, he has agreed to spend the weekend at the Festival with many of the great names with whom he has worked during a life dedicated to racing. It's his first visit to the Festival and he will bring with him some great historic Grand Prix cars from his incredible collection."

Ecclestone’s reign began in 1971 when he purchased Brabham, and from there became the chief executive of Formula 1, developing the sport into the global series that it is today, being broadcast around the world and captivating the minds of individuals and groups alike.

This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed has been branded as the “Five Ages of Ecclestone” to honour his time in the sport. Ecclestone’s reign ended in January after Liberty Media took control of operations, replacing him with Chase Carey as the new chief executive.

In his time in the role, Carey has so far increased Formula 1’s interaction with fans by increasing off track entertainment in fan zones and offering unique experiences on track by offering fans the chance to be a passenger on board a two-seater open wheel car. Media control has also been reduced track side which has allowed teams and drivers to interact with fans more on social media platforms such as Instagram.

Chris Soulsby