As many of you know, we’ve attended The Festival of Speed at Goodwood as media since we started our YouTube channel at the beginning of 2024. What you may not know is, this year – the accreditation team at Goodwood declined our media accreditation, so we had to find another way to attend. Why? You ask – well, FoS always has the newest cars and the biggest unveils that you can find, and this year it’s theme was 100 years of MG.
Now, we are huge fans of MG – they gave us a chance back in 2017, with a press loan of their current MG3, and we used it to road trip to Goodwood for the very first time. So we knew we had to find a way to be there – and we did! (But that’s another story…)
So for the very first time, MG took centre stage in front of Goodwood House with the highly anticipated Cyberster EV roadster, headlining Gerry Judah’s annual sculptural masterpiece. To fire up the partnership with the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Cyberster was joined by one of its most famous predecessors, a beautiful 1964 Mk1 MGB Roadster with a 1.8-litre BMC engine. These two MG roadsters - representing different eras - both played prominent roles at the Festival of Speed, and showcased the evolution of MG’s engineering prowess and design innovation.
The Duke of Richmond, (founder of the Festival of Speed) expressed his delight at MG's participation: “Following the world debut of the striking Cyberster at the 2023 Festival of Speed, we are delighted that MG is returning to Goodwood this year to celebrate their centenary in style with their first Central Feature. It is set to be a fitting tribute to the first 100 years of one of Britain’s oldest and most popular manufacturers, which has enjoyed a long association with Goodwood."
MG's presence at Goodwood is deeply rooted in history. MGs were almost ever-present at the circuit from 1948 to 1966, and even earlier, the Duke’s grandfather managed the MG team in the 1930’s, winning the famous Double-Twelve Hour Race at Brooklands in 1931.
The Duke reminisced about MG’s enduring qualities: “He was fascinated by their light weight, simplicity, and clever engineering – characteristics which still underpin the brand today. MG’s 100-year history combined with their continuous drive for innovation, aligns perfectly with this year’s ‘Horseless to Hybrid’ theme, which recognises the advances in technology and power that have shaped motorsport over the last 130 years.”
Guy Pigounakis, MG Motor UK Commercial Director, highlighted MG's dedication to its founding vision:“One hundred years ago, MG pioneered the creation of the popular sports car, turning dreams into reality for millions of enthusiasts around the world. We’re still committed to that founding vision of delivering accessible, innovative, and truly engaging cars. The Cyberster underlines that commitment with a high-performance EV convertible which we hope will have the same impact as its much-loved forerunners.”
Pigounakis emphasized the significance of the Festival of Speed for MG:
“The Festival of Speed is the perfect occasion to celebrate our heritage in our home market where the MG story began, whilst also providing a perfect platform from which to demonstrate the dynamic future of the brand on a world stage.”
As MG celebrates its centenary, the brand is also looking ahead to the future. The unveiling of the Cyberster at Goodwood is a clear indication of MG’s commitment to leading the charge in the electric vehicle market. By blending performance, innovation, and sustainability, MG aims to create vehicles that are not only enjoyable to drive but also environmentally responsible.
On day one, MG rounded up their celebrations with a daytime fireworks display, and a Chinese drumming band performance in front of Goodwood House.
Ben and I watched it with glee, and not a little joy. Yes, MG is now owned by a Chinese company (fireworks AND drums, lol) but without them, we wouldn’t even have MG anymore.
Thank you all, and enjoy!
Annabelle 😊
