Goodwood FOS 2013: 911 to celebrate 50 years

Porsche and Goodwood have confirmed that Porsche is to take centre stage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from 11-14 July 2013, in celebration of 50 years of the 911.

First shown in original 901 form at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, the Porsche 911 is set to commemorate its 50th anniversary in style at Goodwood, while 2013 also sees the Festival of Speed mark its 20th year.

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Not only will there be examples of each of the seven generations of 911 built so far on display, with others racing up the hillclimb and around the rally stage, Porsche will also be recognised in this year’s version of the famous Goodwood sculpture, positioned on the lawn in front of Goodwood House.

In addition to this we’re promised “further special announcements from Porsche planned during the event”.

This is likely to include at least one special version of the 911 – perhaps the 911 GT3 RS, following on from the 911 GT3 that’s set to appear at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in March.

And if we’re very lucky, it might even mean demonstration runs from the forthcoming 918 Spyder hybrid hypercar, which is scheduled to go into production on 18 September this year.

The Festival of Speed will also be amongst the destinations for a special 1967 911 that Porsche is about to send on a world tour in celebration of the model’s anniversary.

It goes without saying that the 911 is at the heart of Porsche. Over 820,000 examples have been sold since 1963, and two thirds of Porsche’s 30,000 race victories have come from derivatives of this iconic car.

It has also attended every single Festival of Speed since it began back in 1993, with both Goodwood and Porsche commending the 911 for the “key role” it has played in helping put the event on the map.

Porsche is also expected to display and demonstrate a number of other historic cars at Goodwood this year, including the 356, 908, 917 and 962.

Meanwhile, the Porsche Museum in Germany will mark the anniversary with a ’50 years of the Porsche 911’ exhibition from 4 June to 29 September this summer.

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