Legendary drivers, race winning machinery, road going exotics, a concours d’elegance, a rally stage, one off concepts, and, of course, glamour – all par for the course at one of the most awaited automotive events on the annual calendar, the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The 2009 Festival featured 120 star racing drivers and riders, including reigning Formula 1 champion, Lewis Hamilton, current championship leader, Jenson Button, and World Rally champion, Sebastian Loeb. While the F1 drivers took to the track, Lord March’s 1.16 mile driveway, Sebastian Loeb blazed through the forest stage in his Citroen C4 WRC, as did legendary rally drivers Walter Rohrl, Stig Blomqvist, Rauno Aaltonen, Hannu Mikkola and Bjorn Waldegard.

Audi celeberated its 100th anniversary at the 2009 Festival in great style with a jaw-dropping feature display outside Goodwood House, while also showcasing a mouth-watering selection of historic Audi racing cars, including Auto Unions, Quattros, and the R10 & R15 Le Mans racers. The centenary of both Bugatti and Morgan were also marked with some truly desirable cars. The 75th anniversary of the German Silver Arrow racers saw a record gathering of 14 examples from Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz, not to mention a paddock row filled with 14 Porsche 917s (40 years after its introduction).

American entertainment legends Jay Leno and Peter Fonda were a big hit with the Festival crowds – Fonda riding his famous ‘Captain America’ chopper from the influential movie Easy Rider up the Goodwood Hill throughout the weekend. Cult US television presenter Jesse James also delighted the fans with his crazy exploits in his menacing 950bhp Baja-style ‘Trophy Truck.’

There was also some serious action on the Goodwood Hill, with Festival stalwart Justin Law acing the course once again this year to take the fastest time of the weekend aboard his Jaguar XJR-12. The more relaxed supercar run, as always, was filled with some of the most extreme and exotic cars on the planet, although this year they were interspersed with some high-tech low-emission vehicles as well.

The 2009 Festival once again proved to be a true celebration, unlike any other, of all things automotive.