2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed dates to be amended

Organizers for the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed have confirmed that the dates for next year’s event will be amended following the FIA’s decision to alter the 2013 Formula 1 calendar, which has seen the German Grand Prix move to the same weekend as was scheduled for the Festival of Speed weekend.

Next year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed was initially scheduled to be held between the British and German Grands Prix, with the two race weekends separated by two weeks. However, with the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone eager to see the 2013 calendar return to its initial twenty races, the calendar has been slightly altered to allow a race in Europe to be held on July 21st. To compensate for this sudden change, the FIA decided to move the German Grand Prix forward one weekend, therefore clashing with the Festival of Speed.

"Due to the FIA unexpectedly announcing a further change to the 2013 F1 calendar, the German Grand Prix will now take place on 5th-7th July, the same weekend on which the Goodwood Festival of Speed was scheduled," read a statement issued by the organizers for the Festival of Speed.

"Given that the Festival of Speed is the only event in the world outside of a World Championship Grand Prix where you can get a close up view of the latest F1 cars and drivers in action, we will now have to change the Festival’s date in order to avoid this conflict with the amended Grand Prix calendar.

"Goodwood is now reviewing the 2013 Festival of Speed dates and will confirm these very soon. We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause, but sadly this is outside of Goodwood’s control."

It is as of yet unknown which European nation will host the Grand Prix on July 21st, however Turkey and Austria have emerged as likely candidates. A potential Turkish Grand Prix would take place around the Istanbul circuit, one of the best circuits designed by Hermann Tilke. However, an Austrian Grand Prix would most likely see the return of the A1-Ring, which has recently been rebranded as the Red Bull Ring.

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