WHILE other motoring classics are biting the dust in the economic downturn, the Earl of March is boldly pressing ahead with his 17th Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 3-5), and Goodwood Rev-ival (September 18-20). What’s more, he said at the press launch that ticket sales – there are advance sales only – are level with last year and looking good. Only the corporate bookings are down.

On hand to assist Lord March outline his plans for 2009 were ex-Formula One legends Damon Hill, Jacky Ickx and Jochen Mass. Rally giants Rauno Aaltonen and Russell Brookes were also in action, as were Le Mans drivers Richard Attwood and Anthony Reid, plus motorcycle heroes Guy Martin, Mich-ael Dunlop and Paul Smart. But come July the star of the show for the third successive year is going to be F1 World Champ-ion Lewis Ham-ilton who will demonstrate the 1988 McLaren-Honda MP4/4 turbo, as driven by his hero Ayrton Senna, up the famous 1.16-mile Festival of Speed hillclimb.

Lewis’s charity, the Lewis Hamilton Foundation (LHF) will be the official charity of this year’s Festival. A non-profit organisation, it is focused on improving the lives and opportunities of children and young people who have a dream and are living in ill health or poverty around the world.

The theme of the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed is True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance and naturally feature the Le Mans classic. It also celebrates the drive and determination of motor racing’s heroes who overcame huge physical, mental and mechanical barriers in their quest for glory, from Jackie Stewart’s enduring victory at the 1968 German Grand Prix despite a broken wrist, to Mick Doohan’s courageous return to motorcycle racing in 1992, without full use of his right leg.