BRENTWOOD, Essex, June 30, 2009 – Ford will supply the new Ford Ranger pick-up as a support vehicle at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
A true off-roader with "tough-truck" capability and seating for up to five make the new Ford Ranger the perfect choice for the team responsible for event support. The rugged tasks set for the team meant that the Ranger's class-leading 3,000kg braked trailer load capacity was particularly helpful.
Christopher Salmon, motor sport events manager for Goodwood, said: "The Ranger's towing capability, load space and real agility off-road make it the ideal choice for our location and set-up. It really makes a difference to the event team to have the right support vehicle at the Festival."
Festival goers will be among the first in the country to see the new Ford Ranger before it goes on sale in September. The event team will be using six vehicles, including double and super-cab Thunder derivatives, and they will be operating throughout the event.
Significant Ford presence
Ford Motor Company, a major sponsor of the Goodwood Festival of Speed since its inception in 1993, will be a significant presence at this prestigious event to be held over the weekend of 3-5 July 2009.
The Festival of Speed is Europe's premier historic motor sport event – a combination of hillclimb, rally stage, garden party and motor show, all in the grounds of Goodwood House, the Earl of March's ancestral home in West Sussex.
Leading the array of famous Ford vehicles on the hillclimb will be the car that celebrated Ford's win in the 1970 London-Mexico rally by winning the re-run in 1995 – the iconic Mk1 Ford Escort Mexico. The triumphant driver on both occasions – Hannu Mikkola, will be driving the car on the Goodwood hillclimb. Also present on the hillclimb – in the supercar class – will be the new Ford Focus RS.
As usual there will be a stunning collection of famous Ford vehicles at Goodwood, in action on the hillclimb and on the forest rally stage, and on display in the grounds.