Lewis Hamilton to drive Senna's 1988 McLaren-Honda at Goodwood

Lewis Hamilton with 2008 McLaren MP4-23 and 1988 McLaren-Honda MP4/4 turbo

Attendees of the 2009 Festival of Speed will be treated to a rare sight. F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton will test drive the 1988 McLaren-Honda MP4/4 turbo race car during an exhibition speed hillclimb during the event.

Hamilton is said to have jumped at the opportunity to pilot the '88 World Championship car. The car was piloted to the F1 crown by Brazilian racing legend, Ayrton Senna, one of Hamilton's heroes.

Not content to just drive a classic, Hamilton will also show off his 2008 championship-winning Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 during the FoS. The racecar driver has also agreed to personally chauffeur one random festival attendee in a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Hamilton will give the lucky winner a jolt of adrenaline on 5 July by taking him or her around the 1.16 mile hillclimb track at speed.

The same car will be driven the two other days of the event by Pedro de la Rosa, 10-year veteran test driver now at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1. Any ticket buyer is eligible for the contest, as long as they are over 18 years old. Random winners will be drawn by FoS founder Lord March himself.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed has been held annually since 1993. Created by the Earl of March and Kinrara, Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, the event began as a way of reconnecting the Goodwood Circuit with its British racing roots. This year's festival will take place from 3-5 July.

Source: Goodwood

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GOODWOOD AND McLAREN TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE FOR LEWIS HAMILTON AND HIS FANS AT THE 2009 FESTIVAL OF SPEED

In just four weeks time Goodwood and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One team will be making dreams come true for a number of motor racing enthusiasts - including the reigning F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton - at the annual Festival of Speed (3-5 July).

Lewis Hamilton's dream is set to come true at Goodwood when he demonstrates the 1988 McLaren-Honda MP4/4 turbo, as driven by his hero Ayrton Senna, up the famous 1.16-mile Festival of Speed hillclimb. Hamilton has been a life-long admirer of Senna, and the rare opportunity to drive the Brazilian's World Championship-winning 1988 MP4/4 is too good to miss. It promises to be a real treat for both Lewis and his fan base.

In addition to driving Ayrton Senna's 1988 car, Lewis Hamilton will also demonstrate his more familiar Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23, which took him to F1 World Championship victory last year, at the Festival.

Lewis will also make a member of the public's dream come true at Goodwood as well. One very lucky buyer of a Festival of Speed ticket for Sunday 5th July will get the unique, once-in-a-lifetime chance to be driven up the Festival hillclimb in the incredible Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton as his or her ‘chauffeur.'

Goodwood race fans who have bought, or plan to buy, tickets for the Friday and/or Saturday of the Festival of Speed will also be given the opportunity to ride up the Hill in the SLR with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes's F1 test driver Pedro de la Rosa, who celebrates 10 years of F1 involvement this year.

Any buyer of a 2009 Festival of Speed ticket aged 18 or over that attends the event on any or all of the three days will be in with a chance of winning a ride up the Goodwood Hill in an SLR with either Pedro (Friday and Saturday) or Lewis (Sunday). A ticket stub will be drawn by Lord March once a day, and the lucky winner will be informed by midday on the day of his or her visit.

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Renegade

This guy won't be like Senna in a million years.

June 8, 2009 12:13 pm

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loyo

Who said he wants to be like Ayrton Senna? He was just granted with the opportunity to drive Senna's car, that's it.

June 8, 2009 8:13 pm

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Renegade

Senna was brilliant, everybody wants to drive like he did.

June 8, 2009 9:40 pm

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sw1000

Fair play to him, Senna is his hero and it must be a dream come true to drive his car. I'm glad there not letting him round in the awful MP4/24

June 8, 2009 1:27 pm

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GeeNee

Sounds cool. Would be really nice to watch the event

June 8, 2009 1:28 pm

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N20_Purge

Hamilton deserves a better car than he is using now. I dunno what he has right now, but whatever McLaren did to it, they aren't letting is true driving skills from the previous 2 years show. Maybe the old skool F1 pictured could show everyone what is really is.

June 8, 2009 2:00 pm

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malcolm

This is a PR stunt in pretty poor taste. Who else revels in wearing a dead man's clothes? Apparently, only Lewis Hamilton.

June 8, 2009 2:11 pm

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kenta

Will he destroy this valuable car just like his father did with that Carrera GT? ... I am just afraid of it.

June 8, 2009 3:56 pm

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sw1000

I don't understand how this is a poor PR stunt, Goodwood is the ultimate speed festival. It's a nice gesture from McLaren. Hamilton is an amazing driver, for anyone not realising this look how he drives that sorry state that is the MP4/24 round the track. He pushes it to the edge.

June 8, 2009 4:44 pm

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Vlad

I dunno why so many people 'Hate' Lewis....

June 9, 2009 12:47 pm

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malcolm

I don't think anyone "hates" Lewis Hamilton, but I think there is a backlash from those who think he was overhyped - great car, standard driver = Championship, this year with a ropey car he has shown that he just isn't that good a driver. Think of Damon Hill at Hungary in his Arrows back in 1997 - are we really going to see anything like that from the young Hamilton? I doubt it.

June 11, 2009 2:08 pm

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