Porsche Announces Team For Guinness World Record Attempt At Goodwood Festival of Speed

READING, UNITED KINGDOM – June 25, 2009: The Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 3-5) will this year provide the backdrop to a remarkable demonstration of grit and determination when Porsche aims to break a Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered in 48 hours by a team of 12 runners using treadmills.

Organised by the sports scientists from the Porsche Human Performance Centre at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone, this gruelling athletic exercise will take place live at the Porsche exhibition area over the Festival weekend. Starting at 12 noon on Friday July 3, the runners are seeking to break the former distance record of 495.76 miles set in April 2008 – which means maintaining an average speed of over 10mph!

The record attempt, which is supported by Technogym and Adidas, will be managed by Andy Blow, Head of the Porsche Human Performance Centre, together with fellow sports scientists Eliot Challifour and Pippa Alford. The 12 runners in the endurance challenge are from around the UK and each have an impressive track record in competitive triathlons, marathons, Ironman and adventure racing. Brief biographies of each team member are attached below.

Members of the public have the chance to compare their pace with these professionals by running alongside on a second treadmill. A number of celebrities are scheduled to drop by over the weekend, including Red Bull Formula One driver Mark Webber.

Porsche at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Appropriately, the theme of this year’s Festival is ‘True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance’. With an unbeaten record of 16 victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, the reputation of Porsche has been founded on success in the demanding high pressure, high speed motor sport environment. The Porsche 917 scored the first Le Mans win for the marque, and the iconic sports car celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. A stunning selection of examples of the 917 on loan from the new Porsche Museum, in Stuttgart, Germany, will be present at Goodwood.

The Sunday Times Supercar Run is a prime attraction at the Festival of Speed, showcasing the fastest and most exclusive road-going sports cars. This year’s event will mark the UK debut of the latest Porsche 911 GT3 – ten years since the GT3 series began. Also guaranteed to draw attention will be the first public unveiling of the new Porsche Panamera Gran Turismo, which is likewise taking part in the Supercar Run.

Visitors to the Festival of Speed will also be able to experience Porsche power personally courtesy of driving consultants from the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone, who will be demonstrating the performance and handling of the Porsche Cayenne on a specially designed dynamics course at the Porsche Driving Experience area.

Porsche enthusiasts visiting Goodwood will be pleased to learn that there are many more examples of the marque, and former factory race drivers, participating in the Festival of Speed. For example, Richard Attwood, former F1 driver and 1970 Le Mans winner, will be driving a 917; sports car racing legend Brian Redman will be behind the wheel of the 917/30 Can Am racer; David Piper, who bought a 917 new from the factory in 1969, will be driving his own car; and Jackie Oliver, who won Le Mans in 1969, will be reunited with an evocative Gulf-liveried 917.

For visitors wishing to refuel themselves, the Porsche Café Le Mans will be once more situated on the outside of the track near the footbridge, offering meals and refreshments.