CONCORD, N.C. – The Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 that competed in last month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will be a part of this week’s 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England.
Drivers Jenson Button and Mike Rockenfeller will get behind the wheel for the event that takes place from Thursday, July 13, to Sunday, July 16. Button is a decorated 2009 Formula One world champion, while Rockenfeller is a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both competed as part of last month’s Garage 56 effort.
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The Goodwood Festival of Speed celebrates the world of motorsports and car culture. This year’s event marks its 30th anniversary. One of the most well-known aspects of the festival is the nine-turn, 1.16-mile hill climb that competitors take part in. Sunday's action will see the Hillclimb Shootout take place to crown the champion of the Festival of Speed. This entry is part of a celebration of NASCAR's 75-year history.
"The Garage 56 program has been an overwhelming success for us in further introducing motorsports fans from around the world to NASCAR," John Doonan, IMSA President and Garage 56 Program Manager, said in a NASCAR release. "Taking the Garage 56 car to the Goodwood Festival of Speed gives us another chance to bring the world of stock cars to fans of a wide variety of motorsports."
Below is when the Garage 56 car will be on track at Goodwood (Note: West Sussex, England, is five hours ahead of East Coast Standard Time):
Thursday, July 13: 2:30-3:30 p.m. local time (9:30-10:30 a.m. ET); Rockenfeller drives
Friday, July 14: 9:10-9:55 a.m. local time (4:10-4:55 a.m. ET); Button drives
Friday, July 14: 3:10-3:50 p.m. local time (10:10-10:50 a.m. ET); Rockenfeller drives
Saturday, July 15: 8:30-9:10 a.m. local time (3:30-4:10 a.m. ET); Rockenfeller drives
Saturday, July 15: 2:55-3:35 p.m. local time (9:55-10:35 a.m. ET); Button drives
Sunday, July 16: 9:15-9:55 a.m. local time (4:15-4:55 a.m. ET); Rockenfeller drives
Sunday, July 16: 3:50-4:30 p.m. local time (10:50-11:30 a.m. ET); Button drives
In June, the No. 24 Chevy – a modified version of the Next Gen car in the NASCAR Cup Series – competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. NASCAR’s participation in the event was a collaboration between the sanctioning body, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet, Goodyear and IMSA. Button, Rockenfeller and seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson took turns behind the wheel and the entry consistently put down lap times that were faster than the GT class.
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Despite a drive line issue that sidelined the entry for about an hour, the car was able to get back on track and was running at the finish. After completing 285 laps on the 8.4-mile Circuit de la Sarthe, the Garage 56 effort finished 39th in the 62-car event. In addition, the Hendrick Motorsports pit crew won the GT class of Pit Stop Challenge at Le Mans and placed fifth overall. Fans and competitors alike were intrigued by the Next Gen car and it was a popular sight to see amongst the field of sports cars.
Fans can watch the entire Goodwood Festival of Speed on Goodwood Road & Racing’s YouTube channel here. All the festivities can also be viewed on the Goodwood Road & Racing Facebook channel, the Goodwood Festival of Speed Facebook channel and The Goodwood Revival Facebook channel.