Toyota at the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Like father, like son: the car with which Nelson Piquet first established his international reputation as a driver of exceptional talent is to be driven by his son, Nelson Piquet Junior, at the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Toyota-powered Ralt RT1 was unmatched in its day, carrying the legendary Brazilian to 13 race wins and an emphatic 1978 British Formula 3 Championship title.

Nelson Junior is himself a record-breaking British F3 champion, having become the youngest driver in history to take the title when he stormed the series in 2004 – just his second season in the competition.

The Ralt RT1 is one of four contrasting Toyota racing machines scheduled to participate in the festival that represent distinctly different aspects of motor sport, but which demonstrate the passion that through the years has fuelled Toyota on its course to Formula 1.

Toyota Panasonic Racing will be back at Goodwood to demonstrate the advanced technology, speed and poise of modern Formula 1 competition with its grand prix car set to take part in the timed runs up the famous Goodwood hill.

International rallying glory will be represented by the 1990 Toyota Celica GT-Four, the all-conquering Group A car that carried Carlos Sainz to the WRC drivers’ title. That season was also memorable for Bjorn Waldegard’s legendary victory on the Safari Rally, a win in extreme conditions that demonstrated the exceptional talents of both driver and machine. Waldegard, the 1979 world champion, will be reunited with his rally-winning car at Goodwood.

An earlier incarnation of the Celica will be demonstrating the muscle that made it the class of America’s IMSA series in 1987. Veteran racer Dennis Aase will be at the Festival of Speed to take the wheel of Dan Gurney’s AAR (All American Racers) GTO Celica Turbo.