©GoodwoodFOS
Derek Bell’s extraordinary life in motorsport was celebrated in moving fashion on Thursday at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, as the five-time Le Mans winner arrived at Goodwood House in none other than Porsche’s iconic Le Mans-winning 962.
Greeted by The Duke of Richmond and interviewed by Karun Chandhok, Bell reflected on a journey that began just down the road in Pagham and took him to the very heights of racing.
From marshalling at Goodwood as a teenager to winning in a self-built Lotus Seven, and later receiving a career-defining call from Enzo Ferrari, Bell’s story is one of perseverance, grace, and speed.
His most enduring legacy came with Porsche in the golden age of Group C, a chapter he shared with fellow legend Jacky Ickx, also present on Thursday and watching proudly from the crowd.
As friends and family – including son Justin – joined him on the balcony, Bell simply called Goodwood “just home to me.” On a day full of admiration and applause, the sentiment felt mutual. A fitting tribute to one of the sport’s most beloved and accomplished figures.
©GoodwoodFOS
