Prost and Mansell to reunite with historic F1 cars at Goodwood

Two of Formula 1’s most celebrated icons are set to make a thunderous return to the cockpit next month, as Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell take centre stage at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

This year’s event, themed “The Winning Formula: Champions and Challengers”, logically marks the F1’s 75th anniversary,

And Prost and Mansell will be reunited with the very machines that helped define their legacies, reviving an era of fierce rivalries, unforgettable drama, and engineering brilliance.

Legends Reunite with Racing Royalty

Prost, a four-time World Champion, will once again climb aboard the McLaren MP4/4 – the dominant force of the 1988 season.

A car often regarded as the most successful F1 machine ever built, the MP4/4 won an astonishing 15 out of 16 races that year, securing both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships for McLaren.

Prost, who claimed seven of those victories, narrowly missed out on the title to teammate Ayrton Senna, but his performances remain etched in F1 lore.

Mansell, meanwhile, returns to the wheel of the Williams FW11 – the powerful, Honda-engined beast that helped secure Williams the 1986 Constructors’ Championship.

The car played a central role in one of the most dramatic seasons in Formula 1 history, with Mansell leading the title fight until a cruel tyre failure at the season finale in Adelaide dashed his hopes and handed the championship to none other than Prost.

This summer, the rivals-turned-legends will be teammates of nostalgia, as they drive these historic cars at Goodwood on Saturday, July 12 — a day that promises goosebumps for F1 fans around the world.

Heritage Meets Horsepower

Both McLaren and Williams will go all-in for this year’s Festival of Speed, a veritable rolling showcase of motorsport royalty.

The Woking-based outfit will display a fleet of historic contenders, including Prost’s 1985 title-winning MP4/2B, the 1974 M23 that took Emerson Fittipaldi to glory, and the 2008 championship-winning MP4/23 driven by Lewis Hamilton.

Also featured will be the 2024 Constructors’ Championship–winning MCL38 and the 1995 Le Mans–winning F1 GTR, piloted by original winner J.J. Lehto.

• Read also: Vowles lives out FW14B dream ahead of Goodwood run

Williams, meanwhile, brings out the big guns with, in addition to the FW11, the unforgettable FW14B – the active suspension marvel that delivered Mansell his long-awaited Drivers’ Championship in 1992.

“It’s an incredible privilege to celebrate Williams’ rich history at Goodwood, showcasing two of the team’s most iconic cars,” said Team Principal James Vowles, who will run up the hill at the wheel of FW14B.

“The restored FW11 represents a historic collaboration between Atlassian Williams Racing and Honda Motor Co., Ltd, a partnership that defined an era of engineering excellence and championship success.”

“Alongside the legendary FW14B, seeing these cars together at Goodwood is a powerful reminder of our rich racing legacy. This event perfectly honours the heritage and innovation that continue to inspire our team today.”

Joining Mansell in driving the FW11 are former Williams winners Thierry Boutsen and Riccardo Patrese, alongside Williams Heritage Ambassador Karun Chandhok.

The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed is shaping up to be an extraordinary celebration of the sport’s golden years – driven by the legends who made the era so unforgettable.

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