The Goodwood Festival Of Speed is a must-attend annual celebration of motor racing held in Sussex on an Earl's estate. Gathering cars (and bikes), drivers, and enthusiasts from all over the world, the event celebrates motor racing from the very early days, through to the very latest F1 cars. It is held in the grounds of Lord March's estate, near Chichester, Sussex, in the south of England, and has static displays, demonstration runs, and timed runs, up the hill past Goodwood House.

Nick Mason is a regular each year, having driven a range of classic cars from his and other's collections. At this year's event - being held from July 11th to 13th - he will be taking the wheel for the maiden drive of an authentic reconstruction of a classic, Grand Prix winning racing car from 1939, which should excite many of the petrolheads in the 150,000-strong crowd!

The car is a reconstruction of the original Auto Union "Silverarrow" Type D Dual Compressor from 1939, which won two GP races at the hands of legendary drivers HP Muller and Tazio Nuvolari. Construction of the car, the original version of which won two Grand Prix races at the hands of H.P. Muller and Tazio Nuvolari, took a painstaking four years.

Thomas Frank, Head of Audi Tradition, said: "We are delighted that we now have this car in our collection. And where better to give it its first outing than in the UK? We believe that this gesture is a fitting tribute to the people whose unique craftsmanship has brought this extraordinary car back to life." This 'new' Auto Union Type D was constructed entirely in England. The specialist workshop Crosthwaite & Gardiner in East Sussex called on almost 30 years of experience in reconstructing Auto Union "Silverarrow" cars. Complicating matters, the bodywork specialists at Roach Manufacturing, near Southampton, had only a handful of historic photos as the basis for their research.

Having already driven an Auto Union racing car at Goodwood in 2007 (the 1936 Type C), Nick is clearly looking forward to the opportunity: "I must have done something right last year if Audi Tradition is now prepared to let me take to the wheel for this maiden trip. But seriously, it's a huge honour, which I sincerely appreciate".

Full details of the Festival can be found at www.Goodwood.co.uk/fos, where you can also purchase your tickets for the event. Entrance is by advance ticket only, and there is plenty of free parking to be found at the venue, reached easily from the main A27 coast road in Sussex.

[Picture credits: Audi]