by Stuart Milne

This weekend will see 150,000 petrolheads descending on a sleepy Sussex village for a weekend of motorsport mayhem.

Each year the Festival has a theme – this year's is ‘True Grit­ - Epic Feats of Endurance', which Goodwood says "celebrates the drive and determination of motor racing's heroes, who overcame huge physical, mental and mechanical barriers in their quest for glory".

And that includes legends such as Jackie Stewart, who won the 1968 German Grand Prix with a broken wrist and Mick Doohan's return to motorcycle racing in 1992 without full use of his right leg.
 
Still not convinced? Check out our top ten reasons to pay the FoS a visit:

1. Formula One
No less than six of today's F1 teams will be at the Festival of Speed, with acclaimed current F1 drivers such as Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Timo Glock and reigning F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton in attendance. A number of previous F1 heroes, including Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart, Eddie Irvine, David Coulthard and Damon Hill will also be tackling the 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb course.

2. Forest Rally Stage
Current WRC teams will join 50 historic rally cars on the Goodwood Forest Rally Stage. There will be plenty of sideways action from current WRC stormers such as multiple World Champion Sebastien Loeb and Danni Sordo in the Citroen C4 WRC, as well as rallying past masters, including Walter Rohrl, Bjorn Waldegard, Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist and Rauno Aaltonen. Cult American television star Jesse James will also be thrilling the Forest Rally Stage crowds in his wild ‘Trophy Truck'.

3. Motorcycles
A who's who of riders and bikes will be in attendance at Goodwood, with huge names such as Troy Corser, Mick Doohan, Max Biaggi and Phil Read set to entertain the crowds. Two-wheeled highlights include no less than five current works World Superbike and World Supersport teams. Hollywood legend Peter Fonda will be reunited with an exact replica of the famous custom chopper that he rode 40 years ago in the 1969 classic movie Easy Rider. Fonda will ride up the Goodwood Hill each on this iconic Harley.

4. Anniversaries and key displays
Although still under wraps, this year's extravaganza of automotive art directly outside Goodwood House will celebrate the centenary of Audi. At over 35 metres high, this installation will be one of the Festival's most striking yet, towering above Goodwood House, and visible from many miles away. Also celebrating their centenaries at Goodwood will be Morgan and Bugatti. Other key anniversaries being marked this year include:

• 75 years of the Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz ‘Silver Arrows' racers
• 60 years of the continuous post-War running of the Le Mans 24 hour
• 50 years since the launch of the Mini
• 50 years of the celebrated Daytona 500 race
• 40 years of the dominant Porsche 917
• 40 years of Formula One involvement of Sir Frank Williams.

5. Cartier ‘Style et Luxe'
This prestigious homage to the finest in automotive design will this year include many of the most beautiful and extraordinary cars. A class of coach-built Bugatti Type 57s will set many hearts fluttering, as will the first-ever British sighting of the stunning 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia. Other notable classes include bespoke Rolls-Royces, special Minis and early cyclecars. Expect to see some ultra-rare exotic roadsters from the late 1960s, plus some crazy 1970s wedged concept cars, including the one off Aston Martin Bulldog, Alfa Romeo Carabo and wild Vauxhall SRV.

6. The Sunday Times Supercar Run
A multi-million pound collection of the world's most desirable contemporary exotica will be demonstrated on the hill. UK debuts will include:
• Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport
• Tramontana
• Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss being
• Plus the first UK sighting of the new Audi R8 V10, Ferrari California and GTbyCitroen concept.

7. Timed Run Shoot Out
A new Goodwood attraction for 2009 is a dedicated timed run shoot out on the Sunday afternoon. Throughout the three days of the Festival, a number of cars will climb the challenging 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb against the clock. On Sunday the fastest of these cars will re-run against the clock in a thrilling timed shoot-out to establish the fastest overall time of the Festival weekend.

8. FoS-TECH
FoS-TECH will showcase a variety of exciting new technologies from motor manufacturers, design specialists, oil companies and other motor industry suppliers, with exhibits of concept cars not seen in the UK before, including the Lexus LF-A, Infiniti Essence, Renault Ondelios and the amazing Lola WorldF3rst, the first racing car built from entirely sustainable materials, including carrots and potatoes. New for this year will be a class of low-emission vehicles driving up the Goodwood Hill as an addition to the Supercar Run.

9. Junior Festival of Speed
Something to keep kids of all ages entertained, with masses of things to do, from discovering the full set of Wacky Racers to big fun in the gaming zone. The UK's number one mountain bike stunt team, MAD, will amaze all, as will Rarekind, Britain's only graffiti art gallery.

10. A Great Spectator Occasion
Goodwood says "no other motoring event can match the unique combination of more than 350 vehicles and a record 120 motor racing heroes, blasting up the drive of one of England's most revered stately homes". Enthusiasts can enjoy watching great machines and drivers at close quarters, and can actually stop and chat to some of their motor racing idols.