for Guinness World Record attempt at Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 3-5) will this year provide the backdrop to a remarkable demonstration of grit and determination when Porsche aims to break a Guinness World Record for the longest distance covered in 48 hours by a team of 12 runners using treadmills.
Organised by the sports scientists from the Porsche Human Performance Centre at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone, this gruelling athletic exercise will take place live at the Porsche exhibition area over the Festival weekend. Starting at 12 noon on Friday July 3, the runners are seeking to break the former distance record of 495.76 miles set in April 2008 – which means maintaining an average speed of over 10mph!
The record attempt, which is supported by Technogym and Adidas, will be managed by Andy Blow, Head of the Porsche Human Performance Centre, together with fellow sports scientists Eliot Challifour and Pippa Alford. The 12 runners in the endurance challenge are from around the UK and each have an impressive track record in competitive triathlons, marathons, Ironman and adventure racing. Brief biographies of each team member are attached below.
Members of the public have the chance to compare their pace with these professionals by running alongside on a second treadmill. A number of celebrities are scheduled to drop by over the weekend, including Red Bull Formula One driver Mark Webber.
Porsche at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Appropriately, the theme of this year’s Festival is ‘True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance’. With an unbeaten record of 16 victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, the reputation of Porsche has been founded on success in the demanding high pressure, high speed motor sport environment. The Porsche 917 scored the first Le Mans win for the marque, and the iconic sports car celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. A stunning selection of examples of the 917 on loan from the new Porsche Museum, in Stuttgart, Germany, will be present at Goodwood.
The Sunday Times Supercar Run is a prime attraction at the Festival of Speed, showcasing the fastest and most exclusive road-going sports cars. This year’s event will mark the UK debut of the latest Porsche 911 GT3 – ten years since the GT3 series began. Also guaranteed to draw attention will be the first public unveiling of the new Porsche Panamera Gran Turismo, which is likewise taking part in the Supercar Run.
Visitors to the Festival of Speed will also be able to experience Porsche power personally courtesy of driving consultants from the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone, who will be demonstrating the performance and handling of the Porsche Cayenne on a specially designed dynamics course at the Porsche Driving Experience area.
Porsche enthusiasts visiting Goodwood will be pleased to learn that there are many more examples of the marque, and former factory race drivers, participating in the Festival of Speed. For example, Richard Attwood, former F1 driver and 1970 Le Mans winner, will be driving a 917; sports car racing legend Brian Redman will be behind the wheel of the 917/30 Can Am racer; David Piper, who bought a 917 new from the factory in 1969, will be driving his own car; and Jackie Oliver, who won Le Mans in 1969, will be reunited with an evocative Gulf-liveried 917.
For visitors wishing to refuel themselves, the Porsche Café Le Mans will be once more situated on the outside of the track near the footbridge, offering meals and refreshments.
Ends
Editors’ NotesPress Call for the Porsche Human Performance Centre Guinness World Record Attempt Location – Porsche Driving Experience, in the infield area to the right of Molecombe CornerTimings - Start 12:00 Friday July 3 Finish 12:00 Sunday July 5
Team Biographies
Eliot Challifour (28) Bath, Avon
Manager of the Porsche Human Performance Centre, Silverstone, Eliot trains numerous high-profile racing drivers, but in his spare time has competed at a professional level in triathlon, xterra and adventure racing for the past 10 years. Eliot is currently training for the 2010 Marathon Des Sables, an ultra-long distance marathon in Morocco.
Doug Hall (22) Bath, Avon
When not studying for a Sports Coaching degree at the University of Bath, Doug works as a triathlon coach for votwo ltd. Practising what he preaches, Doug races triathlon at a professional level and achieved his first top ten Ironman triathlon finish last year.
Steve Osbourne (25) Yeovil, Somerset
A professional athlete in the elite race team of votwo ltd, Steve concentrates on the Ironman triathlon and regularly finishes the contests in around 9 hours.
Nigel Leighton (30) Bournemouth, Hampshire
An ex-triathlete, Nigel is now one of Britain’s top marathon runners with a personal best time of 2 hours 18 min.
Matt Cook (23) Cardiff, Wales
Part of the votwo ltd elite race team, Matt competes in triathlons and duathlons. This year, Matt has finished in the top 10 at the National Elite Duathlon Championships.
Mitch Barclay (31) Barnstaple, Devon
An athlete with a broad range of ability, Mitch competes in a variety of sports including triathlon, adventure racing and running, to a high standard.
Sean Frost (24) Yeovil, Somerset
Sean trains and competes in a variety of sports including adventure racing and tough multi-terrain long distance running events.
Dan Corner (33) St Albans, Hertfordshire
The reigning World Quadrathlon Champion, Dan is also an experience triathlete. Not for the faint-hearted, Quadrathlon involves swimming, kayaking, cycling and running.
Nigel Marley (26) Bicester, Oxfordshire
Nigel has only been running at a competitive level for the last three years, yet has achieved some outstanding performances considering a relatively short training history. Most recently Nigel ran 2 hours 31min at the London Marathon in 2009.
Adam Holland (24) Tavistock, Devon
Adam won the votwo Jurassic Coast Challenge Ultra earlier this year, an event which requires contestants to race three marathons in three days along the Dorset coastline. He has also recently completed a ‘ten marathons in ten days’ challenge.
Paul Fernandez (35) Abingdon, Oxfordshire
The Oxfordshire County Champion for the Marathon, 10 mile and 10 km running distances, Paul also holds the current world record for the fastest marathon time run in a clown suit, in a time 2 hours 50min.
Matt King (30) Winchester, Hampshire
By day an Army Physical Training instructor, Matt has a personal best time of 30min 30sec to cover 10km on a treadmill – a perfect qualification for the challenge at the Goodwood Festival of Speed!
