Goodwood 2021 Festival of Speed

After a two-year break due to Covid-19, the Goodwood Festival of Speed returned bigger and better than ever this year.

Taking centre stage at the show was the brand new Central Feature sculpture. Designed by Format Engineers, the unique feature created the perfect backdrop for the unveiling of Lotus Cars’ new Emira supercar, which has a 3.6-litre supercharged V6 engine!

Photos by Crate47  (@Crate47 Instagram/@Crate47uk Twitter).

As part of the Central Feature installation, MMA supplied all the cables and assemblies for the structure totalling some 750 metres, and ranging in diameter from 6mm to 25mm, all with clevis ends and all set to a specific rotation to the sculpture. By way of nature, the tensioned ropes were designed to stabilize the entire metal framework, creating a deceptively complex tensegrity cantilever sculpture.

Visitors were able to download the Goodwood Motorsport app and by pointing their phone at the sculpture, four iconic Lotus cars would appear, speeding through the air on a virtual reality track, making the sculpture more interactive than even before!

MMA worked closely with Littlehampton Welding who installed the structural metalwork and stainless-steel ropes, making sure the ropes were cost effective and delivered in time for the final stage of the installation days before the event. 

Lotus summed up the sculpture with: ‘The impression is of a structure made more from air than actual material. Colin Chapman would have approved’.

The team at MMA were proud to have been part of such a unique and prestigious project and are looking forward to seeing the sculpture permanently residing at the Lotus headquarters in London following the festival.