• Subaru announce partnership with World Superbike Championship
• All-electric Subaru Solterra selected as Official Safety Car
• Solterra embodies innovation, performance, and reliability - an ideal match for the championship
• Round 7 of the championship to be held July 11-13 at Donington Park, UK

8th July 2025 - Subaru’s first all-electric SUV, the Subaru Solterra, will take the spotlight as the Official Safety Car of the popular motorsport series. This marks Subaru Europe's debut in an official motorsport programme and the first time WorldSBK has selected an all-electric vehicle as its Official Safety Car.

As the Official Safety Car, the Solterra underscores Subaru’s commitment to crafting vehicles that offer a unique blend of enjoyment and peace of mind. From pre-session track assessments to rapid incident responses, Subaru’s all-electric SUV is built to perform where and when it matters most.

Having performed expertly at all rounds of the season so far, the Subaru Solterra will be on-hand at round seven of the World SBK Championship, held in the UK at the infamous Donington Park, near Castle Donington in Leicestershire. There are three WorldSBK contests to look forward to, with two on the main Sunday race day, plus an international support race package featuring World SuperSport and the return of the Women’s World Championship. Further racing will come from a roster of leading national categories.

"Subaru’s rich racing heritage makes the WorldSBK championship a perfect match for our brand," said David Dello Stritto, General Manager at Subaru Europe. "Partnering with this distinctive motorsport series aligns Subaru with performance and cutting-edge innovation. It reinforces our core values of driving fun, go-anywhere capability, durability and safety—values that resonate deeply with Subaru and WorldSBK fans alike.”

He continued “This collaboration brings our 'Power On. Ready. Charge.' motto to life, showcasing the mindset behind our European efforts to introduce new electric models in the region. It reaffirms Subaru's dedication to shaping a sustainable and electrified future for the brand in Europe.”

Francesco Valentino, Head of WorldSBK Commercial & Marketing Department expressed his enthusiasm: "We are thrilled to welcome Subaru as the Official Safety Car provider for WorldSBK. The Solterra embodies a perfect blend of innovation, performance, and reliability, making it an ideal match for our championship. Subaru’s focus on delivering high-quality vehicles aligns perfectly with WorldSBK’s pursuit of excellence. We’re excited to see the Solterra leading the pack and providing fans with unforgettable experiences in our paddock."

On two wheels, everywhere can be an adventure. For those riders who love combining on-road and off-road riding and venture wherever their imagination takes them, here are two highlights from the Nolan line-up that they may want to consider: 

• Four UK premieres: the first public display of the BMW Vision Driving Experience, BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, BMW Concept Speedtop and the all-new BMW M2 CS.
• The BMW Vision Driving Experience, BMW M2 CS and BMW M3 CS Touring will storm up the hill throughout the weekend.
• To honour 50 years of the BMW 3 Series, a seven-generation parade will take place Thursday 10 July.
• BMW Group Classic joins the festival to celebrate three anniversaries on track: 50 years of the BMW 3 series, 75 years of Formula 1 and 40 years of the “Paris-Dakar” victory in 1985.
• Explore immersive experiences across BMW’s Home of the Ultimate Driving Machine stand - from sim racing to the BMW Motorrad rolling road.
• Join renowned racing drivers and leading podcasters in the BMW Sounds and Stories studio for exclusive live conversations.

The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed sets the stage for BMW to bring The Ultimate Driving Machine philosophy to life, with four exciting UK premieres spanning the brand’s innovation, performance, heritage and luxury.

Returning to the Goodwood Estate from 10 - 13 July, the motoring extravaganza will host the UK debut of the BMW Vision Driving Experience, BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, BMW Concept Speedtop and the highly anticipated second-generation BMW M2 CS. The event will also pay tribute to one of the brand’s most iconic nameplates with a celebration of 50 years of the BMW 3 Series.

The Ultimate Innovation.
Designed to push driving dynamics to the physical limits, the BMW Vision Driving Experience will make its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. First revealed at Auto Shanghai - where it successfully scaled a 55-degree ramp – this high-performance test vehicle is now poised to unleash up to 18,000 Nm of torque on the famed Goodwood hill climb.

Festivalgoers can get a closer look at the BMW Vision Driving Experience in the Future Lab. While not destined for series production, the vehicle serves as a rolling test rig, engineered to stress test the drivetrain and driving dynamics management technology developed for the Neue Klasse. Known as the Heart of Joy, this technology will debut in the first Neue Klasse series production model from autumn 2025.

Also making its UK premiere is the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, offering a first look at the Neue Klasse in SAV form. It combines the familiar two-box silhouette of a BMW X model with a paired-back, modern design language, and it sets the stage for forthcoming BMW iX3.

The BMW Vision Neue Klasse, showcasing the design form of BMW’s future saloon models, will also take its place at BMW’s Home of the Ultimate Driving Machine stand.

The Ultimate Performance.
Closely following its global debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the highly anticipated all-new BMW M2 CS will make its first UK appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Combining thrilling performance, superior driving dynamics and a distinctive design, the latest special edition from BMW M GmbH will be seen thundering up the hill and taking pride of place on the BMW stand. Also joining it on the hill will be the first-ever BMW M3 CS Touring. The fast touring will feature on prominent display on the top floor of the stand, offering guests panoramic views of the festival from the driver’s seat – The Ultimate Seat in the House.

Alongside these CS models, a formidable line-up of BMW M cars will feature on the stand, including the recently updated BMW XM Label, BMW M5 Touring and BMW M135 xDrive. Festivalgoers can also look forward to thrills on two wheels as they take to the BMW Motorrad rolling road with the BMW G 310 R. A range of BMW M motorcycles will additionally feature on display. Previewing the next generation of BMW RR superbikes, the recently unveiled BMW Motorrad Concept RR will be driven up the hill by the CEO of BMW Motorrad, Markus Flasch.

Guests who wish to demonstrate their racing prowess can do so with The Ultimate Racing Machine – a sim racing garage where fans can go head-to-head around Spa-Francorchamps in the BMW M Hybrid V8 prototype race car.

The Ultimate Heritage.
BMW Group Classic will join the Goodwood Festival of Speed with a spectacular line-up of race cars and drivers to celebrate two special anniversaries: 50 years of the BMW 3 series and 75 years of Formula 1.

The most famous race car generations of the BMW 3 series, including the “BMW 320 Group 5 Junior Team, E21”, the “BMW 318i touring car, E36” and the “BMW M3 GTR, E46” will take on the hill climb. Guiding them up the 1.16-mile course will be Swiss Formula One driver, Marc Surer, German touring car professional, Dirk Adorf and local-hero and touring car legend Andy Priaulx. Marc Surer will additionally drive the fabled “Brabham BMW BT 52 Turbo” – the 1983 Formula 1 World Championship-winning car – as part of a major celebration of F1.

Meanwhile on two wheels, the “BMW R 80 G/S Paris-Dakar” will highlight the success at the famous Paris-Dakar-Rallye in 1985 performing several hill climbs.

The Ultimate Luxury.
The fourth and final UK premiere at Goodwood will be the unveiling of the BMW Concept Speedtop. With its elegant proportions and exquisite craftsmanship, this striking shooting brake paves the way for a limited series production of just 70 units globally. Visitors can view this exclusive model in the BMW Individual Lounge, which also houses the range-topping BMW i7 M70 xDrive. The lounge offers guests the chance to explore bespoke personalisation options using the BMW Individual Configurator.

Elsewhere on the stand, festivalgoers can enjoy a series of live conversations at the Sounds and Stories studio, powered Bowers & Wilkins. Expect appearances from racing driver Charlie Martin and motoring journalist, presenter and former racing driver, Vicki Butler-Henderson, alongside a line-up of well-known podcasters.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is being held over four days from 10 - 13 July 2025.

The British Motor Museum is delighted to announce that Peter Armstrong has been appointed Chief Executive Officer from 1 September following the retirement of Jeff Coope.  Jeff retired from the Museum in March after 23 years of dedicated service.

Originally from the UK, Peter has been living and working in the USA for the last ten years and joins the Museum from the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut, USA, where he has  worked as President & CEO for the last 5 years. Previously Peter has served as Senior Director of Museum Operation and Education at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and as Creative Development and Commercial Director of the Royal Armouries.

Peter Armstrong, enthused “Returning to the UK to lead a Museum that tells such an important British story, and houses such a spectacular collection, is a true honour. I’m genuinely excited to work alongside the dedicated staff, members, volunteers, trustees, and supporters to elevate the British Motor Museum as a world leader in celebrating British automotive history and the remarkable people behind it.”

Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Peter Armstrong as Chief Executive Officer at the British Motor Museum, bringing a wealth of experience from museums in both the UK and USA. I’d also like to thank Jeff Coope for his excellent work in leading the organisation over the past 23 years, and wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Joel Kordan, Chair of the Board of Trustees said, “We’re delighted to have appointed Peter as our new CEO from September. Peter brings with him a wealth of experience in the Museums and Heritage sector and greatly impressed the selection committee with his ideas and strong desire to preserve all that is good at the Trust whilst, at the same time, moving things on to the next level”.  

www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk

Automotive industry charity, Ben, is revealing next year’s Industry Leader Challenge (ILC), which will see participants tackle the most chilling challenge yet: The Glacier in Iceland from 18th to 27th March 2026.

Taking place in the icy wilderness of Iceland’s Langjökull ice cap, this extreme expedition will see 24 of the automotive industry's boldest leaders ski-trekking through sub-zero temperatures, dramatic terrain, and battling isolation in the name of challenge and charity. Up to 12 teams of two will need to raise a minimum of £25,000 per team for Ben.

The Glacier continues ILC’s tradition of taking a group of senior leaders far beyond their comfort zones. The challenge lasts 10 days in total and challengers will spend eight of these on the ice cap, journeying together through one of the most remote environments on Earth. They will face:

• Up to nine hours of ski-trekking each day
• Ski-trekking to 1,450m above sea level
• Temperatures as low as -25°C overnight
• Zero contact with the outside world
• Seven nights of camping in the freezing wilderness.

Participants will wake up early each day to melt snow for water, haul gear across snowfields, face biting winds and navigate vast, shifting glaciers.

So far, teams from LKQ Euro Car Parts and Hella have signed up to take part and this will be the third ILC that Spencer Grinham, Sales Director at Hella, has taken on.

To date, the ILC has raised over £1.02million, and the impact continues to grow with every new expedition. The ILC is an epic personal challenge taken on each year by an automotive industry leader (or leaders) to fundraise for Ben. Previous ILC adventures have included swimming across the English Channel, skydiving, cycling down the Thames, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and trekking the Sahara Desert. The ILC requires extraordinary personal endeavour that tests the challenger(s) either mentally or physically - or both.