Sweeney Flying Squad Drama at Goodwood Festival of Speed

In Goodwood by Jonathan Humphrey

Ford’s Focus ST in starring role at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer.

Goodwood always adding more and more to make it the premier driving event in the UK. This year an exciting display by Flying Squad detectives Jack Regan and George Carter replaced as stunt drivers will pilot their black Ford Focus ST against a Jaguar XFR up the famous Goodwood hill. The chase to look forward to the movies release in September.

Ford has been a major sponsor of the Goodwood Festival of Speed since its inception in 1993 and it is again supporting this prestigious event over the weekend of June 29-July 1, 2012.  The Festival of Speed is Europe’s premier historic motor sporting event – a combination of hillclimb, rally stage, garden party, and motor show, all in the grounds of Goodwood House, the Earl of March’s ancestral home in West Sussex.

Last years one to watch was the two-wheeled drive up the famous hill by a Nissan Juke.

Ford Focus ST takes centre stage

In October 2011, special Ford Focus ST prototypes were secretly delivered to The Sweeney set, joining Ford Mondeo, Galaxy and Transit models also being used by the cast as unmarked Flying Squad vehicles.

Director and co-writer, Nick Love, whose prior films include The Football Factory and The Firm, said:  “It was important for me to collaborate with Ford on The Sweeney as their legacy with the original TV show is so strong – they’re the perfect partner.  I like the Ford Focus ST so much, I want one!”

Ford’s strong link with the 1970s Sweeney TV series saw Regan, Carter and their Flying Squad colleagues using a string of Ford Granada, Consul and Cortina models to make the streets of London a safer place.

Production Companies Vertigo and Embargo Films, used six Ford Focus ST models during filming.  Set in modern day Britain, The Sweeney stars Ray Winstone as Jack Regan and Ben Drew (aka Plan B) as George Carter and also features Hayley Atwell (from Captain America), Damian Lewis (Homeland), Steven Mackintosh (Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans) and Paul Anderson (The Firm).

The Sweeney will be released in the UK in September.

Ford at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

Ford’s motorsport heritage Ford has always been prominent in racing and rallying, often with specially-developed cars like the Le Mans winning GT40s, the Escort RS1600 and RS1800, the RS200, the Sierra RS500 Cosworth, and racing Mondeos.  At this years Goodwood Festival of Speed Ford-powered cars will be reflecting their bold heritage.

Visitors to this years Goodwood Festival of Speed are treated to some famous Fords. Prominent in the displays, as well as on the Goodwood hillclimb, will be the Ford Focus ST with its superb 2.0-litre 250PS four-cylinder EcoBoost engine.

The 2012 Festival of Speed takes place between June 28 and July 1 with crowds expected to number in excess of 180,000 over the three days get you tickets early.