Thankfully, no one was injured.
Spectators at the Goodwood Festival of Speed are lucky to have escaped with no serious injuries after a Jaguar Mk1's wheel detached at high speed on Thursday, sending it bouncing into a crowd of people on the sidelines.
It's unclear what caused the wheel to emancipate itself from the classic Jag. Well-known driver and Goodwood master Grant Williams was behind the wheel of the car. As you can see in the video below (head over to the -7:50.00 mark), Williams starts off with a few burnouts to warm up the rear tires.
The Mk1 sets off in a cloud of smoke and a delightful inline-six roar. In turn one, Williams pulls off a crowd-pleasing drift, and all seems well. However, as the Jaguar enters the second corner, you can see it wobbling around before the wheel jettisons into the crowd.
Spectators can be seen running away, trying to get out of the wheels' path. The footage quickly cuts away, but we understand that no one was seriously injured in the freak accident. The Goodwood Festival of Speed issued a statement on Twitter, confirming this to be true. “Following the incident on the hillclimb, we're pleased to confirm that there were no serious injuries, and those involved were able to go back to enjoying the event.”
At least one spectator was taken away by ambulance to receive medical attention. The individual is said to be an older man who was able to give his statement to festival officials before being carted away. Hillclimb events were suspended for 40 minutes following the incident.
Williams and his Jaguar later returned to the track and, mercifully, finished the climb with no hiccups.
Following the incident on the hillclimb we’re pleased to confirm that there were no serious injuries and those involved were able to go back to enjoying the event.
— Goodwood FOS (@fosgoodwood) July 13, 2023
The Jaguar Mk1 (a predecessor to the modern-day Jaguar XF) was first introduced in 1955 and lauded by the motoring press for its sharp dynamics and powerful six-cylinder engines. This particular vehicle, affectionately known as BUY 1 (its license plate), is somewhat of a legend in classic racing circles. According to South Downs Secure, owner and driver Grant Williams inherited the car from his dad, who in turn inherited the vehicle from his father.
As one of seven Mk1 sedans prepared by Jaguar as a factory racer, it's an extraordinary car and is considered an icon at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. With a love for smokey tailslides, Grant has earned himself the nickname of the Sultan of Slide.
A wheel coming off a speeding car is no joke, so we're pleased the crowd escaped unscathed and that no serious injuries were reported.
Keyword: WATCH: Wheel Hurtles Off Jaguar Mk1 Into Crowd At Goodwood Festival Of Speed