Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone to be honoured at Goodwood 2017

Ex-Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone will be celebrated at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed with a tribute to his life and career from June 29 - July 2.

The Festival of Speed has never had a personality as a 'Central Feature', rather celebrating and honouring manufacturers and marques instead.

"This is not so much a tribute, but rather a Goodwood celebration of a racer who has had such a huge influence on the sport we all love," said Lord March, the Festival's founder.

"It’s wonderful that Bernie has agreed to spend the weekend at the Festival with many of the great names with whom he has worked during a life dedicated to racing. I’m also delighted that he will bring with him some great historic grand prix cars from his incredible collection."

The five chapters of Bernie's life

A statue in front of Goodwood House will provide a centrepiece, consisting of cars from 'five different chapters' of his life over the last 40 years. Those chapters are: 'Driver', 'Manager', 'Team-Owner', 'Impresario' and 'Legend', with a notable car from each era displayed.

Ecclestone was a competitor in 500cc Coopers in the late-1940s and early '50s, and he entered the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix in a Connaught having bought the team in 1957. As a manager, he guided Jochen Rindt to the 1970 world championship title in the Gold Leaf Lotus 72.

He then partnered with designer Gordon Murray and drivers such as Carlos Pace, Carlos Reutemann, Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet. Piquet took two world championships for Brabham under team-owner Ecclestone in 1981, driving the BT49.

The Ferrari F2001, representing Michael Schumacher's dominance in the early 2000s, also celebrates Ecclestone's long stint as controller of F1's commercial rights - this era dubs him an 'impresario'.

Goodwood intends to celebrate the increased involvement of manufacturers and sponsors which brought 'glamour' and increased TV ratings to the motorsport under Ecclestone.

The final chapter will bring the homage to the present with the 2016 championship-winning Mercedes W07. Former world champions including Nico Rosberg, Brabham drivers, team-members and owners from Ecclestone's era will be present alongside him on the Sunday (July 2) in front of Goodwood House to complete the tribute.