Goodwood through the driver’s eyes

• Craig Nicolson, Head of Chassis Dynamic Systems at Bentley Motors, interviewed from the passenger seat as he drives at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 
• He explains what it is like to drive a 680 PS Continental GT S up the legendary Hill
• Shares insights into the opportunities the event provides for candid communication with VIP customers

(Crewe, 12 July 2026) Craig Nicolson, Bentley’s Head of Chassis Dynamic Systems, has a big grin on his face. It’s hardly surprising, as he’s about to drive up the legendary Hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in a Continental GT S. “How hard am I going to be driving? I have a duty of care to my passenger and to the car, so it’s not ten tenths. But it’s maybe 9.5 …

“I’m used to driving on a closed circuit or a secret proving ground. We do tens of thousands of kilometres at places like Anglesey Circuit and the Nürburgring to make sure that the excitement, DNA and dynamic character of Bentley are transferred to the way the car drives.”

The red light turns to green and Nicolson turns all 680 PS into V8 noise and brutal acceleration. Sixty mph comes up in a fraction over three seconds and he keeps his foot in even as the first corner approaches. A dab on the brakes, down a gear on the paddles, and he turns the car in hard. The front-end bites, and a big poke on the accelerator kicks the car sideways. He’s efficient at the wheel, as befits an engineer, but the effect is still dramatic inside the car and out. It’s a demonstration run, not a timed one, but it’s still going to be a quick one. Another right, the House is a blur as the Bentley roars past and it’s hard on the brakes while turning right and over a crest, harder still on the brakes and then left into Molecomb. Nicolson later describes getting it right as “like threading a needle that’s only made possible by just how sure-footed this car is.”

Then it’s the infamous Wall. It’s made of very unforgiving-looking flint – and just centimetres away as Nicolson brakes hard. Smoothly back on the power, flicking right, then left with a slide on the exit that verges on the flamboyant. Nicolson may be an engineer, but he is clearly enjoying this. Caution is the watchword through the hay bales, as there’s a much slower car in front that might be about to fill the windscreen after the blind bend, and then it’s the run through to the finish line.

“It feels great to be able to show off the potential of the car in a way that might not be expected by either the passenger or the crowd. The S is obviously fast – but it also has an adjustability and playfulness when you go looking for it,” he says.

Huge atmosphere at Goodwood

“Goodwood is great for this. I’m really not used to doing this in front of a crowd and you spend a lot of time waiting at the bottom. There’s a real sense of anticipation as you queue up for the start. There’s a huge atmosphere as the traditionally dressed Goodwood marshals usher you forwards and it’s the only time that you’re aware of just how many people are watching you.”

Nicolson is very positive about the experience of driving customers up the Hill: “The interaction with the owners is one of the best bits. It’s great to have some time with them in the car, and get their candid view about what they love about their Bentleys. In return, it’s nice to be able to share some of the development stories with them. There’s a real authenticity to be able to introduce people to their drivers on the Hill and say ‘these are the folk who develop your cars and, if you want, they’ll tell you how they do it’.

“We normally do all of this behind closed doors. So I love to be able to talk about the art of designing a car that is communicative and enjoyable but never jarring or tiring. A Bentley has an absolute sovereignty of carefully judged ride comfort that makes you want to drive it to the South of France, matched with the right level of agility and body control so you add a loop of a great driving road onto your drive home just for the hell of it.”

Showboating and “properly fast” runs

“Goodwood is just the perfect place for us,” he continues. “I watched one of my colleagues showboating past the house in the Supersports and the whole crowd started clapping and cheering. How cool is it that the Bentley gang are in town, and they're doing big burnouts on the Hill?! But we also show that the cars are to be taken seriously. It's not just doing burnouts. A Bentley, especially the Supersports, will do some properly fast runs when the stopwatch is running.

“I got a call from my three-year-old son at home yesterday, who was ecstatic that he’d seen me and the S on the TV next to Lightning McQueen. As far as he’s now concerned, his dad’s a bona fide racing driver and friends with McQueen. Only at Goodwood!”

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