Two members of the public escaped without serious injuries after a wheel flew off a classic Jaguar and collided with the crowd during a high-speed run at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The MK1 Jaguar was attempting a run up the famous hillclimb during Thursday’s (July 13) event when the rear left wheel became detached from the vehicle and quickly rolled towards the crowd at the side of the track.

After several bounces, the wheel flew over the straw bale barriers and collided with two members of the public. The track was quickly closed with emergency services in attendance within minutes.

Fortunately, Goodwood has now confirmed that the spectators escaped without serious injury.

In a statement, the festival’s organisers said: “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.”

It came amid a day of high drama at the Festival of Speed, during which a Hyundai electric race car carried straight on at a bend near the start of the hillclimb and flew head-long into the barriers.

The event – which runs from July 13 to July 16 – how enters its second day, with wet weather hampering proceedings and forcing the famous Red Arrows to cancel their planned display.

Koenigsegg’s new four-seater Gemera has hit the road in custom-ready specification.

Referred to by the Swedish manufacturer as a ‘megacar’ – because it produces over one megawatt of power – the Gemera uses a hybrid powertrain with an electric motor that, even by itself, produces 789bhp. This motor has also been called ‘Dark Matter’ by Koenigsegg because of its high power density.

This is then combined with a 5.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine which previously saw use in the Jesko supercar. Blended together, the electric and petrol motors develop an enormous 2,268bhp which is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed gearbox.

Christian von Koenigsegg, founder and CEO of Koenigsegg, said: “The Gemera HV8 is not only the most powerful and extreme production car on the planet Earth, with an astonishing 1,11 hp per kg, but it is also the most practical and user-friendly sports car ever created.

“Its incredible response, handling, engine sound, crisp transmission, spacious interior, and four-wheel-drive systems combine to create an unprecedented and unparalleled driving experience, ready to set numerous records of performance around tracks and in straight lines

The Gemera is also available with a second hybrid powertrain which uses a twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, which still produces 1,381bhp when combined with the electric motor. All versions get seating for four people, which is a departure from Koenigsegg’s usual two-seater layout in its cars.

Koenigsegg has stated that production of the Gemera will commence at the end of 2024, with first deliveries due to arrive during the ‘first part’ of 2025.

Tamiya’s classic remote-controlled buggy from the 1980s has gone on to spawn a road-legal full-size version capable of travelling at speeds of up to 62mph.

Set to arrive on the road next year, the fully-built Tamiya Wild One Max – created by The Little Car Company – will start from £35,000 excluding VAT and shipping in range-topping Launch Edition specification.

Buyers can secure their vehicle with a £3,500 deposit placed from Thursday, July 13, onwards. The first 100 people to place a deposit will get one of the first ‘Launch Edition’ models, which features a carbon fibre dashboard and a titanium plaque on the dashboard which highlights the specification’s limited nature. Plus, each Launch Edition model comes with a model kit of the original Wild One for buyers to enjoy before their full-size car arrives.

The Wild One Max comes with full Cobra bucket seats and four-point harnesses, as well as a five-inch central screen accompanied by ‘marine-grade’ switches. It also has plenty of off-road focused features, including Brembo discs all around, adjustable Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs and 14-inch Maxxis off-road tyres.

There’s also a healthy 270mm of ground clearance to help the Wild One Max tackle rough terrain, while good approach and departure angles ensure that it can deal with steep slopes and tough descents.

Powered by eight swappable battery packs, the Wild One Max brings a range of up to 124 miles yet weighs in at just 500kg.

Goodwood’s Festival of Speed is rapidly approaching, with the annual celebration of all things motoring bringing cars, motorcycles and everything in between to the famous estate in the heart of West Sussex.

Kicking off on July 13 and running until July 16, this year’s Festival of Speed is jam-packed with displays, shows and some of the latest metal to check out. Here, we’ve got a breakdown of some of the things you can expect from this year’s event.

Sebastian Vettel to champion e-fuels

The Festival of Speed is always attended by some of the best racing drivers of all time and this year’s event is no different. Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel will be heading to the show on Saturday and Sunday in a number of cars from his own personal collection, including a 1993 McLaren MP4/8 that was driven by Ayrton Senna.

But he’s here for more than just cars alone. Vettel will also be powering his cars entirely with synthetic fuels, while around 20 per cent of all the vehicles at this year’s event will be run on alternative fuels, be that hydrogen, electric or synthetic.

Porsche’s 75th-anniversary celebration

It’s a big year for Porsche. The German sports car manufacturer is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and, fittingly, it’s going to be the ‘honoured marque’ at this year’s Festival of Speed.

As a result, there will be parades of all things Porsche while the famous Central Feature sculpture will also be Porsche themed – though the look of it is being kept tightly under wraps until the big event.

100 years of Le Mans 24 Hours

It’s a year of big milestones, with one of the most famous endurance races of all time – the Le Mans 24 Hours – celebrating its 100th year. This year’s Le Mans race was quite the spectacle, with a number of spills and thrills happening throughout the gruelling challenge.

Le Mans is being celebrated during this year’s Festival of Speed, too. A total of 16 drivers – who between them hold 46 Le Mans race wins – will be in attendance, including nine-time winner Tom Kristensen and five-time winner Derek Bell.

Jenson Button to celebrate Williams Racing

Williams Racing is set to have a big presence at this year’s festival, with a number of its iconic cars taking to the famous hill climb. It’ll also be the first time that fans will get to see the winning livery from a Williams Racing x Gulf fan-voted competition.

But it’s not just cars that’ll be in attendance. Formula 1 drivers Logan Sargeant and Alex Albon will be driving Keke Rosberg’s race-winning FW08C, while 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button will be in the heart of the action on the Sunday.

Future Lab returns with Tim Peake

Future Lab has proven to be a big hit at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s a section of the show dedicated to – you guessed it – the future of motoring and mobility, with this year’s instalment based around ‘Technology for a Better World’.

Astronaut Tim Peake will also be in attendance as a curator of the ‘Beyond Earth, For Earth’ section of the exhibit which looks at the latest innovations in space travel and transportation.

Mick Schumacher drives his father’s car

Mick Schumacher will be in attendance at this year’s Festival of Speed and he’ll be driving a very prominent car – the Mercedes W02 raced by his father Michael during the 2011 season.

It’ll be 24-year-old Mick’s first time at Goodwood, too, and he’ll be in attendance on both Saturday and Sunday.

Thursday tickets for the Goodwood Festival of Speed remain on sale – though in limited numbers. Adult tickets start at £60.

Chinese firm BYD has launched its second new model in the UK – the Dolphin.

Following on from the Atto 3, the Dolphin brings a range of up to 265 miles courtesy of a 60.5kWh ‘Blade’ battery which is cobalt-free and offers a ‘much higher level of safety’ compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Priced from £25,490 and due to start delivery in the year’s final quarter, the Dolphin will be offered in four different specifications – Active, Boost, Comfort and Design. Active models use a smaller 44.9kWh battery and bring a lower range of up to 211 miles, while boost versions use the same setup but add in multi-link rear suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Step up to Comfort and you get that larger battery and longer range, while a maximum charging speed of 88kW means that a 30 to 80 per cent charge can be conducted in 29 minutes. These versions are priced from £29,490.

Finally, the Design has the same mechanical setup as the Comfort, but adds a panoramic roof, two-tone paint and tri-colour wheels alongside wireless smartphone charging and privacy glass. Prices for Design-spec Dolphin models start from £30,990.

All versions of the Dolphin get a heat pump as standard, too, which helps to improve the efficiency of the batteries during colder weather. Versions of the Dolphin equipped with the 60.4kWh battery use a single electric motor that enables a zero to 60mph time of just under seven seconds and a top speed of 100mph.

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology also means that the Dolphin can use its battery charge to power external devices, while its 345-litre boot can be expanded up to 1,310 litres by folding down the rear seats.

Highways authorities and landowners need to help tackle the ‘menace’ of road signs being obscured by hedges, according to a leading road safety organisation.

GEM Motoring Assist has said that blocked road signs are ‘at best’ a nuisance for drivers, but could be misleading and dangerous at their worst.

The Highways Act 1980 (Section 154) states that landowners must protect the safety of road users by maintaining roadside hedges and trees. Though the bird nesting season usually stops any tree cutting from happening until after August, this doesn’t apply to a tree or hedgerow overhanging a highway and blocking the view of drivers.

Neil Worth, GEM chief executive, said: “Road signs provide vital instructions and information for drivers, who choose their speeds and actions based on what the signs tell them.

“If they can’t see the signs, then their ability to make safe decisions is compromised, especially if they’re on unfamiliar roads.”

GEM has added that any driver who finds a road sign that is obscured by foliage should report it to the ‘appropriate local authority’.

Worth added: “Dealing with trees, branches and plants that hide traffic signs is a vital task, ensuring that speed limit and other signs are made as clear as possible to everyone using their roads.

“We therefore ask any farmer and landowners to do their bit for road safety and ensure any signs are clearly visible for road users, and that drivers have a clear and unobstructed view ahead, particularly at junctions and on the inside of bends.”

A 1972 Reliant Regal believed to be one of only half a dozen ‘star cars’ to feature in the hit comedy show ‘Only Fools and Horses’ has sold for £19,350 at auction.

The Regal Supervan III was sold without reserve yet kept climbing when it went under the hammer, with many attending the Classic Car Auctions sale on June 17 keen to get their hands on the iconic three-wheeler.

The car in question came from a private collector who had owned it since 2021, though it had also been previously owned by John Mansfield from the BBC. The eye-catching yellow paintwork is present and correct, as is the iconic Trotters Independent Trading Company logo on the side.

Classic Car Auctions says that the Regal underwent recent recommissioning works in preparation for the auction, with new tyres fitted and the braking system overhauled. Plus, the fuel system was completely checked through to ensure that it was in proper working order.

It came complete with roof rack, suitcase, fluffy dice and even an inflatable doll which made an appearance in Series 6 of Only Fools and Horses, during the second episode ‘Danger UXD’.

The interior also features leather seating and original wood finishing for the dashboard. With 97,000 miles on the clock, the Regal is just shy of the famous 100,000-mile marker for any classic car.

A number of other classics also jumped to high prices during the auction, including a 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4×4 which sold for £39.375 and a 1993 Toyota Supra which fetched £26,550.

Jeremy Clarkson has hand-delivered crates of his beer to the Alpine F1 team following a social media challenge.

The Grand Tour presenter tweeted halfway through last month’s Monaco Grand Prix to pledge his support for the racing team, stating: “Come on Alpine. I’ll buy you all a pint if you get a podium here.”

Soon after, team driver Esteban Ocon crossed the line in third place, arriving just behind pole-position Max Verstappen and second-place Fernando Alonso. At the time, Clarkson followed up on his initial tweet with a post stating: “Well done Alpine. I owe you many Hawkstones.”

He has now delivered on his promise, turning up at the Alpine F1 HQ in Enstone, Oxfordshire, alongside Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper and a trailer full of his own Hawkstone Beer. The beer brand was launched in 2021, with its primary ingredients coming directly from Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm in Chipping Norton, only around 20 minutes from the Alpine F1 team base.

Clarkson appeared on his Lamborghini tractor, which plays a starring role in Clarkson’s Farm, and handed out beers to members of the Alpine F1 team.

Alpine tweeted following the delivery, saying: “Delivering on his word. Cheers for the beers, Jeremy Clarkson.”

The Alpine F1 team couldn’t quite live up to its podium-placing drive in Monaco at the recent Spanish Grand Prix, however, with Ocon coming in eighth and teammate Pierre Gasly taking 10th position.

Learner drivers in the UK are spending over £45.5 million on retaking tests each year, new research has suggested.

Government driving data – reviewed by comparison site Go Compare – found 722,192 repeat driving test attempts were conducted between April 2021 and March 2022, with more than 50,000 drivers being on ‘at least’ their sixth attempt at the test. With each test costing £62.90, millions are spent on re-taking practical examinations.

Ryan Fulthorpe, a motoring expert at Go Compare, said: “Our estimates show that retaking driving tests is costing the nation’s learners a fortune, especially for those who have multiple attempts. Plus, with the announcement of a longer wait before rebooking a test, today’s learners are facing a pricey ‘cost of failing.’

“While it might be tempting to take your test as soon as possible, taking your time and ensuring you’re fully prepared will minimise the chances of you having to stump up for another one.”

It comes as learners face having to wait 28 working days before rebooking their test if they fail, rising from the 10-working-day period that was required beforehand.

Learners could also be facing a larger wait to get licences if they do pass, with DVLA workers launching two weeks of strikes over a dispute over pay, pensions, jobs and conditions. Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) have said that the strike could lead to backlogs for licences and tachographs.