The Earl of March has announced the theme of 💙the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed, which is 'Hawthorn to Hamilton - Britain's Love Affair with World Motor Sport'.

"Britain has always played a key role in the global motor racing industry, forging succe𝓀ssful relationships with the rest of the motor sport world," read a statement from the organisers. "From Mike Hawthorn - who used a Ferrari to become Britain's first Formula 1 World Champion fifty years ago in 1958 - to current F1 star Lewis Hamilton, driving a British engineered car with German power, British drivers and engineers have utili💯sed global resources to achieve success. The 2008 Festival honours these winning combinations.

"In recognising Britain's role in shaping motor sport worldwide, the Festival will acknowledge the influence and achievements ofꦫ iconic British figures, including Jim Clark, John Surtees, Colin McRae, Barry Sheene, Jackie Stewart, Derek Bell, Colin Chapman, Gordon Murray and Adrian Newey.

"In addition, home-grown stars from the past and modern day heroes are expected to line up alongside their friends and ad൲versaries from around the world at thℱe celebrated 1.16 mile hillclimb, in a tribute to global motor sport.

"The Festival will also feature the world's finest competition cars and motorcycles, many of which have been influenced by British engineering or b🔥uilt in partnership with British expertise. In action will be everything from the pure-bred Vanwall of the 1950s, to the ground-breaking products of manufacturers such as Cos🀅worth, Williams, Lola and Prodrive.

"And with significant anniversaries in 2008 for two of Britain's most important race series - namely 50 years of the BTCC and 20 years of the British Superbike Championship - Goodwood will recognise the UK's role in providing a high-proꦛfile, competitive environment for some of the world's great manufacturers and racing stars."

"It will be just fantastic to ꧙have so many great cars and drivers here at Goodwood to celebrate our theme for 2008," added Goodwood Festival of Speed founder, Lord March. "I look forward with much anticipation to seeing some of the great British drivers and UK-inspired machines in action."

The 2008 Go🦩odwood Festival of Speed will be held fro🍰m July 11-13.