Spectacular Gordon Murray Central Feature unveiled at the 2025 Festival of Speed

Built by British designer and artist Gerry Judah, with some input from Murray himself, the Central Feature features a Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 and the Brabham BT62 Formula 1 car. For those of you who don’t know, the T.50 is Murray’s spiritual successor to the legendary McLaren F1, with three seats, a central driving position and a naturally aspirated V12 engine. The BT52, meanwhile, is the car that took Nelson Piquet to his second of three Formula 1 Drivers’ Titles in 1983.

The Central Feature is about more than those two cars, though. It’s hard to put it into words just how influential and significant some of Murray’s designs have been, both on the road and the track. 

The hero road car is the McLaren F1, but Murray also had a hand in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, and designed the Light Car Company Rocket and the prototype electric T.25 city car. Most recently he’s created the T.50, T.33 and T.33 Spider. 

When it comes to racing cars, it’s hard to know where to start. We’ve written many times about Murray’s legendary creations, but to name a few, there’s the Brabham BT46B fan car, BT49 and aforementioned BT52 — Murray-designed Brabhams, of which there were 20, won 22 races. Then there’s the McLaren MP4/4, which won 15 out of the 16 Grand Prix it entered in 1988, plus the MP4/5 and MP4/5B, and the McLaren F1 GTR, which took first, third, fourth and fifth on debut at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1995. 

In short, Murray is a hero of the automotive world, and while it would be impossible to put every incredible car he’s had a hand in on the Central Feature, as a celebration of his six decade-long career we think it’s a stunning tribute. 

The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed is underway! You can watch every moment of the action by watching our livestream.

Photography by Max Carter.