Honda to feature Michel Vaillant-inspired livery at Goodwood

Honda Racing will present an art car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, within the frame of the new ‘Art Car Contest’ to be held at the famous annual event in England.

The livery was designed by Dominique Graton, Art Director at the Jean Graton Foundation, and Philippe Ghielmetti, and is inspired to the famous comic book hero Michel Vaillant, Jean Graton’s most famous creation.

The Honda Art Car Jean Graton depicts Vaillant chasing a Ferrari Formula 1 car down the tunnel during the 1974 Monaco Grand Prix.

The foundation’s Art Director Dominique Graton commented: “Jean Graton’s work is unique in two ways: how he recreates speed in still drawings, and how his fictional stories mixed with reality throughout his work. The concept idea of the Honda Art Car Jean Graton is to summarise these two principles by wrapping an actual racing car into the artwork, and putting it in motion.”

Honda Europe motorsport manager William De Braekeleer added: “We’re delighted to have partnered with the Jean Graton Foundation to create a truly unique design for the WTCC Art Car Contest at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Jean Graton’s Vaillant brand and Honda share many similarities, not least that racing is in our DNA.”

The car will be on display at the Goodwood estate inside the F1 paddock alongside art cars from Volvo, Citroën, Lada and Chevrolet. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite livery, and the winner which will receive an award at the Festival of Speed closing ceremony.