The 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed->ke3879 took place this past weekend and featured a steady stream of car shows, birthday celebrations, a Bonhams auction, and of course, the annual Goodwood Hill Climb.

Eventful as it always is, this year's installment of the Goodwood Festival of Speed saw a number of world debuts, including that of the McLaren MP4-12C and the Skoda Octavia vRS. On top of that, a couple of automakers also celebrated milestones of their own with one celebrating the 50th anniversary of its most iconic model with a sculpture in front of the Goodwood House, while the other celebrated their 100th anniversary in what can be considered as an invasion of all their UK models.

Not to be outdone, Bonhams also auctioned off some of the world's rarest and most exclusive models over the weekend, raking in millions and millions of dollars in the process.

Then there's the annual Goodwood Hill Climb, which features 50 of the fastest cars on the planet taking turns running up the 1.6-mile Goodwood driveway that leads to the front of the estate. The car that took that title? You'll never guess if you don't read past that jump.

On that note, head over after the jump to get your 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed recap!

Car Debuts at Goodwood

McLaren MP4-12C GT3

McLaren is gearing up for a return to GT racing with the world debut of their latest offering, the MP4-12C GT3. The models will be designed and developed through a joint collaboration between McLaren->ke284 and CRS Racing and will feature a one-piece carbon MonoCell chassis that weighs only 75 kg. Also found in the new GT3 model will be the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine found on the street version MP4-12C->ke3514, albeit tuned to racing specifications. The engine can produce an output of 600 horsepower and 433 lb/ft of torque and is mated to a 7-speed SSG dual-clutch Graziano transmission operated by a bespoke paddle-shift system that was developed specifically for the purpose of track racing. According to McLaren, the MP4-12C GT3 is being prepped and developed for its racing debut, which is expected to come next year at the 2012 European FIA GT3 Series.

Honda CR-Z 'RR Concept' by Mugen

Honda->ke34 is diving into the spec-tuned hybrid bonanza with a one-off creation designed to give customers an idea of just how Honda and Mugen roll. The car is the CR-Z Mugen RR Concept, a completely stocked up version of the CR-Z->ke3082 that features a killer supercharger. This new addition took the car's 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine from its standard hybrid output of 122 horsepower and 128 lb/ft of torque all the way up to 197 horsepower and 181 lb/ft of torque. For now, the car is listed as a one-off model with a future limited production run on the table depending on the interest it generated at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II

Following its debut at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II was also on hand at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Featuring a design that turned out to be a far departure from its 2010 counterpart, the 2011 Sports Hybrid Concept caught the attention of the gathering folk not only for its MR-2-inspired body, but also for its new mid-engine sport-hybrid AWD system. This system features a 3.5-liter Type 2GR-FXE V6 engine producing 249 horsepower which can be bumped even further up to 299 horsepower, thanks to the car's front electric motor.

BAC Mono

One specialized track car that made a successful debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed was the Briggs Automotive Company's very own BAC Mono. The car is a road legal, track day car that comes with a single, central-seat design and is built from high-strength carbon fiber composite. To go with the elaborate track car look, the BAC Mono is also powered by a 2.3 liter four-cylinder engine that produces an output of 280 horsepower with a top speed of 170 mph, giving it enough juice to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the KTM X-Bow->ke2333 and the Ariel Atom->ke564.

Skoda Octavia vRS

It doesn't get the same recognition as any of the other debutantes in this list, but rest assured, the Skoda Octavia vRS can hold its own against any one of them. Ahead of its participation at the Bonneville Speed Week this August, the OCtava vRS dropped by the Goodwood Festival of Speed to show off its new digs. Built to celebrate the brand's 10th anniversary of its vRS performance flagship badge, the Octavia vRS comes with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder with a specially designed turbocharger to produce a total output of 600 horsepower with a top speed of 200 mph. A Skoda clocking in 200 mph per hour? Better believe it!

Bonhams Auction Rakes In the Moolah

The Bonhams auction at Goodwood is another one of those hotly-anticipated events for car collectors looking to get a piece of some rare and exotic machines. This year was no different as over 100 models were auctioned off, raking in a total of £7.25 million while featuring a number of classic models including a 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Cabriolet, a Porsche 959 Coupe, and a Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 that was once owned by no less than Sir Paul McCartney. Check out our five favorite models that were auctioned off last week at Goodwood.

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Cabriolet

As one of the most exclusive Aston Martin models in the world, the 1954 DB2/4 Cabriolet was also the brand's very first "2+2" sports car and is only one of 565 models built between 1953 and 1955. If that isn't rare enough for you, this particular model was also one of models built in rolling chassis form for independent coachbuilders and - on top of that too - this one is only one of eight of the 12 models that were sent over to Carrozzoria Bertone for some body smoothening. If that doesn't speak volumes on how rare this car is, we don't know what does.

Estimated value: £500,000 - £700,000 ($804,000 - $1.125 million)

Sold for: £606,500 ($975,000)

1990 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta

The F40 Berlinetta was introduced back in 1988 as a model that commemorated Enzo Ferrari's 40 years as a motor manufacturer. It was a mid-engined, two-seater ultimate supercar that was a development of the limited-production 288GTO. It came with a four-cam 3-liter V8 engine with four valves per cylinder with twin IHI turbochargers that produced 478 horsepower at 7,000rpm with a top speed of 201 mph.

Estimated value: £320,000 - £350,000 ($514,000 - $562,000)

Sold for: £353,500 ($567,000)

1967 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2

You only need to know that this classic Lamborghini was once owned by Sir Paul McCartney to understand just how sought after it is. Originally introduced in 1966, the 400GT 2+2 came with a powerful 3.9-liter V12 engine that produced 330 horsepower and a staggering - at that time, at least - 0-60 mph time of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 156 mph. The car's limited status netted only 250 models being built for very exclusive clientele, and like we said, this particular model was once owned by one of the four members of the Beatles, arguably the greatest musical band to have ever lived.

Estimated value: £100,000 - £120,000 ($160,000 - $193,000)

Sold for: £122,500 ($194,000)

1988 Porsche 959 Coupé

First introduced at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show as a concept car, the Porsche 959 Coupe ended up becoming one of the most well-known Porsche models of modern time. Representing a combination of cutting edge design with a powerful engine, the 959's specifications remain unparalleled even at this time. It came with a 2.8-liter six-cylinder, air-cooled boxer engine with a water-cooled, double-overhead-camshaft and four-valve cylinder heads. This powertrain netted the Porsche coupe an output of 450 horsepower with a top speed of a staggering 195 mph, making it one of the fastest machines of its generation.

Estimated value: £160,000 - £180,000 ($257,000 - $289,000)

Sold for: £166,500 ($267,000)

2004 Pagani Zonda C12 7.3-Liter Roadster

The Pagani Zonda certainly needs no introduction in our pages, having been drooled over and cried at far too many times than we care to count. So when a 2004 Zonda C12 was auctioned off at Bonhams, we immediately lined up our pockets to see if we had the potential to take home the car. Unfortunately, $200 wasn't even enough to buy the air surrounding this Zonda. Sold for £320,500 ($515,000), this particular Zonda was actually send back to the factory in 2008 for a complete overhaul, including an upgrade to the brand's 'F' high-performance specifications. The resulting work saw the 7.3-liter engine now come with an output of 602 horsepower and 560 lb/ft of torque with a 0-60 mph time of just 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 214 mph. Plus, it came with an 'Elvis Presley Cadillac Pink' color scheme, making it even sexier than it already is.

Sold for: £320,500 ($515,000)

Jaguar E-Type Blows 50 Candles With Sculpture

Fifty years ago, the Jaguar E-Type was introduced to the world. Half-a-century after that, the E-Type was commemorated at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed with a giant E-Type sculpture on the lawns just outside the esteemed Goodwood House. Of course, that's what being one of the most iconic British cars of all time will do to you. Rising 28 meters above the Goodwood grounds, the sculpture was built by Gerry Judah with the parts of the sculpture supplied by Jaguar's parent company, Tata Motors. Unlike the previous years where we actually saw some cars incorporated into the sculptures, the Jaguar E-Type was spared from being suspended in the air because of its stature as one of the finest vehicles the world has ever seen.

Chevrolet Celebrates Centennial!

Jaguar wasn't the only one tooting horns and celebrating birthdays at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. On their 100th year, Chevrolet->ke199 paraded the entire model range of its UK line-up at Goodwood, including UK debuts for the five-door Chevrolet Cruze hatch, the Volt->ke2721, and even the European-spec Chevrolet Camaro V8 Coupe and Convertible. Capping off the festivities for the American automaker was Jason Plato getting behind the wheel of the Corvette ZR1, the Camaro->ke248, and even the BTCC Cruze touring car for the annual Goodwood Hill Climb.

"The Goodwood Festival of Speed is as much of an icon as Chevrolet itself," said Mark Terry, Chevrolet's UK Managing Director. "We're proud to be such a significant part of this year's event. After all, it's not every day you celebrate 100 years!"

Big shouts of Happy 1-0-0 to Chevrolet!

Toyota Celica Lays Down The Law At Goodwood Hill Climb

With all the supercars, racing cars, and even Formula One race cars participating in the annual Goodwood Hill Climb, it seemed a little odd that all of them got smoked by a sixth generation Toyota Celica. Then again, this isn't like any other Celica we've come to see in the past. This one comes with a World Rally Championship-sourced Corolla engine fitted with a Rotrex supercharger, a nitrous oxide injection system, and super soft rallycross specification Michelin slick tires.

The modifications resulted in a 2,314-lb, 800-horsepower rocket that blasted up the 1.6-mile driveway of the Goodwood House in just 48.07 seconds, easily eclipsing just about every other exotic and race-spec machine that ran along the world famous driveway.

The Celica was piloted by no less than former British Rally Champion, Jonny Milner while also receiving technical modifications to obtain a better weight distribution and a lowered center of gravity. The result, well, let's just say that those Red Bull F1 cars were left eating its dust.

Videos From Goodwood

We've compiled a number of compelling videos from the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed that should get your attention. Most of these are from participating manufacturers who chronicled their involvement in the weekend-long spectacle. Check all of 'em out!

Car Parade at Goodwood

Credit: Tom2812 (YouTube)

Goodwood At A Glance

Credit: Stoidington (YouTube)

Ken Block Hooning

Credit: Tom2812 (YouTube)

Lewis Hamilton Performs Doughnut

Credit: HarvF1 (YouTube)

Nissan Juke Driving On Two Wheels

Credit: DriveLifestyle (YouTube)

Goodwood Supercar Compilation

Credit: TheCaraf (YouTube)