Three Sweeping Steel Arches Celebrate Singer’s Relentless Pursuit of Excellence in Landmark 62-Metre Span Structure
Diales Technical’s structural engineering team has completed the structural design and engineering for the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed Central Feature, a dramatic 26-metre-high steel sculpture celebrating Singer, the company renowned worldwide for its reimagined Porsche 911 restorations and its philosophy of a “Relentless Pursuit of Excellence”.
Created by acclaimed sculptor Gerry Judah FRSS and developed in collaboration with Diales Technical from initial concept through to final installation, the sculpture comprises three sweeping steel arches spanning 62 metres across the lawn in front of Goodwood House. Three Singer cars are suspended across the structure at heights ranging from six to 14 metres above ground level, creating a striking visual expression of movement, speed and engineering precision.
The project marks the ninth Goodwood Festival of Speed Central Feature engineered by Diales Technical in partnership with Judah, adding to a portfolio of more than thirty monumental sculptures delivered worldwide.
Engineering a Sense of Motion
The 2026 Central Feature is a simple three-dimensional gesture, three elegant steel arches rise and intersect in a dynamic composition intended to evoke speed, flow and the design-led ethos that has defined Singer since its founding in 2009.
Although the sculpture appears remarkably lightweight, the completed structure contains 38 tonnes of steel supported by three separate 100-tonne concrete foundations concealed beneath the festival grounds.
The arches are constructed as hollow triangular monocoques fabricated from steel plate ranging from 8mm to 30mm in thickness. This structural approach maximises stiffness while maintaining the clean, slender appearance essential to Judah’s artistic vision.
From Concept to Completion in Seven Months
One of the project’s greatest achievements was the delivery programme itself. From initial concept development through detailed engineering, fabrication, transportation and installation, the entire structure was realised in just seven months.
Bruno Postle, Associate Director at Diales Technical, said:
"The challenge with a sculpture like this is balancing artistic ambition with engineering reality. Gerry’s vision was for something that felt effortless – three simple gestures sweeping through space. Achieving that apparent simplicity required a huge amount of structural analysis, collaboration and technical development behind the scenes.
“We’re proud to have worked alongside Gerry from the earliest sketches through to final installation. Delivering a structure of this scale and complexity in seven months was only possible because of the close collaboration between the artist, engineers, fabricators and installation teams.”
Advanced Structural Analysis
The sculpture’s flowing geometry presented significant engineering challenges throughout the design process. Extensive finite element modelling and wind analysis were undertaken to evaluate structural behaviour under a range of environmental loading conditions.
The long spans, elevated vehicle displays and exposed location required careful assessment of both strength and stiffness, ensuring the sculpture could safely withstand wind loading while maintaining the visual lightness central to the design concept.
Diales Technical’s engineering team analysed the global behaviour of the interconnected arches, optimising material use throughout the structure while preserving the desired aesthetic.
Complex Fabrication and Installation
The sculpture was fabricated by Littlehampton Engineering at their facilities in West Sussex. The three arches were manufactured as nine individual prefabricated steel sections before being transported to Goodwood for assembly.
The logistics of transporting and erecting components of this size demanded detailed planning and coordination. Installation required five cranes operating simultaneously to lift and position the sections before they could be connected on site.
A particularly critical stage involved the completion of a major welded connection at the centre of the sculpture. This connection had to be fully completed and verified before the cranes supporting the structure could be released, making it one of the most demanding phases of the installation programme.
Hooman Baghi, Associate Director and Structural Engineering Expert at Diales Technical, said:
"The geometry appears very simple when viewed from a distance, but in reality every component is unique. The interaction between the three arches and the positioning of the vehicles had to be carefully analysed and coordinated.
“A significant amount of work went into finite element modelling, dynamic analysis and wind assessment and geometry to ensure everything came together precisely on site. The successful installation is a testament to the expertise and commitment of everyone involved.”
Celebrating Singer’s Goodwood Legacy
The sculpture honours Singer’s longstanding relationship with the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the company has unveiled many of its most important projects in recent years, including the DLS, Classic Turbo, DLS Turbo and Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Reimagined by Singer.
Founded by Rob Dickinson in 2009, Singer has established a global reputation for combining iconic design, advanced engineering, material science and exceptional craftsmanship to create bespoke restorations of the Porsche 911.
The Central Feature served as the focal point of the 2026 Festival of Speed, with daily celebrations taking place around the sculpture throughout the event.
Event Details
The sculpture was unveiled during the Festival of Speed opening ceremony on the evening of Wednesday 8 July 2026 ahead of the four-day event, which ran from Thursday 9 July to Sunday 12 July 2026.
Following the conclusion of the Festival, the sculpture will be dismantled, with the vehicles returning to their owners and collections.
Continuing a Tradition of Engineering Artistic Ambition
The Singer Central Feature continues Diales Technical’s long-standing involvement with large-scale sculptural and architectural installations that demand both engineering rigour and creative sensitivity.
Over the course of nine Goodwood Festival of Speed Central Features and more than thirty monumental sculptures worldwide, the company has developed specialist expertise in lightweight steel structures, complex geometry, fabrication optimisation, dynamic behaviour and installation engineering.
The 2026 sculpture demonstrates how advanced structural engineering can support ambitious artistic vision, creating a landmark installation that appears simple, elegant and effortless while concealing a remarkable level of technical sophistication.
About Diales Technical
Diales Technical provides expert advice and witness services to the construction industry, with specialists in Architecture, Civil and Structural Engineering, and Energy and Environmental Engineering. We also undertake specialist design work for complex architectural and artistic installations.