GOODWOOD REVIVAL: THE BEST OF THE BEST
This weekend’s Goodwood Revival is the absolute headline event in the calendar of UK historic racing, says Paul Lawrence
Fifteen races packed out with quality cars and drivers and supported by tributes to Graham Hill and 75 years of Ferrari will spearhead the on-track action at this year’s Goodwood Revival.
As the Sussex track turns the clock back to another era, the former RAF Westhampnett will be turned into a living museum, back to the era when Goodwood Motor Circuit was a noted international race track.
Goodwood first opened in 1948 and closed for racing in 1966. Now used for the Members’ Meeting in spring and the Revival Meeting in September, Sunday will mark 74 years to the day since the first race meeting as well as exactly 24 years since the circuit reopened for the first Revival back in 1998.
Unlike the Members’ Meeting, the race line-up for the Revival focuses on the era of cars that raced at Goodwood during its original 18-year life as an active track, although most of the cars in the Goodwood Trophy are PreWar Grand Prix cars. Joining them and set to make the most impressive noise of the weekend, is the sensational BRM V16 recreation in the very capable hands of Rob Hall.
The racing starts as the sun begins to set on Friday evening with the Freddie
March Memorial Trophy where the Jaguar C-type of Sam Hancock and Fred Wakeman looks particularly strong against a star-studded field.
Headline races on Saturday include the Glover Trophy for Pre ’66 Grand Prix Cars, where Andy Middlehurst will try and repeat his 2021 victory in the ex-Jim Clark Lotus 25. Just as a year ago, the rare Ferrari 1512 of Joe Colasacco will be a big threat as will historic racing ace Martin Stretton in a BRMengined Lotus 24.
The two-part St Mary’s Trophy will be sensational as a grid of Pre ’66 Touring Cars do battle. On Saturday, the star drivers go into bat before the owners take over for the final race of Sunday afternoon. F1, Le Mans and touring cars drivers abound, along with World Rally contender Craig Breen who is sharing the
Lotus Cortina of Michael Cullen. From the same Jordan Racing Team stable comes a real contender for aggregate victory in the Cortina shared by father-and-son Andrew and Mike Jordan. But then, just consider seven-time
NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will make his historic racing debut to share the
Ford Galaxie of Gregor Fisken. It could only happen at Goodwood!
The RAC TT Celebration is, as ever, an hour-long, twodriver contest for sublime Pre ’66 GT cars and the stunning field of cars is matched by a driver line-up that includes Jenson Button, Tom Kristensen, Andy Priaulx, Jimmie Johnson, Rob Huff, Stefan Johansson, Dario Franchitti and many more.
Of course, the Revival is not just about the racing. Goodwood’s legendary attention to detail will dress the whole site in a pre-’66 style and a vast array of attractions and displays will provide something for each and every visitor. ■