Goodwood ready for Revival’s 20th

Goodwood circuit is set to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the Revival, with the circuit once again hosting iconic racing cars from the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, as well as air displays and a vintage fun fair.

The Goodwood Motor Circuit was originally established by the 9th Duke of Richmond, known as Freddie March, at the end of the Second World War. Freddie was passionate about racing and was persuaded by his friend, and RAF hero, Tony Gaze that the perimeter road of RAF Westhampnett would made a thrilling race track. The circuit opened in September 1948 to host Britain’s first post-war motor race meeting at a permanent venue. Goodwood went on to headline races such as the Tourist Trophy for sports cars and the Glover Trophy for Grand Prix cars. All the top drivers of the day raced at Goodwood, from Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss in the 1950s, to Jim Clark and Graham Hill through the 1960s. The circuit held its last race meeting in the summer of 1966, when the Duke of Richmond feared that the current crop of cars were becoming too fast for the Sussex-based circuit.

On 18 September 1998, 50 years to the day since the circuit first opened, the current Duke of Richmond, brought motor racing back to Goodwood with the very first Goodwood Revival meeting. The circuit had been painstakingly restored to look as it did in its heyday while also complying to modern safety standards.

On track this year there will be 15 races over the weekend, with historically significant cars and motorcycles all pre-dating the circuit closure in 1966. Highlights include the Kinrara Trophy, which will see many millions of pounds worth of cars race into dusk on Friday night, with Ferrari 250 GT SWBs on the grid, alongside Jaguar E-types, Aston Martin DB4 GTs, among many other priceless classics. The Kinrara is arguably now the most expensive historic grid in the world.

The headline race takes place on Sunday with the Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration. It has been a staple in the Revival race schedule since 1998 with a grid packed full of 1960s AC Cobras, Chevrolet Corvettes, Jaguar E-Types and much more.

Racing at Revival are some of the best-known competitors and champions from the world of motorsport. Le Mans winners Emanuele Pirro, Richard Attwood and Derek Bell, Formula 1 stars Karun Chandhok and Jochen Mass, BTCC drivers Matt Neal, Andrew Jordan, Jason Plato, Tim Harvey, and Tiff Needell plus bikers John McGuiness, Freddie Spencer, Steve Parrish and James Haydon will battle it out on track to take the top step on the podium.

There will also be the Bonhams historic vehicle auction and the Smith & Williamson Classic Car Show, where visitors can become part of the event, bringing their own classic cars for display.

“It is incredible to think we are going to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Revival this September. It was always my dream, as a boy, to see racing again at Goodwood so it gives me enormous pleasure to see the circuit back in action,” said the Duke of Richmond. “This year is extra special because we’re also celebrating 20 years since we founded the Goodwood Road Racing Club and the Revival has always been home to our GRRC members. Highlights for me this year will be the Kinrara Trophy which will see us racing into the dusk again; we have over ten fantastic Ferrari 250 GT SWBs racing, not to mention GTOs, E-types (including one of only 8 E-types to have ever raced at Le Mans), narrow-bodied Cobras and even a Maserati 3500GT.”