Stirling Moss celebrates 60th anniversary at Goodwood Revival

Aston Martin and Sir Stirling Moss will celebrate its 60th anniversary of winning the RAC Tourist Trophy, at the Goodwood Revival next week.

To mark the 60th anniversary, the Revival will bring a remarkable race back to life not only in celebration of Aston Martin’s landmark anniversary, but also as part of the birthday celebrations being staged to honour Sir Stirling Moss, who will turn 90 on 17^th September.

The 1959 RAC TT at Goodwood was the final race of the World Sportscar Championship season and three manufacturers – Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin – were vying to claim the title.

The campaign had begun with Ferrari claiming victory at Sebring, then Porsche had mastered the Targa Florio before Aston Martin won back-to-back honours at the Nürburgring 1000km and Le Mans 24 Hours. 

When the field of 31 entries arrived at Goodwood for the deciding race of the season, Ferrari led the championship on 18 points, Aston Martin was second on 16, and Porsche was just a single point behind. 

The British team, managed by John Wyer, brought three DBR1 cars for Stirling Moss/Roy Salvadori, Carroll Shelby/Jack Fairman and Maurice Trintignant/Paul Frère. Scuderia Ferrari had four cars entered for drivers including Phil Hill, Olivier Gendebien, Dan Gurney and Tony Brooks, while the works Porsches would be driven by a line-up including Wolfgang von Trips, Jo Bonnier, Umberto Maglioli and Hans Herrmann.

While the Moss/Salvadori car sprinted off into an early lead when Salvadori pitted for fuel the hose was knocked open too early and the spillage burst into flames. 

Moss therefore leapt into the number 2 car of Shelby/Fairman and set about making up for lost time. After an incredible performance, Moss would cross the line to take victory one lap ahead of the leading Porsche and Porsche – thereby giving Aston Martin the world championship crown.

The Duke of Richmond commented: “The 1959 Tourist Trophy was without doubt the most momentous race that Goodwood staged in period, and it delivered a true landmark in British motoring when Aston Martin claimed the World Sportscar Championship.

“We shall be celebrating that extraordinary performance to the fullest, as well as toasting the 90^th birthday of Sir Stirling Moss, by recapturing the entire spectacle of the occasion when we open the 2019 Goodwood Revival. I am sure that our visitors on Friday will be amazed.”