+9 2023 Goodwood Revival: the Anniversary Waltz
2023 Goodwood Revival: the Anniversary Waltz
2023 Goodwood Revival: the Anniversary Waltz
As is customary, the historic motorsport scene in the UK says farewell to the summer on the highest possible note with The Goodwood Revival, and 2023 continued that fine tradition.
This year The Revival celebrated its 25th anniversary, where has the time gone? It also marked the 75th birthday of Goodwood as a race circuit with three days of arguably the finest nostalgic automobilia action on the planet.
Stewart demoes Tyrrell 006/2
Continuing with the anniversary theme, Saturday was 50 years to the day that saw Sir Jackie Stewart’s third F1 world championship, clinched at Monza in the Tyrrell 006/2. The 84-year-old Scot delighted the crowds with a series of demonstration laps in the venerable steed.
Lotus 75
Seventy-five years have passed since Colin Chapman founded Lotus, which went on to win six drivers’ and seven constructors’ titles, an opportunity to commemorate this success was too good to pass up. Chapman’s daughter, Jane and his son, Clive, led the procession of winners from Hethel, ably supported by Jenson Button and Johnny Herbert, to name but a few.
Carroll Shelby 100
The centenary of Carroll Shelby’s birth was also celebrated, his connection with Goodwood included winning the RAC Tourist Trophy in 1959 in an Aston Martin DBR1, following on from his earlier triumph at La Sarthe in the 24 Hours. The parade contained a mouth-watering selection of Cobras, including one of the six Daytona Coupes and two Le Mans-winning Ford GT40s, one in 1966 and the other in 1968 and 1969.
The Revival attendees joined into the spirit of the event as they always do, a giant fancy-dress party for adults who can be RAF pilots, film stars, ‘50s fashion models or whatever takes their fancy. In most observers’ opinion, those who do not opt for the ‘50s and ‘60s fashions are the ones who look out of place.
V12 Ferraris
On track the action was as competitive as ever, keeping the capacity crowd on the edge of its seat during a full programme that contained almost too many highlights to recall. The Lavant Cup, open this year to V12 Ferrari GTs from 1960 to 1966, was tifosi’s dream and an insurance broker’s nightmare, as 16 of the most valuable cars on the planet raced round the track, pushed hard by their drivers. Ranging from a couple of 250 GTOs to the ‘Breadvan’ via 250 SWBs and 250 LMs there was a sensory overload, but we all came back down to earth after 17 laps that saw Rob Hall in a 250 LM just shade Emanuele Pirro for the race victory.
Arguably the drive the weekend came courtesy of three-time World Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx, whose mastery of treacherous conditions in the RAC TT Celebration in the E-type Jaguar that he shared with owner, William Paul, astounded everyone. As he remarked after the race, “there’s life left in the old dog.”
Another memorable event at Goodwood, a fitting way to round off the season and an encouragement to look forward to 2024.
