Goodwood Revival 2011 – Juan Manuel Fangio Tribute

The Goodwood Revival 2011, held 16-18 September at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in England, honored Juan Manuel Fangio with a daily parade covering the length and breadth of his competition career.

Thought by many to have been the greatest Grand Prix driver ever, Juan Manuel Fangio’s record of 24 wins from 51 starts – a ratio of 47% – remains a record that is unlikely ever to be beaten. Not surprising then that on the centenary of the great man’s birth and the 60th anniversary of the first of his five World Championships, the 2011 Goodwood Revival marked Fangio’s racing career by highlighting some of his race-winning cars.

Multiple cars were brought over from overseas especially for the event, including two early Chevrolets from Fundacion Fangio of Argentina. Mercedes-Benz Classic brought several cars, including a 300SLR that was driven by Fangio’s former teammate, Sir Stirling Moss, while Le Mans winner and Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix pilot Hans Herrmann was in the mighty W196R and W196 Streamliner.

No less than Sir Jackie Stewart went out in the actual car in which his hero Juan Manuel Fangio, won his fifth and final Formula 1 World Championship, the works 1957 Maserati 250F Lightweight. Chassis number 2529, the curator of which is Swiss classic car specialist, Lukas Huni, is the 250F in which Fangio won the 1957 Argentine, French and German Grands Prix, clinching the Championship with his 24th and last GP victory at Nurburgring. In the race, he beat Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins on the penultimate lap after a minute-long pit stop that had placed him a long way behind the British pair, which were running non-stop, in their Lancia-Ferrari V8 F1 cars.

Following his participation in the parade lap, Steward clearly enjoyed the experience, “The 250F is a beautiful race car that defined the Grand Prix ethos of its era, but for it to be the actual 1957 Fangio car made this a very special opportunity for me. It’s a beautiful car. The engine is very smooth, wonderful. The car was just what I would have expected, beautiful and easy to drive, a very friendly experience. This is the first time I have ever driven a Maserati 250F and for it to be the actual Fangio car is for me, a great honour.”

Additional driving stars present at the Fangio Tribute included John Surtees, Maria Teresa de Filippis (the first woman to race in Formula One), Tony Brooks and Alain de Cadenet.

Similar to our Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011 coverage, photographer Tim Scott of Fluid Images also documented this year’s Goodwood Revival, including the following 110+ pictures from the Juan Manuel Fangio Tribute. To see more from Tim, visit fluidimages.co.uk.

Goodwood Revival 2011 – Juan Manuel Fangio Tribute Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

[nggallery id=323 images=15]

[Source: Goodwood; Rolex; photo credit: Tim Scott / Fluid Images]