The 2013 running of the Goodwood Revival will be staged 13-15 September on the celebrated 2.4 mile Goodwood Circuit situated near Chichester, West Sussex, nearby the south coast of England. Under the direction of the Earl of March and his team, the annual Goodwood Revival is a step back in time, a chance to relive a glorious period in motor sport at an authentic motor racing circuit that has retained its look and feel from the 1960s.
Over its fifteen years, the Goodwood Revival has developed into a prestigious classic car rendezvous that attracts top drivers from across the globe to race in some of the most exquisite historic racing machinery from 1948-1966, a golden era in motor sport. The crowds drawn each year reflect the organizer’s adherence to period detail: the majority of visitors go to great lengths to dress in appropriate clothing, no modern vehicles are allowed within the circuit perimeter to disrupt the unique ambiance and beautifully crafted theatrical sets help bring the past back to life.
Sports car racing was the mainstay of the Goodwood circuit during its active years. Road-based sports cars and the very fastest and most exotic machinery of the day featured on a regular basis. The Revival’s extensive programme of races reflects the variety and competitiveness. One of the most keenly anticipated contests this year will be a recent addition to the schedule: the Freddie March Memorial Trophy, a 90-minute race held on the Friday evening, which was first run last year. The two-driver race evokes memories of the nine-hour endurance race held during the Goodwood circuit’s heyday and was an instant success as enthusiasts enjoyed the sight of classic cars with headlights blazing around the track at dusk.
Another of the racing highlights of this year’s sell-out Goodwood Revival will be the Fordwater Trophy, a race for production-based sports and GT cars of a type that raced between 1955 and 1960. In a star roll-call of great cars competing in one of the most varied grids ever to be seen at the Revival, some exceptional pairing will feature. These will include a team of two Mercedes-Benz 300SLs coming over from Germany, with ex-F1 drivers Jochen Mass and the rapid Hans Kleissl at the wheels. These will be joined by two Ferrari 250 GT Tour de Frances, as well as a pair of thundering Chevrolet Corvettes, plus an Aston Martin DB2/4 MK III.
A pair of Jaguar XK140s, including the actual car that David Hobbs raced at Goodwood in 1960, will be competing too, as will two Alfa Romeo Giuliettas, a rapid ash-framed Morgan Plus Four, two ex-Works Triumph TR3s and the famous ex-Jim Clark Porsche 356. In addition, spectators will see three ex-works MGAs in action, a Jensen 541R, AC Aces, an Austin-Healey 100/6, Rochdale GT (making its Revival debut), and a Daimler SP250. The Fordwater Trophy has never run in this exact format before, and promises to be a spectacle not to be missed.
The Revival will feature a mouth-watering array of Scuderia Ferrari cars spread over seven racing grids. One of Scuderia Ferrari’s most jewel-like Grand Prix creations will make its debut in the Glover Trophy. The 1964 Ferrari 1512 is the very car driven by John Surtees during the 1965 season, and will be piloted by rapid American driver Joe Colasacco in the Glover Trophy race on Sunday evening. With its screaming 220bhp 1.5 litre V12, it will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable sounds of the meeting, and in Colasacco’s hands, could well be a front-runner amongst the Lotus, BRMs and Coopers at the head of the Glover Trophy field.
Other rare Maranello greats competing at Goodwood will include a 750 Monza in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy on Friday evening, a 246 Dino and Ferrari 500/625 in the Richmond Trophy, 250LMs, 250 GTOs, a 330 GTO and 250 GT SWB/Cs in the RAC TT Celebration race, a 196S Dino and 860 Monza in the Sussex Trophy, plus a Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo Tipo B in the Goodwood Trophy. All-in-all, an exceptional line-up of prancing horses.
This year’s races will also pay tribute to the legendary Scottish racer Jim Clark, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first of his two Formula 1 World Championship victories. There will be a daily track parade that will include a variety of Jim Clark’s most famous cars to honor the life and achievements of this incredible and versatile man.
Last, but certainly not least, the Goodwood Revival 2013 will stage a race for significant and authentic racing Ford GT40s, marking the first time that a dedicated competition has been held for these iconic Ford race cars. The Whitsun Trophy race will celebrate 50 years since the genesis of the Ford GT40 programme.
The Rolex Driver of the Meeting Award is the last prize to be presented on the Sunday night and is one of the most coveted prizes each year. The Award, which comprises a Rolex chronometer, rewards the driver judged to have performed well over the event, and most importantly, to have best entertained the crowds.
With a record Revival attendance last year of 148,000, Lord March once again took the bold decision to cap advanced ticket sales for 2013 to ensure the Revival remains a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all Goodwood visitors, without too much crowding. In other words, this wildly popular event is sold-out.
Ticket or no ticket, we encourage you to visit Sports Car Digest following the 2013 Goodwood Revival as we will quickly publish reports, results and photo galleries from all the races. We have several photographers at Goodwood this year, and each one is focused upon providing the best coverage of all the events without exception. For the latest coverage, visit sportscardigest.com/tag/Goodwood/.
[Source: Rolex Motorsports; Goodwood; photos: Tim Scott]
