2024 Goodwood Revival shines through the rain
Historic racing extravaganza produces another spectacular show, in the Goodwood Revival’s 26th year
Well, it’s good for the garden... A wet Revival took place under leaden skies
Dominic James
Goodwood delivered another glorious Revival in September despite the best efforts of the elements to ruin the world’s greatest historic motoring extravaganza. Heavy rain on the opening day threatened a wash-out, but another wonderful mix of highlights over the course of the weekend shone through the gloom.
Giacomo Agostini, 82, multiple world champ on two wheels 1966-75, led John Surtees tribute
Sir Jackie Stewart and Martin Brundle officially opening the Tyrrell Shed, earlier this year saved and relocated from the team’s former home in Ockham, was special. So too was the sight of Giacomo Agostini on his MV Agusta leading a tribute to John Surtees. A 75th anniversary display of Jaguar XK ticked a box, while an astonishing number of beach buggies kept up a knack for happy eccentricity.
Nigel Batchelor’s Kieft
Dominic James
As for the racing, the shadow cast by the Duke of Richmond’s firm pre-event video warning on technical eligibility – aka cheating – couldn’t be ignored. Why now, 26 years into the Revival’s existence? But in the best Goodwood traditions, patrons turned a blind eye and simply enjoyed a spectacular show.
Warbird flypasts remain a Revival staple
Tom Baigent
The battle put on by BTCC rivals Jake Hill and Tom Ingram for RAC TT Celebration honours will go down as among the Revival’s best. Ingram in Mike Whitaker’s TVR Griffith just got the nod from Hill in the Cobra he shared with Oli Bryant, by 0.6sec on Sunday. The previous day NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson shared Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy honours with friend and IndyCar hero Dario Franchitti in an Aston Martin DB4GT.
Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy
The Goodwood Trophy first thing on Saturday was decided on the last lap when Ian Baxter’s Alta slipped past Mark Gillies’ ERA, in a race that also featured the sight (and sound) of Rob Hall in the continuity BRM Type 15 V16. Nürburgring specialist Frank Stippler shone in the ‘professional’ St Mary’s Trophy tin-top thrash, winning in an Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA. Andy Middlehurst notched up a ninth Glover Trophy win, in John Bowers’ ex-Jim Clark Lotus 25, while Bryant’s Lola T70 prevailed in the Whitsun Trophy – the fastest race of the weekend.
60 years of the Meyers Manx was marked
Sunshine is always preferable, but even in the rain Goodwood’s magic breaks through.
Sir Jackie and Martin Brundle opened the doors of the recently moved Tyrrell Shed