What to see when

Paul Lawrence guides you through historic racing’s most memorable weekend

More than 300 of the finest period racing cars in Europe will make the 2001 Goodwood Revival Meeting every bit as good as the three previous events. With star drivers, fabulous cars and the unique atmosphere created by incredible attention to detail, it is little wonder that the Revival Meeting is already firmly established as the most important event in the historic racing calendar.

Particular attention is paid to attracting the most original racing cars, preferably those boasting a Goodwood history. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the RAC TT Celebration for closed GT cars of the early 1960s. Ferraris, AC Cobras, Aston Martins and Jaguars pack the entry. The possibility of ex-GP stars Stefan Johansson (250 Drogo) and Johnny Herbert (330 LMB) in Ferraris will thrill the fans, while Nigel Corner will make a welcome return in his Lightweight Jaguar E-type following his frightening shunt at the 2000 meeting.

The St Mary’s Trophy entry is packed with stars for the two-driver saloon car race, as you should have already read (pages 52-55). The 20-lap race will be another highlight.

The Glover Trophy for 1.5-litre F1 and Tasman cars tops the single-seater action, with BRM taking on Cooper and Lotus. But more unusual cars like the ATS, LDS and Scirocco-BRM will also be on the grid.

Stepping back an era, the Richmond and Gordon Trophies race for 1957-61 Formula One machinery. Robin Lodge’s stunning Ferrari 246 Dino and Philip Walker’s Lotus 16 stand out, but five Maserati 250Fs and a gaggle of Coopers will be battling hard, as will Martin Stretton in the Connaught C-type.

The Goodwood Trophy is for 1948-55 single-seaters, and will be yet another major attraction. ERAs include R5B ‘Remus’ for Ludovic Lindsay and Duncan Ricketts’ wonderful E-type, while massive interest will surround a pair of BRM V16s, the Lancia D50 of Robin Lodge and the Ferrari Thinwall Special entered by the Donington Collection.

Two more capacity single-seater fields will contest 500cc F3 and Formula Junior races. In both cases, a host of European visitors will add some unusual cars, including a de Sanctis and a Wainer in the Junior race.

New for 2001 is the Whitsun Trophy for prototype sports-racing cars, which will feature Richard Attwood in a Ford GT40, a clutch of Ferraris and the rare Maserati Tipo 63 of Ivan Scotti.

With yet more spectacular sportscar races reliving the Goodwood Nine Hours races and the Aston Martin-dominated world championship encounters of the 1950s, the weekend promises to be every bit as good as its predecessors.

strong>Race timetable

Friday 14 September

0900-1440 Free Practice

1500-1745 Official Practice

Saturday 15 September

0900-1340 Official Practice

1510 Goodwood Trophy (1948-55 F1,F2&Formula Libre)

1555 Earl of March Trophy (1948-59 500cc F3)

1640 Lennox Cup 1 (1962-67 500cc bikes)

1720 Sussex Trophy (1955-60 sportscars)

Sunday 16 September

0915 Freddie March Memorial Trophy (cars of Goodwood Nine Hours,1952-55)

1005 Chichester Cup (1958-61 rear-engined Formula Juniors)

1055 St Mary’s Trophy (1957-63 saloons)

1200 Richmond & Gordon Trophies (1957-61 Inter-Continental Formula& F1 )

1250 Lennox Cup 2 (as above)

1425 Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration (1960-64 closed-cockpit GT cars)

1550 Glover Trophy (1961-65 1.5-litre F1 & Tasman cars)

1640 Whitsun Trophy (1963-67 rear-engined sportscars)

1730 Fordwater Trophy (1958-63 sports & GT cars)