As Goodwood hosted a very special Revival, even the weather couldn’t dampen spirits
WORDS LIZZIE POPE PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES MANN/ROLEX
There were heartfelt words from the Duke of Richmond as his circuitʼs rebirth celebrated its 25th birthday, just days before the 75th anniversary of the trackʼs very first race on 18 September 1948. That the Pycroft Jaguar, the first winner at that inaugural meeting, was present at the 2023 Goodwood Revival from 8-10 September was special indeed. And if attendees wanted a permanent reminder of the event, they could choose to be inked with a Goodwood-themed tattoo at the pop-up Les Skuse parlour – with temporary transfer versions available, too.
Friday eveningʼs ever-evocative Freddie March Memorial Trophy starred 2009 Formula One driversʼ champion Jenson Button piloting his own, ex-Juan Manuel Fangio Jaguar C-type. His co-driver and friend Alex Buncombe started the car from pole and scorched off into the fading light, his 2.7-sec lead at the end of the first tour up to more than 23 secs by the ninth.
The dream win wasnʼt to be, however, after a misfire during Buttonʼs stint forced retirement. By that time, the Maserati 250S of Richards Wilson and then Bradley was already ahead and went on to win by almost 10 secs, from the HWM-Jaguar started by Gregor Fisken, whose Touring Car star teammate Jake Hill hadnʼt even sat in the car before qualifying.
Saturdayʼs Goodwood Trophy, for 1930 to 1951 Grand Prix and voiturette machines, provided an appropriately sizzling start to what turned into the hottest day of the year. The soundtrack initially came from the distinctive V16 blare of the BRM Continuation, with Rob Hall at the wheel. He snatched the early lead from polesitter Ben Fidler (ERA D-type R4D), then diced with Mark Gillies (ERA A-type R3A) on lap two before Gillies pulled clear, but with the top four covered by just a second even several laps later, he could never relax. After Hall retired in the BRM, Gillies built a 3.5-sec lead, but in a sensational finish, Ian Baxter in the ex-George Abecassis Alta 61 IS beat a quintet of ERAs in a race to the flag and stole the win on the line.
There was an unexpected complexion to the start of the first St Maryʼs Trophy, with Andrew Jordanʼs Alfa Romeo Giulietta ti and Andy Wallaceʼs Mk1 Jaguar both missing from the second row of the grid, but this star-studded encounter didnʼt disap
