Grand Prix stars confirmed for Goodwood Revival
Current Jordan and Stewart Grand Prix drivers Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert arc in the line-up for the RAC Tourist Trophy Celebration GT for this weekend’s Goodwood Revival Meeting, in a Ferrari 250 GTO and lightweight Jaguar E-type respectively. McLaren’s David Coulthard is now not racing, but will demonstrate the Mercedes-Benz museum’s WI96 on the Friday only. And veteran F1 commentator Murray Walker will take part in the warm-up lap of the Lennox Trophy motorcycle event, before dropping the Union Jack to flag the riders – including Barry Sheene – away.
Three time World Champion Jack Brabham drives Bruce McCaw’s McLaren-BRM M5A in the Glover Trophy feature for F1 and Tasman cars from 1966-’69. Ranged against him are former Team Lotus Grand Prix drivers Pete Lovely and Jackie Oliver who will join Joaquin Folch, Geoff Farmer in Lotus 49s, Derek Bell (Ferrari 312) and Richard Attwood in his BRM P261. Ben Liebert’s glorious Eagle-Weslake will also be raced again, for the first time since the 1960s.
Brabham, BRM and Maserati-powered Coopers make up the a grid which should see top speeds of 165mph on the 2.4-mile circuit. “These are sensational cars, the last before the advent of wings, aerofoils and the high-technology aerodynamic devices we take for granted today,” said event host Lord March.
Three original 1600cc Tasman Championship cars add a further dimension to the Glover Trophy field. Bob Tabor’s ex-works Lotus 48 R1 (which made its debut with Graham Hill at Warwick Farm in ’67) will be raced by Simon Hadfield, while David Coplowe is bringing the McLaren M4A in which Piers Courage won the series finale at Longford, Tasmania in ’68. Both are powered by Cos-worth FVA engines, while Stuart Rolt is putting a Lotus twin-cam back in his Elfin for Mark Linstone to pilot.
Other stars in the TT event include Formula One World Champions John Surtees (Ferrari GTO) and Phil Hill (Shelby Cobra), ex-sportscar World Champion Martin Brundle – who has already tested the Aston Martin Project 212 – and Danny Sullivan.
No Goodwood event would be complete without Stirling Moss, the most successful driver in the illustrious history of the Sussex circuit. Stirling celebrates his 70th birthday on the Friday, and will be competing in a variety of cars during this very special weekend. Among them will be the Maserati 250F he rates as his favourite, in the Richmond & Gordon Trophy Race. A cavalcade of MGs to celebrate the marque’s 75th anniversary will be one of many highlights of the meeting. It will have special significance for Lord March, for his grandfather who opened Goodwood for racing in 1948 won the Brooklands Double Twelve race in a works MG in 1931.