The Goodwood Revival Edition – Why It Is One Of The Best Historic Motorsport Events

It’s hard to pitch something as intense as Goodwood Revival without living it… But let’s be concise. Imagine some of the finest, rarest, most expensive, most powerful classic racing cars driven as they were meant to be back in the 1950s or 1960s, without a hint of fear despite the value of these rolling masterpieces, all of that on an ex-airfield transformed into a race track, in the British countryside, with some of the most esteemed drivers and an overall relaxed, reachable atmosphere… Sounds like fun, right? Better than that. Goodwood Revival is one of the best (if not the best) Historic Motorsport events around the globe. The Petrolhead Corner is live, and it’s all about the 2019 edition!

The romance and glamour of motor racing as it used to be!

Goodwood Revival is a magical step back in time. But not for the fun or the prestige. Participants are here for the glory, the fight, the winning, the fear. On the contrary of an event such as Monterey Car Week of Concorzo d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este, Goodwood Revival is a true race, where pilots and owners have no fear of putting wheels in the grass, of sliding their machines or (unfortunately) crashing million-dollar historic cars too… But that’s racing! “Turn around and watch GT40s driven like it’s 1966!” as seen on Petrolicious… “breathless historic racing on the track“, “spontaneous flash mobs formed of hysterical Beatles fangirls” as reported by Classic Driver. Yes, that’s what Goodwood Revival is.

For the Races (Genuine, Intense motorsport)

Goodwood Revival isn’t a parade. Owners and drivers are not here for the show. It’s not about judges scanning ever pieces and bolt of the car to see if they are legit and pristine. Goodwood is about oil, rubber, petrol, sweat and noise. Don’t be surprised to see an E-Type Lightweight fighting against a Big Healey, or a Dino 246S rubbing shoulder with a Birdcage Maserati… Despite being million-dollar, ultra-rare and collectable, the participating cars are all race cars! And they are used as such. You’ll some crashes, some intense drifting (no necessarily voluntary drifting…), some smoking engine and some genuine cutthroat competition between drivers.

The video below is a perfect example of what Goodwood revival is!

Video courtesy of Goodwood Revival.

For the cars (Some of the finest, rarest classic beauties)

Indeed, Goodwood Revival is a car event first and foremost. But not just any cars. It gathers on- and off-track the most desirable and finest motorsports beauties. It’s a petrolhead heaven. From a 1960s GT40, to over a handful of Lightweight E-Types, classic Ferraris all around (SWBs, GTOs, TDFs and so on), but also more exotic pieces like a parade of cars built by the Cooper Car Company Ltd, classic Minis, Maseratis and everything the British sportscar industry has created…

Best way to satisfy your passion for historic race cars… Check Petrolicious’ report here.

For the atmosphere (throwback to the 1940s/1960s)

One of the best aspects of Goodwood Revival, much more than with the already cool Festival Of Speed, is the relaxed, vintage atmosphere that perfectly matches with the cars in presence. Goodwood isn’t just about the track, it’s about the experience, glamour and the cool factor too. It’s a context, where historic racing is the central point but everything around is made to make you feel exactly what was racing back in the days. Without nostalgia, but just good fun. Something only Brits can do.

Gte a good look behind the scenes of Goodwood Revival 2019 here, at Classic Driver.

For the Divers (and some Rolex watches too)

Goodwood Revival is also about the people… Some of the most esteemed and respected racing drivers, whatever the era, come at Goodwood to fight on the track. Think Sir Jackie Stewart, Rolex Testimonee and three-time FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion, behind the wheel of a 1960s Cooper single-seater, or Tom Kristensen, another Rolex Testimonee and nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, who drove supremely a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB/C…

You can read all about Rolex engagement in Goodwood Revival and how its racing ambassadors performed, here at Rolex.

All images courtesy of their respective owners: Robert Cooper for Classic Driver, Scott Paterson for Petrolicious, Rolex.