Tom Senior
Director Classic Car Finance
The saying goes; absence makes the heart grow fonder. This was certainly the case as we returned to Goodwood Revival in September for the first time since 2019.
This truly is the highlight of the year for many classic car fanatics. It was lovey to see people outside enjoying themselves, basking in the early Autumn sunshine at the stunning Goodwood estate.
It's hard to describe Revival, it's almost a cross between a historical garden party and a grand prix. The attendees all get into the spirit of things, many dressed as the armed forces from the 40's and 50's, mods, and rockabillies, but the motorsport is still the highlight of the day.
Whilst the pageantry of the event is spectacular, the cars are more than equal to it, with everything from pre-war vintage Bentleys to F1 and sports cars of the 50's and 60's. This year, the races and qualifying sessions were uniquely dramatic, with a number of cars having engine problems leading to oil on the track, and in one case there was a line of oil almost around the whole track. This led to the unfortunate sight of cars going off the track, which is never good to see, but even more mortifying considering how many unique and valuable cars take part in Revival.
The highlight of Friday is the famous Kinrara Trophy, renamed this year to the Sir Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy, in honour of the legendary driver who sadly passed last year. This race has some of the world's most famous race drivers competing in it and this year included: Martin Brundle (ex-F1), Rob Huff (ex-Touring Cars), Sam Hancock (Le Mans), Jochen Mass (ex-F1), Jenson Button (ex-F1), and Andre Lotterer (ex-F1, Le Mans and Formula E) among other accomplished drivers. This race is the last event of the day and starts at 6pm just as the sun is starting to set. Some of the world's most expensive cars race in this event including the famous Ferrari 250 GT SWB, Aston Martin DB4 GT, and the iconic Jaguar E Type, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. It really is a wonderful race and the pinnacle of the event.
For any new attendees, I'd highly recommend a visit to the paddocks to watch the mechanics tinker with the cars and listen to engines being fettled. If you go to the Earls Court exhibition hall, there are usually some interesting items in there. Visiting the outside the track area is also a must as you can shop till you drop. Finally, if you're feeling energetic enough to take a walk round the entire circuit, it's less than 3 miles and has some of the best viewing spots around it.
If you are at all interested in classic and vintage cars it really is a must go event. While ticket prices are quite high, the event is open from 7am to 10pm, meaning that you can spend a whole day there and really get your money's worth!