Revival revels in sell-out crowds

A SELL-OUT crowd of 148,000 guests witnessed the 17th Goodwood Revival meeting last weekend, including an amazing celebration of the venue’s wartime role.

The on-track highlights included the annual RAC TT Celebration race for early-1960s GT cars, which was won by the AC Cobra of Sauber Formula 1 test driver Giedo van der Garde and David Hart, after a thrilling battle against a £150million field that included Jaguar E-types, Aston Martin project cars and even a Bizzarini.

Sir Jackie Stewart’s extraordinary career – which was catapulted into life at Goodwood in 1964 thanks to a maiden single-seater test – was marked with a 24-car parade that featured fellow motor racing legends John Surtees, Richard Attwood, Mark Webber and Arturo Merzario

The 75th anniversary of RAF Westhampnett – Goodwood Aerodrome’s name during World War II – was marked with a display of 600 military vehicles and personnel, including a flypast that featured the world’s only two airworthy Lancaster bombers.

Off-track recreations of Brighton Pier, Stonehenge and BMW’s 1950s Park Lane showroom combined to make the event the largest celebration of vintage culture in the world.

Lord March, owner and resident of Goodwood Estate said: "The 17th Goodwood Revival drew a record crowd, who not only witnessed some of the most iconic racing cars ever built dicing wheel-to-wheel, but also celebrated the career of the legendary Sir Jackie Stewart and paid tribute to the bravery of all those from West Sussex who were involved in World War II.

“The sight of two Lancaster Bombers in the sky together at sunset is something nobody who was there will ever forget. My sincere thanks to everyone who came for their support and enthusiasm for the event, which continues to be cherished by enthusiasts of motor racing and vintage culture across the world.”

By Press Association reporter