UKMotorTalk, an independent view on motoring and motor sport with impartial road tests, unbiased advice on buying and selling, insurance, taxation and road safety and all the news that affects your car use.
The St Mary’s Trophy sees a grid of 30 Austin A30s and A35s take to the Goodwood track, driven by some of the biggest names in racing including BTCC’s Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal and Anthony Reid, F1’s David Coulthard, Mark Blundell and Karun Chandhok, and nine times Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen.
It is not surprising then that the on track action is at the most competitive level… These people do not like to lose!! The Shedden/Soper battle in the video demonstrates this well….
Westhampnett, Goodwood Motor Circuit on a race day, 1949 - Britain from Above
In a break from the on-track Goodwood action, it is interesting to discover these (and MANY other) photographs on the Britain From Above website. The Goodwood of 1949, still recovering from its wartime activities, plays host to an event that the Revival emulates today.
To get a better view, zoom in and pan about, you can register and log in for free.
With only four days to go until the start of the Goodwood Revival 2016, preparations continue apace…
Last week we made the most of some on-track testing to admire some fine machinery in the paddock…
It's often been said of McLaren boss Ron Dennis that he likes to have his cake and eat it and today's announcement of Jenson Button's "not a retirement" seems a just about perfect solution for all parties.
As I alluded to in paying my respects to Felipe Massa only on Thursday, others should choose their time to leave F1.
It had become clear Jenson would make changes this season but where to go? What to do?
I could not see JB heading to either Indycars or sports cars although a TV career seemed very possible.
Ron also wanted new whizz kid Stoffel Vandoorne in a McLaren seat and the sponsorship that he brings with him as McLs poor few seasons have seen even long term sponsors deserting in droves.
But Mr Vandoorne, good as he will prove to be, simply doesn't have the highly regarded car development skills that JB has honed over nearly 300 GPs, 50 podiums, 15 wins and a World Championship, skills Ron is wise to retain. Yet I have little doubt that Jenson's fee for 2017 and 18 will reflect his non driving status, Ron is a tough negotiator as Ayrton Senna frequently rued.
7 years with former world beaters McLaren have seen Jenson contribute greatly to their slow but gradual climb out of the pit of F1 despair. He was instrumental in the Honda engine deal then pushed the Japanese car makers very hard both privately and publicly to up their game - and fast - to the point where the team is rapidly climbing back up the grid.
And through those very lean years Jenson kept the faith inspiring others in the team to stay, to persevere, to fight on.
Over the years I have met and interviewed Jenson many times, even before F1. He is immensely likeable, charming, confident and an easy interviewee. He is also very shrewd, sets achievable goals and sees the longer game. (In an interview I recorded with him back in 2008 he displays many, if not all, of these qualities…)
So give a thought to the number of drivers who have become successful team bosses. Quite a few, Jordan, Horner, Sauber, Brabham, Hill, Bruce McLaren, even Ron Dennis himself.
Is JB's new 2 year contract more than just a development driver role, perhaps a precursor to a team management role, an heir to the mighty Ron empire or at least the F1 bit? If so, I have just written his CV!
But a word of warning Jenson, Ron can be ruthless… Beware the Ides of Whitmarsh.
Or will it be et tu Ron.
Graham Benge
F1 is increasingly a young man's sport with teenagers occupying seats in front running teams, winning races and showing little on track respect for the elder statesmen of the pinnacle of motor sport.
Perhaps it's timely then that the longest serving F1 driver Felipe Massa should today announce his intention to retire at the end of the season, a season finale that will mark his 250th Grand Prix.
After 3 seasons with Williams, during which he has played a major part in the rebuilding of a once great team that was in a state of decline, he is now to leave the sport entirely. It seems, an honourable departure for one of F1's most respected characters. No slide into a well paid but hopelessly uncompetitive back-of-grid team, no Indy cars, no sports cars but, perhaps, a new TV career?
Many tough seasons as second fiddle at Ferrari taught Felipe a lot of diplomacy and how to handle searching questions. Time to turn the media tables perhaps?
I sincerely hope so.
I have met and interviewed Felipe several times and have always found him accessible and friendly, a real gentleman of the sport, a sport in which, sometimes, ego wins over ability.
Perhaps others will take the honourable retirement route later this season? Surely better to retire from the sport than have it retire from you. As in comedy, timing is everything!
Graham Benge
Taking to the track after the British Grand Prix, Vettel joined a UK paramedic, Alex Knapton, at the Bruntingthorpe race track near Silverstone. Swapping their vehicles for the challenge, the iconic red of Ferrari for the flashing blue lights of a UK ambulance, Vettel was tasked with sharing high performance driving tips in his Ferrari 488 GTB with a 3.9-litre turbocharged V-8 engine and top speed of over 200 mph, before joining Alex on a lap of the track in his three tonne ambulance grabbing maximum performance from the vehicle and a modest 88 mph.
The day finished with a head to head challenge… Vettel in the ambulance against Knapton in the 488 GTB….
Of the experience, Alex Knapton, a Paramedic from South Central Ambulance Service, said:
“Getting the opportunity to swap the ambulance for the Ferrari 488 GTB was a dream come true! It was an unbelievable experience to get that close to one of the stars of Formula 1. Sebastian was on great form coaching on high performance driving tips and joking about the lack of a radio in the ambulance.”
