We all know what has happened and the difficult road we’ve all been on. Postponed and then converted into the very successful Goodwood Speedweek.… but it’s back!!! The 3 most incredibly unique days on the historic motorsport calendar, Goodwood Revival 2021 was finally here!!!
This year proved to be my busiest Revival to date as a photographer. I would be covering the event working 5 totally different briefs. My highlight was shooting alongside leading commercial photographer Alex Lawrence, assisting him on his assignments. While also shooting for my own media and magazine client requirements. Some very early starts and ‘last on track’ finishes but it was a great experience juggling all different imagery styles throughout the weekend.
Making his first competitive appearance at Goodwood Revival was Jenson Button. He would be driving this Jaguar E-Type in the formerly known Kinrara Trophy, now renamed in tribute to one of Britain greatest-ever drivers; the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy. Jenson would be sharing the driver’s seat with friend and endurance racer Alex Buncombe. The start being after 6pm it would race into the fading light of Friday evening… always creates magical photos if that sunset arrives as it did for the 2019 Kinrara.
They would also be in action in the RAC TT Celebration, a race for GT cars from 1963 and ’64 only. Sharing this 1963 AC Cobra.
Other races were sure to produce some action… the John Whitmore Trophy for Mini Cooper S certainly did the job. As ever close racing was the order of the day but it also included the ‘Save of the Year’ from Enndaf Owens!!
On 2 wheels the racing was no less intense…made more so by the small shower part way through the race on Sunday. A couple of riders tested the strength and protection of their leathers, while others had close shaves!!
In the Detail …
It’s the details around the paddock that make Goodwood Revival so special for me. The period costume that so many of the spectators wear adds to the magical atmosphere.
Other traditions around the Goodwood Circuit make it very special & unique. Here the band of the Irish Guards marched down the Start/Finish Straight. Followed by a short ceremony to bless the track & t he competitors on the Sunday morning.
After the quiet of the ‘blessing’ it was time to restart the engines around the paddock. A full day of racing was ahead of us. So many priceless Classic and Historical cars from many iconic periods of motorsport were driven to the limits as they were built to be.
As the sunsets, the Spitfires take off for their tradition ‘Evening Patrol’ to close the Goodwood Revival 2021. See you again next year… ohhh hold on… we have the postponed Members Meeting MM78 to look forward to in just a few weeks!
