The eighteenth staging of the Goodwood Revival upheld the expectations of all attending in suitably grand style. A capacity crowd estimated at 150,000 enjoyed and participated in an unforgettable weekend of speed, theatre, heritage and fun.
The highest quality of competitive racing involving classic racing cars, some valued in their millions of pounds sterling, piloted by household names from all realms of motor sport, provided a breath-taking spectacle. Add to this the participation of the visitors who embraced the dress code of 1966 or before with enthusiasm, and the result is an extraordinarily memorable experience for everyone. Also central to the success are the Revival partners of whom Rolex has been a key member for twelve years, providing the essential Driver’s Club, described by one leading driver as “the heart of the paddock”.
Rolex Driver of the Meeting Award 2015
The climax of the event this year was, as has long been the custom, the prize- giving staged on the roof of the Race Control building. Anchoring the process Goodwood host Lord March presented the top three winners of each of the weekend’s sixteen races before turning his attention to the Rolex Driver of the Meeting nomination.
Since 2004 when Rolex first partnered the Revival, the company has provided this award for the driver deemed to have both performed well and entertained the crowds the best during the weekend. In his introduction to announcing the winner, Lord March said that this had been an exceptional weekend and a great coming together of all involved including staff and visitors.
The Rolex Driver of the Meeting Award was presented to Chris Ward who enjoyed a particularly successful weekend’s racing, entertaining the crowds in all his three races. After receiving an especially engraved Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust from Rolex UK Managing Director Richard de Leyser, Chris Ward said: “This is a total surprise. It’s been a great weekend, Lord March has the best classic car racing weekend of anywhere in the world and I’ve really enjoyed it hugely.”
Homage to great driver whose legacy lives on
At each Revival meeting, it has been the custom to recognize the life and times of one of the ‘greats’ of the motor sport world. For 2015 the chosen Tribute was for the late Bruce McLaren, the legacy of which is the extraordinary, world-famous McLaren Automotive.
The New Zealander had multiple qualities being a talented race driver, a very successful engineer and a constructor of very competitive racing cars. Adding more colour and a strong sense of heritage to the Revival, the tribute was staged on each of the three days of the meeting. Among the drivers who took part was Sir Jackie Stewart OBE: “Bruce first and foremost, was a very nice man, wonderful, very generous with his time. He was not only a nice man but was also a good driver and as it turned out, he was a very good constructor too.”
Lord March said of the New Zealander: “Bruce McLaren was a talented engineer and a world class racing driver. He was highly skilled, meticulous and always fun.”
Revival Status Confirmed by Top Drivers
Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, one of the event’s most seasoned Goodwood regulars, three times World Formula 1 Champion, commented: “This event is the best! It’s tradition and yet it’s got performance and the best collection of great cars in the world.” The Rolex Testimonee has a long association with the company that started before he won his first Formula 1 World Drivers Champion in 1969. He was signed to Rolex in April 1968.
Also a seasoned Revival fan and former Rolex Driver of the Meeting award-winner, Frank Stippler had high hopes of completing his 2015 Revival with a win in the RAC TT Celebration race on Sunday, but it was not to be. Despite qualifying the 1964 AC Cobra he shared with Michael Squire on pole position even though it was his first experience of driving the 4.7 litre sports car, in a fiercely competitive one-hour race, the pair were to finish a creditable third. With an estimated value of some £150 million of classic racing cars, the Celebration had the crowds watching the spectacle in awe.
Talking about the Revival, Frank Stippler said: “This is without any doubt the most outstanding event, far in front compared to any other historical event, I mean it’s not only the race, it’s the surroundings and it’s the spectators as well, they are part of the game and they are so enthusiastic. On the lap of honour, I had time to look at the crowds and I could see in their eyes they were engaged and very excited. They were waving and shouting at this little Italian car (Alfa Romeo 1600 GT), it’s a big luxury to get such a lap of honour, it’s yes, very emotional.”
Unique Concept with broad appeal
There can be no doubt that in the Revival, Goodwood has conceived and nurtured a unique event with huge, broad appeal. By focusing on the values of tradition, elegance and prestige, Lord March has drawn together the many strands of a bygone era, but one that resonates with all, and all ages. These are the very values that Rolex pursues, making this partnership one to be highly valued.