Goodwood Revival: Being there is everything
FÄSSLER AND JANI EXCITED In beautiful late summer weather, not only many spectators from Switzerland experienced the Goodwood Revival 2019 in England, but also professionals like Marcel Fässler and Neel Jani. For both professional racing drivers, it was the first invitation to participate in this theatrical event in southern England. Around 150,000 spectators, a large proportion of whom traditionally attend [...]
For both professional racers it was the first invitation to participate in this theatrical event in the south of England. Around 150,000 spectators, the majority of whom traditionally appeared in Golden Fifties & Sixties outfits, followed the racing action over the three days on the second weekend in September, and this in glorious late summer weather.
Start with the touring cars and GT
As was once the case from 1948 to 1966, racing takes place on the legendary Goodwood Circuit. The Goodwood Revival, which has been held annually since 1998, revives this legendary era with real races and a rich supporting program for three days. Higher speeds are not achieved in Historic Racing on any race track. Marcel Fässler and Neel Jani were correspondingly impressed.
While Jani had already made the acquaintance of this fast circuit as a victorious driver on a Rover Vitesse at the Members' Meeting in the spring, Goodwood meant completely new territory for Fässler. Both were to drive in the spectacular race for touring cars from the 1950s on two different Austin A40s, as well as in the RAC TT Celebration Race for GT cars from 1960 to 1966.
Fässler on the move
Unfortunately, the Austin intended for Jani refused to run in practice and could not be brought back to life for the race either. In contrast, Fässler's A40, which had been completely rebuilt by its owners, literally ran like Swiss clockwork. The man from Schwyz also moved the little runabout as if he had never done anything else.
Together with his owner, who contested the second 25-minute race, Fässler was rewarded with third place overall in the addition of the two heats. Fässler finished Part 1 of the St Mary's Trophy in fourth place on Saturday. However, as the superior Studebaker Silver Hawk with ex-Sauber driver Karl Wendlinger at the wheel violated the technical regulations like six other touring cars and dropped out of the classification, the Swiss moved up to third position. This was confirmed the following day by car owner Matt Manderson in fourth place despite a 30-second penalty.
Marcel Fässler: "It was awesome with the little Austin. It's a real fun car. It's a shame that my Corvette Stingray didn't run so well in the GT race. But for me, this event was the most impressive thing I've ever seen anyway."
The highlights from the first day of racing at Goodwood:
"Driving is almost secondary"
Neel Jani blew the same horn, who at least got to drive alternately with Richard Meins in his Jaguar E-type FHC from 1961 in the one-hour GT race. But there was nothing he could do against the armada of AC Cobra. His Porsche Formula E teammate André Lotterer won the race with owner Christopher Wilson.
However, the 13th place was also rather unimportant for the man from Biel.
Neel Jani: "The driving is almost secondary here. You also have to be lucky with the allocation of the cars. It's unbelievable how much is on offer around it. Being there is everything."
The summary of the GT race can be seen in Sunday's highlights:
Laurels for Lips
In the middle of the action instead of just taking part were other Swiss Historic Racers. In the one-hour Kinrara Trophy for closed GT cars with three liters of displacement or more, Remo Lips took turns at the wheel of a Ferrari 250 GT SWB/C with Briton David Franklin.
After several attempts over the years with the precious car of his boss Arnold Meier, a podium emerged, which is rewarded at Goodwood with a laurel wreath instead of a trophy.
Buhofer in ex-Clark Lotus
Philipp Buhofer did respectably in the Glover Trophy for GP race cars up to 1.5 liters. Because there were engine problems with his Lotus Climax 24, he was allowed to compete with his second legendary race car, a Lotus 44 F2 from 1966.
Although the monoposto once driven by the unforgotten Jim Clark only had a Cosworth engine with 1000 cubic capacity, Buhofer drove to a good tenth place as the underdog in the field dominated by Brits with an average of over 150 km/h.
In the likewise unique and briskly moving pre-war race cars, Urs Müller even steered his Maserati 6CM to eighth place. The man from Basel is an old hand at Goodwood. On Friday evening, he and his daughter Arlette drove an Aston Martin DB4 GT in the Kinrara Trophy, which they finished in a good twelfth place.
Unforgettable experience
Goodwood newcomer Toni Seiler drove in the fastest field of unlimited sports prototypes à la CanAm. From practice to the race, the Zurich native got on better and better with the Lola T70 Spyder with 5.7-liter Chevy V8 provided. In the race, which was throttled by yellow phases, Seiler advanced to 15th place before a broken transmission shaft ended the race.
Nevertheless, like every driver and spectator, he too left the Goodwood Circuit in high spirits.
Toni Seiler: "I've already competed in the Le Mans Classic and Daytona Historic. But I have never experienced such a good event. I hope I'll be invited to participate again in 2020."
Organized trip to the Goodwood Revival 2020
If you are interested in a trip to the Goodwood Revival from September 10 to 14, 2020 (five days with four nights in the ****Hotel in Brighton), you can contact us via the contact form https://www.autosprint.ch/kontakt/ (Other) Request information.
More information about the Goodwood Revival 2019 and all results are available at the following links.
goodwood.com/motorsport/goodwood-revival
