Goodwood Revival to relive incredible '59 RAC TT

On that dramatic day Aston Martin came out on top despite suffering some of the most dramatic events possible in a single race, clinching the World Sportscar Championship in the process.

The Revival will take the opportunity to bring a remarkable race back to life not only in celebration of Aston Martin’s landmark anniversary, but also as part of the birthday celebrations being staged to honour Sir Stirling Moss, who will turn 90 on 17^th September.

The '59 RAC TT at Goodwood was the sixth and final race of the World Sportscar Championship season, and saw Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche all in with a shout of chompionship glory. Earlier in the year Ferrari had won the Sebring 12 hours, before Porsche mastered the fearsome Targa Florio and Aston Martin clinched back-to-back victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours and Nürburgring 1,000km.

Thirty one cars entered the finale that day, with Ferrari leading the championship on 18 points, Aston Martin second on 16 and Porsche just a single point behind them. The British team, led by the inimitable figure of John Wyer, brought three DBR1s for Stirling Moss/Roy Salvadori, Carroll Shelby/Jack Fairman and Maurice Triningnant/Paul Frère. They faced off against four cars each from Ferrari and Porsche.

Aston Martin shot off into the lead at the start, with the Moss/Salvadori team gapping the field significantly before their first pitstop on lap 24. That was when disaster struck. In the Goodwood pitlane the Aston Martin team's fuel hose was knocked open early and the spilled petrol proceeded to burst into flame. After the chaos had subsided Aston Martin were left unhurt, but with a ruined car in their pit area and the area itself completely unusable.

Realising the seriousness of the situation a privateer Aston Martin team withdrew their car, allowing Aston Martin to use their pit area, before Stirling Moss jumped into the number 2 car of Shelby/Fairman set off to make up for lost time. It was Moss's incredible performance after the firey disaster that led Aston Martin to victory by over a lap and the World Championship crown.

Now at the 2019 Goodwood Revival spectators will be able to relive that incredible moment in full as we celebrate the 60^th anniversary of that amazing day. An awesome track demonstration will include several of the cars that competed on that fateful day with more festivities completing the occasion off track.

Speaking about the celebration, the Duke of Richmond said: “The 1959 Tourist Trophy was without doubt the most momentous race that Goodwood staged in period, and it delivered a true landmark in British motoring when Aston Martin claimed the World Sportscar Championship.

“We shall be celebrating that extraordinary performance to the fullest, as well as toasting the 90^th birthday of Sir Stirling Moss, by recapturing the entire spectacle of the occasion when we open the 2019 Goodwood Revival. I am sure that our visitors on Friday will be amazed.”