Celebrating a golden era of Formula 1, the Richmond & Gordon Trophies race showcases grand prix cars from 1952-1960. Two types of cars are brought together here, as those with rear-mounted engines race against cars with engines at the front, but one thing they will have in common is that all will be running using sustainable fuel.

Witnessing the cars of this special era race around the Goodwood Motor Circuit transports us back to the glorious days when Goodwood was the spiritual home of motor racing in Britain. Past results may show that they are not always the closest of races, but they provide a unique opportunity to bask in the nostalgia of the earliest days of Formula 1.
The second race on Sunday morning, the contest for the Richmond & Gordon Trophies had a stunted start, getting underway behind the safety car on a track that remained thoroughly wet. The green flag was quickly waved, though, and these Formula 1 cars of the 1950s and '60s delivered the action.
Pole-sitter Will Nuthall jostled for position with Andy Willis in the 1960 BRM P48 behind him, but after some back and forth it was defending champion Nuthall who came out on top to hold on to his lead. Willis subsequently found himself in an incident with John Spiers, driving a 1955 Maserati 250F, where a moment of contact through the chicane saw the former go off onto the grass.
Willis would end up recording the fastest lap of the race, but unfortunately for him, his efforts to recover were in vain; a 20-second time penalty denied him a spot on the podium. Willis had to settle for fourth, while Nuthall and his 1960 Cooper-Climax T53 ‘lowline’ once again took the chequered flag for a third consecutive year, his fifth win in this race in total. He is unquestionably the king of the Richmond & Gordon Trophies. Second place for Charlie Martin made it a Cooper T53 1-2 finish, with Spiers being promoted to third – but only by the slender margin of 0.342 seconds after the penalty was applied.
Photography by Pete Summers.
The first F1 action of the Revival weekend came courtesy of Official Practice for the Richmond & Gordon Trophies, where the front-engined Maseratis and Connaughts continued their perpetual duel with the rear-engined Coopers and Lotuses in this wonderful recreation of 1950s grand prix racing.
It was the nimbler Coopers that were able to better manage the tricky conditions and dominate the timing sheets as they skated around the Motor Circuit. Will Nuthall in his Cooper T53 ‘lowline’ set the quickest lap to take pole position for Sunday’s race, a second ahead of Andy Willis in the BRM P48.
John Spiers was the quickest of the front-engined cars in his Maserati 250F, setting an impressive laptime to keep up good pace compared to the pole sitter and give himself a chance of a strong result in the race.
We can’t wait for the flag to drop and send all of these stunning cars racing wheel-to-wheel once again. There’s no greater sight than watching ‘50s F1 cars sliding their way through the likes of Madgwick, Lavant and Woodcote.
Photography by Pete Summers and Jordan Butters.
|
Position |
Driver |
Car |
Time |
|
1 |
William Nuthall |
1960 Cooper-Climax T53 ‘lowline’ |
1:54.379 |
|
2 |
Andy Willis |
1960 BRM P48 |
1:55.601 |
|
3 |
John Spiers |
1955 Maserati 250F |
1:56.944 |
|
4 |
Charlie Martin |
1960 Cooper-Climax T53 |
2:00.043 |
|
5 |
Eddie Williams |
1957 Cooper-Climax T43 |
2:00.458 |
|
6 |
Mark Shaw |
1960 Scarab-Offenhauser |
2:01.796 |
|
7 |
Richard Wilson |
1960 Ferrari 246 Dino |
2:01.834 |
|
8 |
Rudi Friedrichs |
1960 Cooper-Climax T53 ‘lowline’ |
2:02.291 |
|
9 |
Tom Dark |
1959 Cooper-Climax T51 |
2:03.871 |
|
10 |
Joaquin Folch-R Corachan |
1958 Lotus-Climax 16 |
2:04.554 |
|
11 |
Manuel Elicabe |
1959 Cooper-Climax T51 |
2:04.895 |
|
12 |
Cameron Gillies |
1960 Cooper-Climax T53 ‘lowline’ |
2:05.895 |
|
13 |
Brad Baker |
1956 Maserati 250F |
2:06.804 |
|
14 |
Nigel Batchelor |
1954 Kieft-Climax Grand Prix |
2:07.833 |
|
15 |
Thomas Schlereth |
1960 Fergusson-Climax P99 |
2:07.944 |
Photography by Jayson Fong and Joe Harding.
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