[Video] St. Mary's Trophy part 1 full race | Goodwood Revival | GRR
Take a load off, pour yourself an ice-cold drink, and prepare to luxuriate in the brilliance of arguably, some of Goodwood Revival’s greatest ever on-track battles in Saturday’s St. Mary’s Trophy presented by Motul Part 1.
And once you're done catching up with the results of Part 2, relive the glory of Part 1. As above, arguably, some of Goodwood Revival’s greatest ever on-track battles took place in Saturday’s St. Mary’s Trophy presented by Motul.
As an alternating celebration of 1950s and 1960s saloon touring cars, this year’s running honours the former period. Where a talent-filled grid of some of the world’s best drivers set about pushing their varied range of little and large family cars to the ragged edge.
Even before an engine was started, a stacked driver list read like a who’s who of the BTCC community, and promised much. If Gordon Shedden (Austin A40), Matt Neal (Ford Prefect), Anthony Reid, Rob Huff (Jaguar Mk1s), Colin Turkington (BMW 700), plus Andrew Jordan and Max Chilton (Alfa Romeo Giullietta) weren’t enough, these tin-top experts were also joined by a NASCAR megastar, multiple Le Mans winners, and a certain Formula One World Champion too.
Once the flag dropped, the TV production team entered a world of hurt. So relentless was the yo-yoing of places, it must have been impossible to know where to point the cameras next.
The cool-as-a-cucumber Romain Dumas at least provided some respite, making his lead look somewhat effortless upfront. But it was the trailing pack where the action exploded into life with frenetic energy. Bouncing and lurching their way all over the circuit, and very often well past track limits, a swarm of classic saloons were swapping door paint and kissing chrome bumpers with pure frivolity.
Former Le Mans teammates Jimmie Johnson (Austin A40) and Jenson Button (Alfa Romeo Giulietta Ti) continually tussled to hunt down Benoit Treluyer (Austin A105) in fourth. It was this mischievous trio that took the lion’s share of screen time. Regularly seen three abreast round the circuit’s most unforgiving corners.
So exceptional was the display of skill, commitment, and good-old-fashioned fun, we could have watched this battle royale go on all afternoon. But as it was, the 25-minute epic came to a close with Romain Dumas (Ford Thunderbird), Rob Huff (Jaguar Mk1) and Tom Kristensen (Austin A90 Westminster) taking the top three places. Perfectly demonstrating the madness of the race, the nine-times Le Mans winner came from 24th place to eventually reach third.
But enough talking. Watch the bonkers race in full here. You won’t regret it.