[Video] 2024 Grover-Williams Trophy highlights | 81MM | GRR
One of the more interesting and exciting races on the schedule of the 81st Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport was the Grover-Williams Trophy, its second running at Goodwood since the Members’ Meetings returned to the Motor Circuit in 2014.
Run originally as a celebration of pre-war Bugattis, the Grover-Williams Trophy has a slightly broader remit bringing together a more varied grid of 1920s Grand Prix cars, while also celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Bugatti Type 35.
Named after William Grover-Williams, winner of the first ever Monaco Grand Prix in 1929 driving a Bugatti Type 35, this 20-minute race delivered some of the most beautiful sights of the 81st Members' Meeting, evoking that early period of grand prix racing graced by drivers including Louis Chiron, Tazio Nuvolari and Grover-Williams.
Fittingly, given that this was in essence a celebration of the Type 35's centenary, the front row of the grid was dominated by the model. Julian Majzub staked his claim to pole barely a second ahead of Duncan Pittaway in second place. Tim Dutton prevented an all-Type 35 front row by putting his Type 51 third on the grid. He, too, set a best lap within a second of the pole-sitter, as did fourth-placed Matt Walton in his Type 51. Such close qualifying times promised close racing. The first non-Bugatti occupies the fifth grid slot. That's the Frazer Nash Boulogne of Tim Crighton.
Julian Majzub got off to a lightning start from pole, while Matt Walton also got a strong start from the second row. While Majzub was off on his own up front, Walton's efforts were curtailed by a mechanical fault that caused retirement. Charlie Martin's loss of a wheel brought out a red flag that curtailed Majzub's lead, but he soon re-established his advantage when the race was back on. The real battle was for second place, the scrap between Duncan Pittaway and Timothy Dutton coming to a premature end when the latter retired. The Bugatti Type 35, then, re-affirmed its status as the most successful racing car in history.
Which cars are racing in the Grover-Williams Trophy?
We're expecting to see a 25-car grid for the Grover-Williams Trophy, made up primarily of Bugatti Type 35s in a mix of the original plus later cars in 35A, 35B and 35C forms.
They'll be joined by a couple of Bugatti Type 51s, the successor to the all-conquering Type 35 that first appeared in 1931.
It's not all about Bugatti, though. Hoping to steal the limelight will be an Alfa Romeo RLTF from 1924, a Frazer Nash Boulogne, a stunning Talbot AO90 and a pair of 1930 Aston Martins.
Which drivers are racing in the Grover-Williams Trophy?
There are several drivers well known to Goodwood taking part in the Grover-Williams Trophy. Duncan Pittaway will be bringing all of his exuberance to proceedings at the wheel of his Bugatti Type 35. Likewise Julian Mazjub and Marino Franchitti, who will each be wrestling Type 35Bs.
When is the Grover-Williams Trophy?
Official Practice for the Grover-Williams Trophy gets underway at 15:25 on Saturday for what will be our first look at this gorgeous field of 1920s grand prix cars. The race is scheduled to start at 16:20 on Sunday afternoon.
The 81st Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport is live now! You can watch every second of the action right here on our GRR live stream.
Previous winners of the Grover-Williams Trophy
|
Year |
Event |
Driver(s) |
Car |
|
2014 |
72MM Grover-Williams Trophy |
Charles Knill-Jones |
Bugatti Type 35B |