Video: 2024 Peter Collins Trophy highlights | 81MM

When the flag dropped, pole-sitter Richard Wilson compensated for a sub-par start with the sheer grunt of his Maserati 250S to make it to Madgwick first. Not that John Pearson was going to make it easy for him. He pedalled his Jaguar D-type hard and entered into a prolonged, place-swapping battle for the lead. 

The red Maserati and BRG Jaguar were often sideways in their pursuit of first place, but were denied a scrap to the chequered flag when the D-type succumbed to a mechanical failure allowing Wilson an easy run to the finish line.

2024 Peter Collins Trophy Official Practice

The first chance to see these cars in action was during Saturday's qualifying session, the results of which were an apt demonstration of the variety of the grid. All five places on the two front rows were occupied by a different model.

It was the Maserati 250S of Richard Wilson that came out on top. He is joined on the front row by John Pearson (Jaguar D-Type) and Jack Rawles (Austin-Healey 100S). On the second row we have another Jaguar, this time a C-Type pedalled by Frederic Wakeman, and the Cooper-Bristol T25 of Malcolm Harrison.

What is the Peter Collins Trophy?

These beautiful machines provide the quintessential Goodwood experience, and the exact sorts of cars seen racing at the wonderful Goodwood 9 Hours of the early 1950s. Peter Collins, after whom the race is named, was a legendary British racing driver who can count the inaugural 1952 9 Hours among his many victories in grand prix and sportscar racing. Collins drove one of three Aston Martin DB3Ss entered to victory from further back than tenth on the grid through a combination of consistency, mechanical sympathy and rival attrition.

Run as a 20-minute single-driver race, the Peter Collins Trophy has always in its three runnings to date provided some of the most evocative racing and imagery at our Members’ Meetings. Its running at the 81^st Members’ Meeting will be the fourth since its inaugural appearance at the 74^th Members’ Meeting.

Which cars are racing in the Peter Collins Trophy?

One thing's for sure, the Peter Collins Trophy rekindles a wonderful period of sportscar racing. The breadth of cars expected to line up on the grid is as broad as it is beautiful. Every single machine on the entry list deserves its own spotlight, but we'll pick out a few here to get the excitement flowing. 

There's an Alfa Romeo 6C 3000PR 'Disco Volante', Maserati 300S, Jaguar C-Types and D-Types, an Aston Martin DB3S and a Jaguar XK140 "Gomm Special". That's just us scratching the surface. Seriously, you'll want to tune in for this one.

When is the Peter Collins Trophy?

Official Practice for the Peter Collins Trophy kicks off the '40s and '50s sportscar schedule at 16:05 on Saturday. This gorgeous field of cars will line up for the race proper at 17:35 on Sunday afternoon for what will be the penultimate race of the weekend.

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 Peter Collins Trophy

Photography by Jayson Fong, Max Carter and Pete Summers.