2026 Protheroe Cup | 83MM

When is the 2026 Protheroe Cup?

This 25-strong grid of E-types will first head out onto the Motor Circuit for Official Practice at 10:50 on Saturday morning ahead of that evening’s race, which will close out proceedings on the opening day of Members’ Meeting at 18:25.

Who’s competing in the 2026 Protheroe Cup?

The Protheroe Cup is a two-driver race filled with big-name drivers, who will each be preparing to showcase their talents in relatively equal machinery. Jenson Button finally found success at the Goodwood Motor Circuit when he took his Protheroe-prepared ‘CUT 8’ E-type to victory in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy at the 2025 Revival, experience he’ll look to apply here at the wheel of the 1962 E-type he’ll be sharing with William Paul.

Other stars include Torbolton House Captain Dario Franchitti, who’ll be partnered by Gregor Fiskin, and five-time Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro will compete alongside Katarina Kyvalova. Super Touring icon Steve Soper, World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff and British GT’s Phil Keen will also be in action.

Which cars will be in the 2026 Protheroe Cup?

Jaguar E-types. Unsurprisingly, this single-make race means that all the cars on track will be extremely similar machines, but that’s what makes this race so compelling. E-types were produced from 1961-74, but this grid is restricted to the early models only.

At testing we were intrigued by one particular E-type that looked far more like a car for the road than the track, owned by Bob Neville to be raced by Alex Buncombe and Simon Watts, with plenty of Goodwood experience. Because of the single-make grid, Neville reckons “it should be close racing, it should be great fun. We just love E-types.” So do we, so the Protheroe Cup will be one of the most memorable affairs of the weekend.  

Photography by Tom Baigent and Jayson Fong.