Goodwood Revival 2015

Historic Racing just doesn't get any better than the Goodwood Revival. The event from start to finish is pure class. Not surprisingly, the meeting attracts race goers and spectators from all over the world and by Sunday evening there was not a single disappointed car fan in West Sussex. As is often the case for the event, fine weather held for most of the weekend and spectators exceeding 100,000 were treated to mostly sunshine.

This year's Revival was dedicated to Ferrari so of course we were extremely busy at DK Engineering, sending no less than 12 cars! A special Lavant Cup race was dedicated to Ferraris 50s Sports Racers. This fabulous spectacle was held on Saturday afternoon and started after a parade lap led by the Rob Walker / Stirling Moss Ferrari 250 GT SWB (which DK Engineering have both restored and sold several times during the last 30 years.) and the Scuderia Filipinetti 250 LM (which DK had prepared for Le Mans and Pebble Beach earlier in the year.) On Pole Position for the race was James Cottingham in the DK 500 TRC, the 1957 Le Mans Class Winner and a car which DK have prepared and raced for over 25 years. An intense battle between the TRC and the 750 Monza of Carlos Monteverde lasted almost the entire race, but victory was taken by James in the yellow and black 500 TRC. Also on the grid, and driven by David Cottingham, was the 500 TR 0614 MDTR. This wonderful car was first raced in 1956 by Carroll Shelby, later by Olivier Gendebein in the Cuban Grand Prix and it also competed in the famous races held at Nassau in the Bahamas. In 1960 the car stopped racing and then did not "turn a wheel" until September 2015. The car arrived at DK in 2012 for a total restoration and the job was completed just in time for this special event. In the race the car performed extremely well, as did the well prepared 166 MM from South Africa of Gerrie Van Zyl and the 250 GT Boano of Cengiz Artam. Both Ferraris were brought to the UK especially for this event.

The other main Ferrari celebration was in the Earl's Court Motor Show building; this presentation has now become a world class display on its own merit, and DK were thrilled to supply a second historic 250 LM, a 275 GTB, 288 GTO, 599 GTO and F50 for the central display, which also included a 250 GTO which DK have maintained for over 30 years, the 250 GT SWB now owned by the RNLI and the 250 GT Tour de France #0763, both of which were previously restored by DK Engineering.

Away from the Prancing Horses, the DK team continued to achieve good positions; most notably James Cottingham who contested the Friday Evening 2 hour race in a Jaguar C-Type, the Sussex Trophy in the Tojeiro Jaguar and the RAC TT (Goodwood's feature race) in a 289 Cobra. The TT was a thrilling race and James had an intense battle for third place - this time with Porsche Supercup champion and Audi Works Driver, Frank Stippler. Stippler just had the better of Cottingham but their battle made for a fitting finale to arguably Goodwood's greatest Revival.

Photography by Tim Scott, Fluid Images