Sunday, November 3, 2024

2023 Goodwood Revival to honor motorsports icon Carroll Shelby

The centenary of Shelby’s birth will be honored with one of Goodwood’s signature tributes, comprising cars that were not only raced but also designed and developed by the 1959 Le Mans winner. Running throughout the weekend, the celebration will include the likes of the MG-TC in which Shelby competed for the very first time, in 1952.

Shelby’s impact on motor racing can be seen each and every year at the Revival, and 2023 will be no different, as an assortment of Cobras—the Anglo-American sports cars for which the native Texan is best known—are set to take to the track in the all-star Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration.

Meanwhile, the Whitsun Trophy will host a number of examples of the Ford GT40, whose design Shelby played such an integral part in refining.

As Goodwood celebrates 75 years of the Motor Circuit, and 25 years of the Revival, it’s a chance to reflect on the motorsport legends who have joined us over the years. Shelby is no exception, having raced at Goodwood during the Circuit’s heyday in arguably one of the most important and dramatic races in the annals of British motorsport: the 1959 RAC Tourist Trophy. This race saw him share the winning DBR1/300 with his co-drivers Jack Fairman and Stirling Moss, the latter a late addition after his own car was eliminated in a spectacular fire during a routine pit stop.

Earlier that season, Shelby had won Le Mans, sharing the same DBR1 with Roy Salvadori, and his victory in the Tourist Trophy secured the ’59 World Championship for Aston Martin.

Once racing returned to Goodwood with the institution of the Revival, Shelby wasn’t far behind, attending the third iteration of the event in 2000 where he ran a Shelby Daytona Coupe driven by American IndyCar champion and F1 driver Danny Sullivan.

“Goodwood held a very special place in my grandfather’s heart,” said Aaron Shelby, board member of Carroll Shelby International. “He competed there as a driver in an Aston Martin and returned to race at the Circuit with the Shelby American team cars during the 1960s. Carroll attended the Goodwood Revival with his Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, and as a Word War II aviator, he especially admired the vintage warbird exhibit. We’re honored that the Duke of Richmond and his team have chosen to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Carroll’s birthday this year. We look forward to a marvelous weekend at the Goodwood Revival.”

The Duke of Richmond said: “It’s such a privilege to be celebrating Carroll Shelby at the Goodwood Revival this year. He was a good friend and I remember when Carroll first came to the Revival back in 2000 – having raced and famously won at Goodwood in the 1959 TT – bringing with him his infectious personality and competitive spirit. It will be wonderful to see those glorious cars that Carroll raced and designed in action at Goodwood once again over the weekend.”

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