Every race at the Goodwood Revival is for cars that could have competed at the famous circuit before its closure to general motor racing in 1966. While each year has different nuances and themes, the basics remain as single-seaters of all sizes, saloons, sports-racing cars and GTs of the type that were regularly seen on sunny afternoons in West Sussex.
The Steering Committee of the event that was held as part of HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year had a simple task: invite 60 of the best cars in the world to a concours celebrating six decades of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
In February this year, Classic Driver gave you early information on the technical spec of the two-seater GT. Now, the powerplant and final model line-up has been fixed for the all-carbonfibre (monocoque chassis and body) sports car.
The performance figures illustrate just how impressive this new version of the Cayenne is: 0-100km/h (62mph) in 5.7 seconds, and a top speed of 252km/h. Yet, thanks to the world’s first auto start/stop in a V8 diesel SUV, fuel consumption comes in at 8.3 litres per 100km, with CO2 at a very respectable 218g/km.
The Cayenne S Diesel boasts PTM active all-wheel drive (to give rear-wheel-drive characteristics in most conditions), while the optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) makes the dynamics even sportier.
It features the youngest grid of drivers ever assembled at the historic West Sussex racing circuit… with an average age of eight years old. The budding race drivers will be piloting a full grid of Austin J40 pedal cars in a two-part race – featuring rounds on both the Saturday and Sunday of the Revival – on a short circuit of the main Goodwood grid and pit-lane.
Video: Land Rover
Regular Classic Driver photographer Roger Dixon was there with his trusty camera, to capture the elegant atmosphere and a few of the automotive highlights – including the ROFGO Collection of Gulf-liveried racing cars, plus everything from eye-catching shooting brakes to one-off specials from Touring Superleggera, and a great many debuts from the likes of Aston Martin, Bentley and Overfinch.
Not to mention a hot favourite in the Classic Driver office: the blue F40. Now that is a way to stand out from the crowd.
The ‘save the date’ invitation to Arosa, Switzerland, to drive a Porsche in the international hillclimb, was the cause of much euphoria – unusual for a Monday morning. “Which 911 will the Porsche Museum allocate for my challenging 7.8km dash up the mountain?” I wondered. But my elation was soon to suffer a bit of a setback.
“Mr. Rathgen, you will be taking the start in our 924 Carrera GT.” My first hillclimb behind the three-spoke steering wheel of the ‘housewife’s Porsche’? I started to pout.