After 2009’s spectacular tribute to the Mini – the first single-make race in Goodwood Revival history – the 2010 St Mary’s Trophy reverted to its traditional format, welcoming some of the best-loved saloon cars of the 1950s to Goodwood’s hallowed tarmac. From buzzing Austin A35s to thundering Jaguar Mk VIIs, the St Mary’s Trophy race provided thrilling action as always.
The St Mary’s Trophy is a two-part race, with celebrity drivers taking the wheel on Saturday, followed by the owner-drivers on Sunday, and the result declared on aggregate. Spectators saw touring car stars including Rauno Aaltonen, John Fitzpatrick, Andy Rouse and Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams battling with such luminaries as Derek Bell, Jackie Oliver, Anthony Reid and Brian Redman.
St. Mary’s Trophy Race Round One – First-time Goodwood Revival visitor Tom Kristensen won the opening instalment of the ever-popular St Mary’s Trophy race. The eight-time Le Mans victor triumphed by some ten seconds aboard Nick Naismith’s Austin A95 Westminster but his success was far from assured early on. Pole-sitter Patrick Watts was beaten off the line by Kristensen but muscled his Volvo into contention as Tiff Needell chased hard in his Jaguar MkVII.
Man on the move, though, was former GP racer turned TV pundit Martin Brundell who picked his way through to second aboard the Rae Davis Racing Austin A35 into Lavant on the seventh lap. But his hard work was undone after he assaulted Kristensen’s Austin into Madgwick a lap later. His car picked up a puncture and suspension damage. With ten minutes to go in the 25-minute race, Kristensen waved Watts through into the lead but the former touring car ace retired on the eleventh lap. Kristensen backed off to the flag with Stuart Graham finishing second ahead to Needell.
After the race, an elated Kristensen said: “I absolutely love it here and what a great event. Patrick and I were having a good fight but his car put down at lot of oil at Lavant when he retired. I’d have loved for our battle to have gone down to the wire but my car was pretty lively. The tires were going off but what a great race!” The second part of this aggregate race will take place tomorrow afternoon.
St. Mary’s Trophy Race Round Two – The Welsh tyre dealer Grant Williams flayed the rear rubber on his Jaguar Mk1 after blasting past initial leader Nick Naismith’s Austin A95 Westminster – in which Tom Kristensen won in Round 1 – by the end of the first lap.
Williams proceeded to stretch out his lead despite the Jaguar never being fully in a straight line. Naismith then lost out to Richard Butterfield’s Jaguar on the third lap, Butterfield having dropped hitherto third-place man Richard Postins’ Austin A40 who then fell into the clutches of Rae Davis’ Austin A35. The latter duo enjoyed an epic battle until the halfway mark of the 25-minute race when Davis had a grassy moment at St Mary’s. Up front, Williams continued on his imperious way to victory on the road and an aggregate overall win with Derek Bell.
Goodwood Revival 2010 – St. Mary’s Trophy Combined Race Results
1. Bell-Williams, Jaguar Mk1
2. Graham-Butterfield, Jaguar Mk1
3. Kristensen-Naismith, Austin A95 Westminister
4. Hobbs-Postins, Austin A40
5. Needell-Harris, Jaguar Mk VII
Click for complete St. Mary’s Trophy Race Results
Similar to our Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010 coverage, photographer Tim Scott of Fluid Images also documented this year’s Goodwood Revival, including the following images from the St. Mary’s Trophy race. To see more from Tim, visit fluidimages.co.uk.
Goodwood Revival 2010 – St. Mary’s Trophy Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
In vot place wos tatra