The Whitsun Trophy race at the 2012 Goodwood Revival was held Saturday, September 15th at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex, England.
The 2012 Whitsun Trophy was the weekend’s fastest race, with a wonderful selection of ‘big banger’ sports prototypes that unleashed upwards of 10,000 bhp between them. The legendary Ford GT40 featured strongly, with several taking part in the race. Providing stiff opposition were legions of Lotus 30s, Lola T70 Spyders and McLaren M1s, Cooper T61s and the Chinook Mk2.
Historics veteran Gary Pearson won an enthralling Whitsun Trophy race but his position wasn’t safe until he took the chequered flag. Last year’s winner Jay Esterer lit up the rear tyres of his Chevrolet-powered Chinook MK2 to blast into an early lead but Lola T70 pilot Pearson briefly nosed ahead on lap three. He was soon demoted but then McLaren ace Roger Wills trumped them all with just 6.6-seconds blanketing the podium positions at the ten minute mark.
Esterer in particular survived several moments, displaying phenomenal car control to take charge of his snaking Chinook. Wills appeared secure up front, having been the bridesmaid in this race on two prior occasions. However, the Kiwi’s good work was for naught as he had a grassy excursion in the closing stages. He recovered to jump fellow McLaren racer Chris Goodwin for third, as Canadian Esterer came home second behind a determined Pearson. It was the all-rounder’s tenth Goodwood Revival win.
The triumphant Pearson commented, “That was good, clean racing; proper motor sport!”
Similar to our 2011 Whitsun Trophy and 2010 Whitsun Trophy coverage, Senior Photographer Tim Scott also documented the 2012 Goodwood Revival, including the following pictures from the Whitsun Trophy race for sports-racing prototypes that raced between 1963 and 1966. To see more from Tim, visit fluidimages.co.uk.
Goodwood Revival 2012 – Whitsun Trophy Race Photo Gallery
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Goodwood Revival 2012 – Whitsun Trophy Race Results
1. Gary Pearson, Lola-Chevrolet T70 Spyder (fastest lap 1:19.703, 108.40 mph)
2. Jay Esterer, Chinook-Chevrolet Mk2
3. Roger Wills, McLaren-Chevrolet M1B
4. Chris Goodwin, McLaren-Chevrolet M1B
5. Chris Drake, McLaren-Chevrolet M1B
Goodwood Revival 2012 – Whitsun Trophy Complete Race Results
[Source: Goodwood; photo credit: Tim Scott / Fluid Images]
