The Surtees Trophy returns at the 81st Goodwood Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport, the first event of a year when Goodwood celebrate the great man’s achievements. A feature of the 72nd Members’ Meeting, the Surtees has been run three times over the past ten years for sports prototypes that raced between 1960 and ‘66.
The race is of course named after John Surtees, a beloved and dearly missed friend of Goodwood most famous as a world champion racer on both four and two wheels. 2024 marks 60 years since he claimed his F1 title, in 1964. That followed a distinguished career in motorcycle racing during which he claimed seven titles between 1956 and 1960. In ’58, ’59 and ’60, he was champion on both 350cc and 500cc machines.
But it’s his win of the inaugural Can-Am series in 1966 that makes him not only one of the great motorsport Swiss army knives, but a perfect title driver for one of the fastest races Goodwood host at the historic race meetings.
The fourth running of the Surtees Trophy will see this savage field of ‘60s prototypes battle it out in a 20-minute sprint in what’s sure to be a showcase of immense driver skill.
Which cars race in the Surtees Trophy?
The cars taking part in the race are all sports-racing prototypes of a type that raced between 1960 and 1966. That means you can expect to see everything from Ford GT40s to early Can-Am machinery from McLaren and Lola with M1As, M1Bs and T70s strewn throughout the field.
Goodwood also often welcome oddities and rarities. You’ll see Chevrons, Chinooks, Lotuses, McKees and Marinas lining up alongside the more ubiquitous McLarens, Lolas and Fords. The Chevrons in particular bring a more delicate, highly-strung energy to the grid thanks to their revvy four-cylinder engines, which offer quite the contrast to the gargling V8s that will dominate the Surtees Trophy chorus.
Which drivers race in the Surtees Trophy?
The Surtees Trophy always brings together an excellent field of drivers, many well-versed in the art of racing at Goodwood. The race’s last running at the 79th Members’ Meeting saw the likes of Oli Bryant, Ewen Sergison and Rob Hall battling it out, lighting up the timing screens with the relentless speed of these incredibly powerful prototypes. It was Bryant that triumphed in his Lola T70 Spyder. Goodwood will find out soon if he’ll be back to defend at the 81st Members’ Meeting.
Report by Ethan Jupp
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