Goodwood Revival 2021. The best racing unique pieces

Photographs: Unai Ona

Many times, to start talking about a certain time and place we have to do it in very distant coordinates. This is why our article on Goodwood Revival 2021 does not start between Portsmouth and Brighton during the mild afternoons that summer ends. But in one of the hangars at the Buenos Aires airport around September 12. From there came a series of photographs showing Fangio's Mercedes 300 SL embarking for London. According to all rumors, his departure will have no return to the Fangio Foundation in Balcarce, since the last sons of the pilot recognized by justice are looking for a buyer for the 300 SL.

A Hardtop Convertible that Mercedes gave to El Chueco after he visited the Stuttgart factory on the back of a Lancia. From then on, this vehicle was so used by Fangio in his day-to-day life that he can even be seen in a famous video where he goes to test a 1 Maserati F1957 car. That is why he kept it until it was deposited in the Argentine museum where various cars from his professional and personal careers meet. An exhibition story that may have ended in this Goodwood Revival 2021, since its boarding the event was made in order to seduce a collector.

A commercial operation done with so much tact that, unfortunately, we have not been able to glimpse its lines finished in silky blue tones. However, the figure of Fangio was present at the Goodwood Revival 2021 thanks to the memory of the times when he was a teammate of Stirling Moss in Mercedes. Brand that officially participated in the tribute to the British pilot who died last 2020 at the age of 90. A motorsports legend very close to Goodwood, where he drove on several occasions some of the models with which he made history during the 300s. In this sense, Mercedes-Benz Classic displaced the 722 SLR with the number XNUMX from its museum in Germany.

One of the essential vehicles not only in the British race, but also in the history of motorsport itself. Winner of the 1955 Mille Miglia. Setting one of the most amazing speed records of the moment with its 157'56 km / h through the twisty roads of Tuscany and Lombardy. In addition, another vehicle brought by Mercedes was also present in the pits to complete the wheel of the great drivers. We talk about single-seater W196 R with number 10. Just the one with which Moss was runner-up in the 1 F1955 Championship, his teammate Fangio winning the drivers' titles with another W196.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

BRITISH RACING MOTORS. EXCEEDING THE NOISE LIMIT

With the permission of Italy, England is the natural territory of small competition teams. Always commanded by mechanics and engineers as bold as they are independent, signatories of brands such as Lotus, Cosworth or Lister. Names that lift any racing fan off the couch, evoking a world of handcrafted engines and parts pushed to the limit. Just what British Racing Motors has been doing since the end of WWII. One of the small British teams dedicated to endurance and F1, which also tried to build its own engines with such incredible results as the P15 V16.

• 

• 

• 

An F1 car that this 2021 celebrated at Goodwood its seven decades of life by presenting the project of the three copies that BRM is already offering. Not an easy task, now this car powered by a 16-cylinder engine at 135º has about 36.000 pieces to be assembled. All this to produce one of Fangio's favorite single-seaters, which was surprised by its almost 600CV at 12.000 rpm. Staggering numbers even today. Where the engine tests in the replicas exceed the limit of 95 decibels registered by British law, causing that in the samples where it goes, it cannot exceed 9.000 laps.

In addition, this team that lived its moment of glory in 1962 thanks to the double titles in constructors and drivers with Graham Hill received an interesting tribute with the presence of some of its most notable Sport Prototypes. Situation that allowed a fantastic night walk through the pits, where a barchetta Willment-BRM, Mirage-BRM M2 Gulf Racing and the awesome BRM-Chevrolet P154. Regarding the second, simply seeing the blue and orange colors of Gulf takes us back to the golden age of endurance racing. A fact that is confirmed when we analyze its three-liter V12 engine. An artisan virginity with 418CV of which only three units were made.

Regarding the third, we must recognize the sensation of CanAm regarding the power of its participants. And is that Using as a base a 8'7-liter atmospheric Chevrolet V6, those of BRM achieved 760CV Driven by the Mexican Pedro Rodríguez de la Vega -winner in Le Mans 1968 with a GT40- before dying in the 200 Norisring Miles aboard a Ferrari 512M. Much respect to engineers and drivers is evoked by this vehicle whose driver at Goodwood Revival 2021 wore a helmet with the surname Rodríguez as a tribute.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

CAUGHT WITH ANOTHER. THE INFIDELITY OF JAMES COTTINGHAM

Within all the workshops dedicated to the restoration of Ferrari models, possibly it is DK Engineering the most prestigious or least known. Proof of this is its catalog of vehicles on offer, in addition to its competition services backed by a history of decades. In fact, the company is already in the second generation. With James Cottingham at the helm acting as "Gentelman racer"; managing his workshop on weekdays to go on the circuit on holidays. Hobby that he repeated in Goodwood Revival 2021 although on an unexpected mount.

So, when we analyzed the Ferraris on the track, everything seemed normal when it came to DK Engineering. Being at the Goodwood dedicated to classics from decades ago we obviously did not see their resounding 550 Le Mans GTS and neither did any of the racing F40s restored by them. However, the yellow stamp of the 500 TRC from 1957 with whom David Cottingham, father and founder of the company, usually competes. However the surprise appeared when contemplating the starting line of the Sussex Trophy we noticed a Tojeiro-Jaguar.

One of the most interesting cars among all those created by John Tojeiro. The chassis designer who was behind the Ac Ace from which the Cobra was derived, as well as one of the first to experiment with the benefits of the mid-engine thanks to his Ecurie Ecosse Tojeiro from 1962. All this after creating in 1959 this hybrid with its own chassis and engine taken from the Jaguar of the D-Type. Whose inline six cylinder is mounted here in the three-liter version powered by three Weber carburettors. Mind you, set to such a high compression that it caused cracks in the head gasket. Reason why he abandoned the race for which it was designed after 11 hours: Le Mans 1959.

A unique piece in the style of the fantastic Líster-Maserati. Which we didn't see at this 2021 Goodwood Revival. However, at the pre-race car show the Tojeiro-Jaguar was alongside one of the rare Lister "knobbly" Jaguar built. One of the best creations of this team tuned by the late pilot Archie Scott-Brown. In addition, it is the same unit with number 33 that in 2018 gave an overtaking recital to win the Sussex Trophy of that Goodwood. Without a doubt one of the most interesting vehicles in the races this year.

AMERICAN SHOCKS AND ENGINES

Even though there has even been a Hot Rod show this year, the truth is that the slopes of Goodwood seem to be a much better match for European motorsport. However, the presence of American models has been remarkable this time. Not so much for the number as for the visibility, which was overwhelming for the Ford GT40s entered in the Whitsun Trophy. Quite a paradox, since the GT40 with number 24 was literally crushed by a Lola who ran over it. Accident in which the American lost a gate, all coming from the range they suffered at the exit of a curve.

Quite a showy moment. However, it was not the most tense collision, since in another race the collision between two E-Type made several wheels jump, not even hitting several track officials. Gajes of the trade that, fortunately, did not threaten the safety of the spectators. In fact, the only really aggressive thing towards them was the sound of the engines. Fact that in this case becomes a virtue rather than a problem, as could be seen when watching the Thunderbird winner of the St. Mary's Trophy.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

An imposing and heavy vehicle in the best tradition of the great American fifties. Which is more predictable in a convertible on a quiet coastal road than accelerating on the circuit. Nonetheless, its clearly boosted and altered V8 engine sounded imposing up to the top spot in a trophy outnumbered by the Austin A40s. Utility with no place in the race where the Sport Prototype was concentrated, won by a Lotus-Ford 30. One of the most interesting transatlantic hybrids in this 2021 Goodwood Revival thanks to uniting the subtlety of Lotus with the raw power of its Ford engine.

A car designed by Colin Chapman showing off a good chassis and a reduced weight to which the same 8'4 Ford V7 used to develop the GT40 was incorporated. A mixture of virtuous results when it did not break. And it is that observing chronicles of the moment it is observed the tendency of the same to not finish the races due to a multitude of breakdowns. Of course, when everything worked in his position The Ford-powered Lotus 30 was one of the fastest and most intractable cars. Fortunately in this Goodwood Revival 2021 its performance was perfect, offering a formidable spectacle before the lovers of endurance racing gathered there.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

THE SMALL FOR THE END

For centuries the most pessimistic visions of life have affirmed that life is a transcendent endless absurdity where one always yearns for what one does not have. In that sense, after the waste of power exhibited by Jaguar's in-line six, Ford's V8, V12 Ferrari and even V16 BRM we were captivated by three small models with four and two cylinder engines. Decreasing quantities that, in terms of wheels, only add up to three in one of them. However, we will start with the one with the fewest cylinders.

In this case we are talking about the BMW 700 RS. Derived from 700 utility vehicle designed by Michelotti in 1959 with ascension racing in mind. A type of competition where he had successes such as victory in the German Mountain Touring Car Championship. A feat that he achieved not only thanks to its improved power up to 70CV, but especially to its weight of only 650 kilos. A 700cc rarity - its twin engine comes from the motorcyclist branch of the Bavarian house - that today delights those who value the weight / power ratio and the sensations behind the wheel.

• 

• 

• 

Adding two cylinders but lowering one wheel we find a Reliant Motor Company Bond Bug. The futuristic tricycle manufactured between 1970 and 1974 with only 394 kilos and a 700cc four-cylinder engine. Fruit of a time when the automotive industry was not only open to a complete aesthetic revolution but also a mechanical one, testing new mobility solutions like this one. A model that is sure to have an interesting drive, especially in the more powered versions of up to 32CV.

Last in this review of the small in the last Goodwood Revival we came across a SEAT 850 four-door. Registered with an English plate but still retaining even a RACE shield on the back. A close way to end this review. Much easier than going through one of the tents with vehicles for sale to find out what would really be suitable in this environment where the Battle of Britain took place. A Supermarine Spitfire with a 12-cylinder 27-liter Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Anyway, maybe it's another year.

Photographs: Unai Ona