A sense of thanksgiving permeated the return of the Goodwood Revival, for the freedoms we’re able to enjoy once more and for those who’ve helped us achieve this.
The drivers and riders were thrilled to be racing in front of an also-grateful crowd, but this being Goodwood, this sentiment was also thoughtfully reflected elsewhere, historical and contemporary references blended in poignant tribute.
Of course, the stars of the 17-19 September meeting were on track, Sunday’s blue-riband Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration on a damp surface a reminder of the calibre of the competition. All eyes were on the outside of the all-Cobra front row and 2009 Formula One drivers’ champion Jenson Button who’d made his historic racing debut on the event’s opening day. With teammate Alex Buncombe they were starting third, but Button said his first aim was to make it around turn one at Madgwick.
That he achieved, albeit having dropped to ninth, the volume around him on the line, he later conceded, causing him to fluff the start and change from first to fourth. But learning and settling into the car, and working out where the grip was on the greasy Tarmac, he was soon setting fastest laps and scything through, including a brave move on fellow Sky F1 commentator Martin Brundle in Bobby Verdon-Roe’s Cobra on the outside of St Mary’s.
