The Whitsun Trophy proved the highlight of the first day's racing at the 2011 Goodwood Revival Meeting, overshadowing even an epic all-E-type Fordwater Trophy and part one of the always-frenetic tin-top derby, the St Mary's Trophy.
Despite half the race being run behind the safety car, the big-bangers still provided the most dramatic and closest racing of the day (barring the nip and tuck Formula Juniors).
Canadian Jay Esterer had a dream Goodwood debut in his 1966 Chinook-Chevy Mk2, holding off a raft of experienced Brits including pole-sitter Gary Pearson and a super-determined Paul Knapfield in Lola T70 Spyders.
Esterer nearly threw it away on the final lap in a heart-stopping moment when he almost collected fellow Chinook driver Ray Boissoneau while lapping him into the Chicane. The cool Canuck held a lurid slide, though, while Knapfield spun off into the bank, leaving Pearson - who by then had no brakes - to take second.
The drama had started early when four cars went off on the first lap, but one of the most impressive performances came from Roger Wills, who started his Ford GT40 24th on the grid and scythed his way through the field to finish sixth.