Exclusivity is the name of the game for the Goodwood Members’ Meeting: you must belong to the Goodwood Road Racing Club (GRRC) to attend – but you can join for the weekend. This year’s 77th meeting takes place in April for the first time, when that membership lets you watch the first major historic meeting of the year, echoing BARC events at the Chichester circuit back in the 1950s and ’60s.
Highpoints include the Parnell Cup for grand prix racers and voiturettes from 1935 and ’53 – the first cars that raced at the circuit in period – in homage to Reg Parnell, no stranger to success here. The popular Gerry Marshall Trophy for 1970s and ’80s tin-tops mixes Rovers, Camaros and Capris, while road-going ’50s sports and GT Astons, Ferraris and Jaguars contest the Tony Gaze Trophy.
This year, high-speed demonstrations have been planned, with BMW M1 Procars – wide and squat – taking to the track 40 years on from their first race. The Procar title was a proper support series to Formula 1, so prestigious that Niki Lauda clinched the inaugural title and Nelson Piquet took honours in 1980. Spectators will also be treated to a display from Le Mans Prototypes from the early 2000s to the present, a stark contrast from the historic and vintage cars that will race on the same track.
Things take a transatlantic turn with the next demonstration as more than 10 NASCAR trucks and stock cars take on the Goodwood track, the first time a pack of the loud, rowdy machines have performed here, though Emanuele Pirro and Max Chilton have driven stock cars at Goodwood in recent years.
You needn’t be a full GRRC member to attend: a £39 Fellowship Membership lets you buy a weekend (adult) ticket for £141 or a day ticket (Saturday or Sunday) for £88.
For more information plus timetables, visit goodwood.com/grrc
HOW TO GET THERE The A3 takes you there from London and the A27 from the east and west. Or take a train from London Victoria and bus or taxi from Chichester Station. ALSO GOING ON Saturday night turns into a party with food stalls, fireworks and live music. The perfect wind-down from a day of racing. DON’T MISS House Captains (Nicolas Minassian, Jochen Mass, Anthony Reid and Emanuele Pirro) heading the four Goodwood houses at ping-pong or engaging in tug-of-war.
WRC: Round 3 March 7-10, Rally Mexico, Guanajuato. WRC circus lands in Guanajuato mountains, struggling with thin air, high altitudes and mountain paths. Toyota’s Ott Tänak has a tough task fending off Thierry Neuville and Sébastien Ogier.
NASCAR March 9, Phoenix, USA
MotoGP March 10, Qatar
IndyCar March 10, St Petersburg, FL, USA. St Petersburg hosts a motor sport festival to welcome 2019 IndyCar Series. GT4, Indy Lights, TC Americas and more support top-tier US series
as Scott Dixon begins his defence.
Australian Supercars March 16-17, Melbourne, Australia
Formula 1 March 17, Melbourne, Australia. Testing is over, the dice are about to be cast. Who will reign supreme at Melbourne’s Albert Park? Read Mark Hughes’ in-depth analysis of testing in this issue – and watch to see if Lewis Hamilton can retain his title.
WEC March 18, Sebring, USA
Formula E March 23, Sanya, China
WRC March 28-31, Corsica
MGCC: Silverstone March 30, Silverstone UK. The MG Car Club consistently hosts exciting – if overlooked – national racing with cars powerful enough to hold their own but nimble enough to attack the British Grand Prix venue.
Formula 1 March 31, Bahrain
BTCC April 6-7, Brands Hatch, UK. The BTCC is back with Mark Blundell and Nicolas Hamilton joining the grid of tin-top veterans in what is always an enthralling contest. Colin Turkington has them to deal with as well as Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton and a host of others.
