Neal takes Bluebell line

Past and present touring car aces will dominate the grid for this year’s St Mary’s Trophy race at the Goodwood Revival Meeting, with current BTCC pace-setters and Honda Racing teammates Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal going head to head.

Neither of them has raced at Goodwood before and they have little idea what to expect. “I’m going to try my hand at it,” said Neal. The reigning BTCC champion will race the 1958 1-litre Morris Minor, known as ‘Bluebell’, which is more usually campaigned by brothers Andy and Mark Cross.

“It will be my first time in the car and my first time at the Revival, so I’m a proper rookie,” said Neal. “But I’m looking forward to it having heard so much from other drivers.”

Shedden is equally fresh to the whole event. “I know I’m doing it, but don’t know what I’m driving,” said Shedden. “I want the biggest, baddest thing going, with lots of power.” Likely to be among the very quickest cars is the Jaguar Mk1 of former BTCC racer Anthony Reid, who has raced Nigel Webb’s historic Jaguars regularly in recent seasons. Other touring car stars due on the grid include WTCC front runner Rob Huff and former BTCC champion Tim Harvey.

Former Indy 500 winner Kenny Brack is due to share Nick Naismith’s potent Austin Westminster. The Swede and Tom Kristensen won the TT Celebration last year and Brack has recently underlined his versatility by showing excellent pace in historic rallying.