Could motor racing really return to Goodwood? What had seemed a preposterous idea, 28 years since the West Sussex venue’s swansong for wheel-to-wheel competition, was delved into by Motor Sport editor Simon Arron in an interview with estate heir Lord March. In a portent of things to come, our cover headline was the rather fetching Goodwood revival?
We would have to wait until September 1998 for the first Goodwood Revival but, back in ’94, the ambition was that the circuit would reopen for racing in ’96. To honour the original era of Goodwood, when it often hosted Formula 1 and Formula 2 races at Easter, this was the time of year earmarked.
“It’s far too early to start talking about fixtures, of course,” propounded March. “But an Easter meeting? Well, it would be nice, wouldn’t it? Given the circuit’s history, that would seem the right thing to do.”
Arron’s interview harked back to the initial rumours, 12 months earlier, of March’s desire to restore racing at Goodwood, and came hot on the heels of the local council agreeing in principle to nine days per year of racing usage for unsilenced historic cars, with the desire being to parcel these into the circuit’s original 1948-66 period. Those nine days, it was intended, would be split into four separate race meetings.
“For the first time, the local authorities have really taken on board the economic situation,” said March. “They can see the need for a potential tourist attraction.”
Jenson Button sprinted between practice sessions, demonstration runs and races at the 2026 Goodwood Members’ Meeting — and his battles were only just starting as he provided thrilling entertainment throughout the weekend
The article explained that the circuit was in use for 300 days in 1993 – for sprints, testing, corporate days and a racing school, among other things. But March’s plan to reduce such activities by 50% and build new grass banks to prevent sound carrying was presented as a net gain on noise pollution. And on a more esoteric level, “we’ve even toyed with the idea of using white trellis fencing, like we used to have here”.
While final approval from the authorities was far from cut and dried, March was led to believe that “we’ve already accomplished the most difficult bit”. He pulled it off, of course. But we’re still waiting for his projected Goodwood Museum.
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