It was the one we were all waiting for, and after a set of blistering qualifying runs and the prospect of a dry and fair run for all competitors at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, the scene was set for the Timed Shootout...
Sadly, there were a few omissions from the big show, notably six-time Shootout winner Justin Law, after an unfortunate spin at the terrifying and always tricky Flint Wall first thing on Sunday morning. It put an end to his dream of making it seven wins, with his 1993 Bud Light liveried Jaguar XJR-12D suffering unrepairable damage for the afternoon’s action.
There was yet more drama and a lengthy period under red flags after Jack Tetley tickled the outside right wheels of his 2012 specification Chevrolet Camaro NASCAR on the final patch of damp grass before the finish straight at the start of the Shootout proper, sending him spinning dramatically and pin-balling between the tight straw bales, which made light work of the delicate bodywork.
Once things resumed, the real battle would come down to a true ‘Shootout’ between Rob Bell in the insane McLaren 720S GT3X, and man of many talents Travis Pastrana in his modified Subaru WRX STI.
It would be Bell, a McLaren factory driver who would take his opportunity, clocking a 45.01-second run with the McLaren looking absolutely pinned all the way up the Hill. Perhaps at its very limit. Pastrana then would have to make the most of his second place, coming up short just short by 1.19 seconds following a couple of hairy moments.
Rounding out the top three was Jeremy Smith in a 1988 Spice-Cosworth sportscar, a man who was enjoying the hot seat before Bell and Pastrana knocked him down to third.
Worth mentioning within dispatches were impressive whole-hearted runs from Five-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Emanuele Pirro, who set the first of the fast times with a time of 58.63 seconds in the Ferrari 250 GTO ‘Breadvan’. And Kenny Acheson, flat out all weekend, setting pace with a 52.27 second time that he punched in aboard the gorgeous Group C Sauber Mercedes C9. And Richard Westbrook bringing home the fully electric Mustang Mach-E 1400 as the highest finishing full EV.
It may have reminded us of the all-electric monster that stomped to the win last time out, but all-in-all, the performances from all entrants battling up the Goodwood Hillclimb put on one hell of a show for the throngs of fans lining the entire Hill throughout, despite the lengthy stoppages and constant threat of rain. See the full results below.
Photography by Jordan Butters and James Lynch.
Timed Shootout
FOS 2021
Festival of Speed
McLaren
720S GT3X
Subaru
Travis Pastrana
Festival of Speed
Festival of Speed
Festival of Speed