Video: 2023 Sussex Trophy full race | Goodwood Revival

15th September 2023

Adam Wilkins

It has become tradition on Sunday afternoon for us all to become glossy eyed as the 1950s sportscars of the Sussex Trophy come out to play at the Goodwood Revival. Among a long list of absolutely stunning grids, from the Lavant Cup’s Ferraris, to the Formula 1 gems of the Richmond and Gordon Trophies, the Sussex Trophy stakes a heavy claim as the most beautiful race of the 2023 Revival.

How could it fail to be when the grid of 1955 to 1960 sportscars includes Lotus 15s, Lister-Jaguars (in Knobbly, Flat Iron and Costin forms), Jaguar D-types and a host of Ferraris, including a 246S Dino, two 250 TRs and a 246 SP. Thankfully, the racing is just as spectacular and the cars are beautiful, and the race is packed with cars driven in close quarters on the limit of adhesion.

The race itself got underway on a drying track, with the sun beginning to set on what had been a sweltering weekend of historic motorsport. The grid saw Oliver Bryant line up on pole in a Lotus 15, with Sam Hancock’s 246S Dino and Roger Wills’ Lotus 15 alongside him. Bryant got squeezed out as the flag dropped and fell to fourth as they rounded Madgwick for the first time.

Action was curtailed shortly afterwards as the stricken Lister ‘Knobbly’ of Sam Green needed to be recovered, but following a lengthy safety car period, racing got back underway with Roger Wills leading from Hancock in slippery conditions.

As the shadows grew longer, and the sun glistened on the bodywork of these wondrous cars, the battle for the win, and the remaining podium places, began to heat up. With action right up to the final corner of the final lap, you won’t want to miss this brilliant edition of the Sussex Trophy at the 2023 Goodwood Revival.