12th – 14th September
It was the turn of the front-engined cars to contest the 2025 edition of the Chichester Cup and what an amazing array of constructors were represented. A look down the entry list showed that the full 30 car field included Alexis, Alfa Dana, Apache, Autosport, BMC, Condor, Elva, Emeryson-Elfin, Foglietti, Gemini, Lola, Mitter, Nike, OSCA, Rayberg, Scorpion, Stanguellini, Taraschi, U2 and Volpini. The only defaulter was Klaus Weber’s Foglietti, which was to be driven by Historic F1 and Lola T70 driver Nick Padmore. Nick described the restoration of this historic car, by Britec, as ‘stunning’, fortunately having been well documented at Innsbruck in 1961, its later lost period masquerading as a ‘Stanguellini’ in the Wheatcroft Collection expunged; but unfortunately a last-minute engine problem prevented its appearance; we await its debut with huge interest. Fortunately, Robin Lackford was to hand with his Elva 100 and within moments was slotted into the vacant paddock space late Thursday evening.
Practice on Friday afternoon was on a dry track and Ray Mallock (U2) set the pace from the outset. On their third laps Mallock set fastest time of 1’31.135”, Stuart Roach (Alexis Mk2) next on 1’31.313” and Adrian Russell (Condor) third on 1’31.891”. Mallock’s time remained unbeaten until Russell improved to 1’30.993” on lap 8 to briefly head the timing screen, but Ray got a traffic free lap next time around to slice 1.4” off his time to 1’29.705”. At the stage Stuart was second 0.430” slower and Adrian third a further 0.858” down. On his penultimate lap Ray reduced his time by 0.601” so the front row would be Mallock-Roach-Russell. Joe Colasacco (OSCA) was consistently fourth fastest and quickest Fiat engined car by a good margin. Fifth was Alex Morton (Condor) with the very rapid Horatio Fitz-Simon, a last minute change of driver, with Erik not wishing to race Goodwood in the wet, pushing Erik Justesen’s beautiful blue and white mini-Indy roadster Apache Fiat to sixth. The top ten was completed by Charles Cook, going very well in the Nike, Mark Woodhouse making a welcome appearance in his Elva 100, Niall McFadden’s Elva 100 and James Owen’s red Gemini Mk2-BMC.
The session was fairly trouble free:- Graham Barron (Gemini Mk2) only managed one lap suffering a clutch issue, Robin Longdon (Lola Mk2) four laps, suffering a misfire at high revs, whilst Daniele Salodini’s grey Taraschi was smoking badly and pitted after getting the black & orange flag. Guy Verhofstadt (Elva 100) had arranged a late arrival and did not practice but was allowed to start from the back of the grid under the two year rule. All except Salodini were able to start the race, he set out on the green flag lap but pulled off with fluid loss.
The race, as usual, kicked off proceedings on Sunday morning. Although the weather forecast for later in the day was gloomy, at this stage the track was fairly dry, although damp off-line after some overnight rain. Into Madgwick from the start Mallock led but Stuart Roach was flying in the Alexis Mk2 and passed going into St Marys and by the time they crossed the line for the first time he had a 1.6” advantage over Mallock, who was 1.2” in front of Colasacco, followed by Morton, Cook and Fitz-Simon. Adrian Russell had endured a dire first lap having missed second gear at the start then run wide at St Marys to complete the lap in 12th. This was the prelude to the most interesting aspect of the race as he cut through those ahead to reach third on lap 6. Stuart continued to extend his lead, somewhat against the formbook, so that by lap 7 he was 13.2” ahead of Ray with Adrian only 2.9” in arrears of the U2. Colasacco, Morton and Fitz-Simon, who held a big slide on the exit of Woodcote, still occupied the next three spots. The Nike of Charles Cook had been sixth but a spin at St Marys saw him tumble to 14th though he fought his way back to an excellent 9th.
Then, on lap 7 Tony Ollissoff broke a suspension arm, and went off into the gravel trap at Lavant with the front wheel at a very abnormal angle, bringing out the safety car. It took three laps to extract the car and the clock ran out just as this was accomplished, which deprived Adrian Russell of his chance of a last lap charge. In previous years Goodwood has operated a policy of adding time to at least partly compensate for lost green flag running, but no such extension was made this time. Niall McFadden, after a battle with Robin Longdon, was 8th but a 10” penalty for a jump start demoted him to 15thand last unlapped car due to the concertina effect of the safety car.
Non finishers in addition to Olissoff were Stephane Rey (transmission), Graham Barron (engine), Andrea Guarino (fluid loss) and Dave Wall (rear suspension). Fluid on the track at St Marys contributed to a pair of spins by Peter Fenichel and a “moment” for Richard Spritz.
So, Stuart Roach took a thoroughly deserved win from Mallock, Russell, Colasacco (first Class A had there been classes), Morton, Fitz-Simon, Robin Longdon (Lola Mk2), Cook, Woodhouse and James Owen.
After the race Stuart said that the slippery conditions were perfect for him, a sentiment that Ray fully endorsed.
Richard Page