Goodwood Motor Circuit: A History
From wartime perimeter track to one of the world's most famous circuits
The Goodwood Motor Circuit has one of the most storied histories in British motorsport. The circuit was created from the perimeter track of RAF Westhampnett, a Second World War fighter station that played a significant role during the Battle of Britain. When the war ended and the airfield was decommissioned, Freddie March, the 9th Duke of Richmond and a keen racing driver, saw the potential to convert the concrete perimeter road into a motor racing circuit.
The first race meeting was held on 18 September 1948, organised by the Junior Car Club. The 2.4-mile circuit used the airfield's perimeter road with minimal modification, and the flat, open character of the track gave it a distinctive feel quite different from the purpose-built circuits that would follow. The surface was rough, the facilities were basic and the paddock was a collection of tents and trailers. But the racing was genuine, and Goodwood quickly established itself as one of the leading circuits in the country.
Through the 1950s, Goodwood hosted some of the most important races in British motorsport. The Glover Trophy attracted the top Formula One drivers of the era, including Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, Peter Collins and Jack Brabham. The Tourist Trophy for sports cars brought the world's finest GT machinery to Sussex. The Nine Hours race, held through the night, was one of the most demanding endurance events in the calendar. Goodwood was not just a circuit; it was one of the social and sporting centres of British motor racing during its golden age.
The circuit's character was defined by its fast, flowing corners and the lack of run-off areas. Madgwick, Fordwater, St Mary's and Lavant were taken at high speed, demanding precision and bravery in equal measure. The chicane, added in 1952, provided the main overtaking opportunity and became one of the most famous corners in motorsport. The circuit rewarded smooth, committed driving and punished mistakes severely. Several drivers lost their lives at Goodwood, and the growing safety concerns of the 1960s would ultimately contribute to the circuit's closure.
The final major race meeting was held on 2 July 1966. Rising speeds, increasingly powerful cars and the circuit's lack of modern safety features made it clear that top-level racing could no longer be safely accommodated. The circuit closed to competitive racing, though it continued to be used for testing, track days and minor events. For three decades, the Goodwood Motor Circuit slept, its concrete surface cracking, its buildings decaying and its reputation preserved only in the memories of those who had raced there.
The awakening came with the Revival in 1998. The circuit was restored sympathetically, with the original layout preserved and the period character maintained. Modern safety improvements were made discreetly, including gravel traps, barriers and medical facilities, but the visual impression is of a circuit that has barely changed since the 1950s. The chicane, the pit lane, the start-finish straight: all are recognisable from the photographs and film footage of the golden era.
Today, the Goodwood Motor Circuit is a working facility that hosts the Revival, the Members' Meeting, track days, driving experiences and corporate events throughout the year. It is also a place of pilgrimage for motorsport enthusiasts, who come to walk the circuit, visit the paddock and connect with the history that saturates every corner.