The 82nd Members Meeting At Goodwood: A Weekend of Glory, Grit and Green Fuel

There are few places that stir the soul of a motorsport fan quite like Goodwood. The smell of race fuel (now sustainably sourced, of course), the sound of historic machinery thundering past the paddock and the sheer class of it all. And the 82nd Members’ Meeting didn’t just open the 2025 Goodwood season; it kicked the doors wide open with a glorious blend of nostalgia and innovation.

Arriving under radiant spring skies, thirteen races were on offer for the crowds, each a heady cocktail of classic engineering and full-blooded competition. From vintage two-strokes to brutish Group 1 saloons, every single entry ran on sustainable fuel – a statement of intent from Goodwood that the future of motorsport can still echo with the past’s glory.

But nothing stirred the crowd quite like Bruno Senna climbing the black-and-gold Lotus 97T. This wasn’t just a demo lap. It was a tribute, a resurrection of sorts. Forty years since Ayrton’s first F1 win in Portugal, his nephew took to the circuit in the very machine that carried that famous yellow helmet into the history books. Supported by Classic Team Lotus, Bruno’s lap was spine-tingling. The turbocharged howl of 1985 thundered around the track once again, which was a very fitting homage.

While the past had its say, the present made itself known in the GT3 Shoot-Out. Aston Martins, Ferraris, McLarens and Lamborghinis filled the air with a mechanical symphony across the weekend before gunning for glory in Sunday’s timed shoot-out. Seeing modern GT3’s hustled in such close quarters on this historic ribbon of tarmac was proof that motorsport’s current crop still knows how to entertain.

And then came a truly rare moment, the European debut of the Cadillac V-Series, R LMDh prototype. Thanks to Hertz Team JOTA’s 25th anniversary celebrations, this beast – all V8 bellow and hybrid brutality – took to Goodwood’s narrow straights with a presence that turned heads and rattled ribcages. It was the first time a top-class endurance prototype of this level had graced this circuit and it was unforgettable.

Wandering over to the Brooklands Lawn, I was pulled in by the visual magnetism of Gordon Murray Automotive. The T.33, the track-only T.50s Niki Lauda and an array of GMA’s exquisite V12 engines were on display, looking like sculpture with purpose. Four-time IndyCar champ Dario Franchitti eventually let one loose. That engine note – high, pure and utterly furious – soared across the Sussex countryside. It was less a demonstration and more a declaration: Murray’s 60-year legacy is alive, loud and revving well past 10,000.

Of course, the real backbone of the Members’ Meeting is the racing – and this year’s crop did not disappoint.

The new Win Percy Trophy brought together pint-sized ‘70s and ‘80s Group 1 touring cars – Minis, Golfs, Fiestas and proved once again that size doesn’t limit spectacle. Jake Hill and Kerry Michael claimed the first-ever win in a Ford Escort Mk2, dancing it between apexes with balletic precision.

The Hailwood and Sheene Trophies reminded us how raw classic motorcycle racing can be. Dan Jackson’s win on a Yamaha came only after serious bar-to-bar action, with Michael Russell hot on his heels in both legs. The shrill symphony of two-strokes was a welcome jolt to the senses.

The Gordon Spice Trophy, by contrast, was all thunder. Massive saloons, Capris, SD1s a Camaro or two, heaved themselves through corners like they were too wide for the track. Romain Dumas and Fred Shepherd emerged victorious in a V8 Boss 302 Mustang, a car that sounded like it should’ve had its own postcode.

And then there was the Whitmore Cup. Pre-’66 saloons, Cortina's and Coopers with a few snarling Alfas thrown in. It was as competitive as ever, with Guy Smith taking the win in a Lotus Cortina after a relentless scrap at the front. It felt like the 1960s again.

As the sun began to dip on Saturday, the Gurney Cup demo wrapped up beneath a golden sky. Fireworks burst above the paddock, live music drifted across the lawns and the atmosphere mellowed into one of those uniquely Goodwood evenings, where time slows and you’re left basking in petrol-scented perfection.

Sunday brought auctions and admiration. Bonhams Cars had an eclectic mix on the block – from a 1928 Bentley Vanden Plas Tourer (£290,950) to a brand-new Lamborghini Revuelto Coupé (£333,500). The bidding was punchy, the buyers bold.

But amid all the glamour, there was a moment of genuine emotion. Eddie Jordan – the larger-than-life F1 team boss – sadly passed away in March, and Goodwood responded in the most Eddie way possible: they built him a pub. “Eddie’s Bar” sat on the Brooklands Lawn, styled like a traditional Irish pub and full of cheer. Parked outside? The iconic Jordan 191, the team’s first ever F1 car. It was moving, heartfelt and very Eddie.

As I left the circuit on Sunday evening, the sound of V12s and V8s still echoed in my ears, but more than that, it was the sense of shared passion that stayed with me. The 82nd Members’ Meeting proved again that Goodwood is the pilgrimage for motoring enthusiasts.