Lotus Cars do well at Goodwood Revival 2003
report and photos by Peter Ross, copyright 2003

(Please note that all photos may be enlarged by clicking on them. Close the new window to return to this page.)

There were no fewer than 32 Lotuses entered in this year's Revival meeting in five events, and they had a podium finish in three of them.

Madgwick Cup for 1955-60 production sports cars under 2.5 litres.

Five Lotus Elevens, all but one with 1.5 litre engines, were joined by three Lotus 15s (two with 2 litre engines and one 2.5) and Richard Lloyd in Jac Nellerman's FWB engined Lotus 17. Sadly the 1100 driven by Simon Hadfield (#19) suffered irreparable engine damage in practice and did not start.

They were up against two Cooper Monaco's driven by well-known Goodwood experts "Fearless" Frank Sytner and John Harper who put up the fastest practice times.

In the race Robert Brooks in the 2 litre Louwman Collection Lotus 15, the only series 2 version to have been originally equipped with 2-litre power, was lying third behind the flying Coopers on the first lap, but gained a place when John Harper's Cooper faltered and dropped back to retire on lap 3. Robert held his second place to the end. Behind him Jac Nellerman in his 2.5 Lotus 15 (known as 'Alice') had a race long scrap with Ted Williams in another Cooper Monaco, but managed to stay ahead at the finish to get two Lotus cars on the podium. Nellerman's 15 was Graham Hill's Team Lotus car for UK events in 1959, and put up some outstanding performances with its 2.5 engine. Sam Hancock in Lotus 11 FWB was 5th, followed by Murray Smith in a Lotus 15 (6th), Richard Lloyd in the 17 (7th), and HLR member Chris Murphy 18th in his FWB Eleven. Smith's 15 was delivered new to Canadian Harry Entwistle. An interesting point is that it was sold and ran as a 2-litre car but when the original engine was measured well into its career, it was found to be a 2.2-litre unit! [Thanks to William Colson, HLR Registrar for the Lotus Fifteen for his additional note on the cars, indicated in italics]

Freddie March Memorial trophy race for 1952-55 sports cars "in the spirit of the Nine-Hour races"

Adrian Hall in the red ex-Mike Anthony Lotus Mark X with 2 litre Bristol engine was the sole Lotus in the race, and was up against formidable opposition. Eight Jaguar engined cars including four C-types (a fifth overturned in practice and severely injured its driver), four Aston Martins, one driven by Stirling Moss, three Ferraris, and an awesome 7 litre Allard J2R which made fastest time in practice. Adrian did extremely well to post 4th fastest practice time, and in the race he was actually 3rd on the opening lap behind the flying Allard in the lead, and Michael Steele driving an HWM Jaguar (3.5 litres). He was overtaken next time round by Mark Griffiths in a Cooper Jaguar (3.5 litres) and stayed so close behind that on the short straight after the chicane was able to pass him on the last lap as Mark missed a gear! Another Lotus podium finish!

St Mary's Trophy for production saloon cars 1960-66. 4 Lotus

This was a two driver race, and cars had to stop to hand over to the other driver, which made lap scoring very difficult. The Lotus Cortina of Gerry Marshall/Chris Sanders was 5th fastest in practice. The race was dominated by the large engined Fords, with the Pattinson/Rea 4.7 litre Falcon Sprint leading the enormous 7 litre Galaxy of Woodley/Fitzpatrick until the Falcon Sprint of Voyazides/Bacon passed them both into the lead, which it held to the end.

The Lotus-Cortinas started well, with the Sanders/Marshall car third on the opening lap, and falling back to fifth until it disappeared on lap 7 (out of 20). The McCarthy/Small car got as high as fourth on lap 14, but faded and had to be towed in after the finish, whilst the Clevely/Alan Mann Lotus was 8th and the Tiff Needell/Middlehurst Lotus 10th.

All this was overshadowed by the most spectacular driving of Barrie Williams/Norman Grimshaw in a Mini Cooper S which was driven sideways through most of the corners, and even took to the grass to pass back markers. Derek Bell was fast in the Jaguar Mk 1, but co-driver Grant Williams rarely had it in a straight line, with full opposite lock and full throttle out of all the bends. In practice he had lost a tyre off the rim of the outer rear wheel such was the load he was putting on it. They spun at least once, finishing ahead of the Mini in 2nd spot, the Mini taking third.

Richmond & Gordon Trophies Inter-Continental and F1 1954-61

This class contained the incredible Lotus Sixteen cars which have been developed to such an extent that they actually hold together long enough to win races! After a long free practice session and half hour qualifying practice they were still serviceable and raring to go.

In practice it had been #8, the Cooper of Rod Jolley who was fastest, with Don Orosco (27) in the pretty Scarab with 3 litre Offenhauser engine next up, and then the 3 litre Dino Ferrari (14) of Tony Smith. Although Lotus #18 held third on the opening lap, the field soon settled in practice lap order until lap 5 when there was an incident at Woodcote and the Scarab was out and the race stopped.

With the race reduced to 8 laps #8 led again but now Lotus #19 and 18 were second and third, and when the Cooper faded and retired on lap 11 they led the Ferrari home. Other Lotus finishers were #30 in 5th, #17 in 8th and #32 in 10th, so there were 5 Lotus in the first ten. Another Lotus podium result.

Glover Trophy 1.5 litre F1 and up to 2.5 litre Tasman cars 1961-65

The entry was dominated by Lotus with nine cars:

Practice had been dominated by last year's winner, Dickie Attwood in the 2 litre BRM (#9), with a similar car driven by Thomas Escher. The meat in the sandwich was the 1.5 litre Brabham with 1.5 litre Climax engine driven by James King.

In the race it took Attwood 15 of the 16 laps to move up from third at the start to take the lead from Escher, moving King down to third. Highest Lotus was #25 in 4th, a good performance by Simon Hadfield with only 1.5 litres. # 21 was 6th, #28 was 8th, #21 (I think) was 9th, #22 was 11th and HLR Vice Chairman Alan Ricketts came home in 13th place after a long battle with #4, a Brabham.

Whitsun Trophy for prototype sports cars 1963-66

The last race of the day was also the last with a Lotus, and had three Lotus (one Lotus 19 non-started, #18 of Robert Brooks).

Frank Sytner had been fastest in practice in the Lola T70 Chevrolet (#17) 5.9 litres, but Simon Hadfield was close behind in the Lotus #20. This was one of the most exciting races of the day, with Sytner in front for two laps, until the race was stopped when a Ford GT40 crashed in a big way at Woodcote. When the race re-started it was again Sytner in the lead, but Hadfield got past on lap 5 and managed to hold off Sytner until lap 12 when he got ahead again. Try as he might he could not get past, and so they finished, with a Ford GT40 in third place. #21 disappeared from my lap chart on lap 8 when in 10th place, and #19 finished 11th. Lotus on the podium again!

My thanks to all those who entered and raced these Lotus cars. It was good to see them on the track again, and I hope the that the drivers, owners and mechanics will all join the Historic Lotus Register.

Peter Ross