Carroll Shelby tribute announced for Goodwood Revival

By Ryan Standen
News
 | 11 Jan 2023
Classic & Sports Car – Carroll Shelby tribute at Goodwood Revival announced

A selection of classic racing cars associated with the late Carroll Shelby will take to the track during this year’s Goodwood Revival from 8-10 September 2023.

The tribute, which will run across the weekend, will mark the centenary of the legendary Texan team boss and driver's birth with a parade of cars designed, developed and raced by the motorsport legend.

Classic & Sports Car – Carroll Shelby tribute at Goodwood Revival announced

Carroll Shelby in the Goodwood paddock in 1959 © GPL

Included in the display will be a 1949 MG TC driven by Shelby in his first competitive event in 1952. The car was borrowed from a friend at a meeting in Oklahoma; Shelby won the race and the rest is history.

His ensuing career as a racing driver took him to Goodwood for the first time seven years later.

Classic & Sports Car – Carroll Shelby tribute at Goodwood Revival announced

AC Cobras battle for position at last year’s Goodwood Revival

In 1959, he drove an Aston Martin DBR1/300 to victory at the West Sussex circuit in the RAC Tourist Trophy, alongside Jack Fairman and Stirling Moss. Earlier that year he had shared the same car with Roy Salvadori for the pair’s famous win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He returned to Goodwood in 2000, when the Revival was still in its infancy, to run a Shelby Daytona Coupe with IndyCar champion Danny Sullivan at the wheel.

“Goodwood held a very special place in my grandfather’s heart,” said Aaron Shelby, board member of Carroll Shelby International. “We’re honoured that the Duke of Richmond and his team have chosen to honour the 100th anniversary of Carroll’s birthday this year.”

Classic & Sports Car – Carroll Shelby tribute at Goodwood Revival announced

Shelby Daytona Coupes on the grid at Goodwood Revival in 2015 © Tom Shaxson

As well as the dedicated tribute, there will also be plenty of Shelby-designed and developed cars competing in the weekend’s races.

The Whitsun Trophy, a grid for sports-prototypes from 1960-’66, will host a group of Ford GT40s, the car Shelby helped to develop as part of Ford’s quest to beat Ferrari at Le Mans.

Plus, a variety of AC Cobras – the result of Shelby’s efforts to shoehorn a V8 engine into an AC Ace chassis – will be racing in the RAC TT Celebration.

Classic & Sports Car – Carroll Shelby tribute at Goodwood Revival announced

Carroll Shelby in the first Shelby Cobra © Shelby American

“It’s such a privilege to be celebrating Carroll Shelby at the Goodwood Revival this year,” said the Duke of Richmond.

“He was a good friend and I remember when Carroll first came to the Revival back in 2000 – having raced and famously won at Goodwood in the 1959 TT – bringing with him his infectious personality and competitive spirit.

“It will be wonderful to see those glorious cars that Carroll raced and designed in action at Goodwood once again over the weekend.”

Classic & Sports Car – Carroll Shelby tribute at Goodwood Revival announced

AC Cobras regularly compete in the RAC TT Celebration race at Goodwood Revival

Tickets are still available for this year’s Goodwood Revival, which takes place from 8-10 September in West Sussex.

Expect plenty of festivities as Goodwood celebrates both 25 years of Revival and 75 years of motorsport at the Motor Circuit.

Early bird prices start from £67 and are available until 30 April. Tickets can be purchased on the event’s website.

Images: Nigel Harniman/GPL/James Mann/Tom Shaxson/Shelby American

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Ryan Standen

Ryan Standen is Classic & Sports Car’s Editorial Assistant