Touring Car Chaos, Goodwood Members Meeting PT6 - 15/04/23
Words and Images by Mitcham Media
‘Rubbing is racing’ is a phrase more commonly used in the unable to turn right fraternity of NASCAR, but lets be honest, touring car racing does it so much better. If you’ve never seen a touring car race, imagine 25 or more race prepared versions of common or garden road cars going door handle to door handle at 110% round some of the most challenging circuits in the UK. Modern day BTCC includes family hatchbacks and saloons with BMW 3 Series, Honda Civics, Ford Focus’ and so on, but the touring cars of old featured some now iconic and back then inspirational cars. At the Goodwood Members Meeting there is always the Gerry Marshall Trophy which pits the 80’s touring car greats against each other pedalled by drivers from throughout the ages.
With MK1 VW Golf GTi’s, Ford Capris, Triumph Dolomite Sprints and Mini 1275GTs amongst many others taking to the fast Goodwood circuit, all of which are now dream cars for many people having seen them raced in the hayday of win on Sunday sell on Monday, it begs the question does current BTCC have the same capacity to breed future classic cars?
Getting up close to some of the motoring masters is a rare occasion, and even more so to see the quick turn around servicing required between races. Modern race cars are always thought of as being built surgical level workshops so to see an engine or gearbox being stripped down on some gravelly tarmac is strange, especially with very little time between races.
On track the racing was wheel to wheel with a large portion of the grid sporting new battle scars by the end of the Saturday let alone the full weekend. From walking a full lap of the track we found St Marys is the best corner to watch from, while its probably the slowest (bar the chicane) it features enough elevation change to get some really exciting action. The touring cars coming through St Marys are phenomenal with the Mini’s and Fiestas coming round starting to go sideways cocking a wheel so they’re tripod-ing their way through.
Check out more photos from the racing below, and keep an eye out for more blog posts coming soon.
