Goodwood

The West Sussex-based Goodwood Motor Circuit originally opened its gates to the public on September 1948 to host Britain's very first post-war motor race meeting at a permanent venue on the former site of RAF Westhampnett. The Airfield was created on land that formed part of the Goodwood Estate - home to the Dukes of Richmond for over 300 years.

In August 1966, after 18 years of memorable competition, Goodwood closed its gates to contemporary motor racing, although the circuit remained in continuous use as a testing and track day venue. Then on 18 September 1998, exactly 50 years to the day since the circuit first opened, the present Earl of March, re-enacted the opening of the track at the very first Goodwood Revival meeting in the same Bristol 400 that his grandfather had used half a century earlier on the same track, untouched by the modern world
Location : Goodwood Race Circuit, Chichester, PO18 0PH
Points to Note

The trailer park is on the right before you go through the tunnel. If in a high vehicle make sure that you are low enough to get through the tunnel !!!!

• Sign-on is located in the Jackie Stewart Pavilion,
• Competitors are allocated covered bay’s within the paddock area.
• Fuelling is only allowed within the fuelling area adjacent to the collection area.
• Practice is 1 timed lap and a flying lap, make the most of the flying lap to learn the turn in points but
• remember you won’t be on warm tyres on the timed run

In recent years, Goodwood has become synonymous with motorsport. In part this is due to its illustrious motorsport heritage: the ninth Duke of Richmond was a famous racing driver and turned the Second World War airfield on the Goodwood Estate into the Goodwood Motor Circuit in 1948. From those austere post-war days until 1966, when the motor circuit closed down, Goodwood hosted some of the famous racing drivers and iconic cars in thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing.

Today, it is home to the annual Goodwood Revival, the world’s most popular historic race meeting, as well as a host of other motor sport activities which take place throughout the year, including track days and car launches.

The circuit doesn't have many corners, but each one is a truly stunning.

Magwick being the first has a slight up and down approach. From the turn in the apex is a long way round. Be careful of the bump as you cross the track from the turning point to the apex. On the exit be sure to use the full width of the road. (if you do have a noisy car be patient with the power on the exit.)

The next corner is Fordwater and is essentially a very fast right kink in the track. Due to the bumpy nature of the circuit it is a truly terrifying corner and should be treated with the utmost respect. This leads to St Marys which is treated in two parts. For the first part take a late turn in and apex to get the car tight to the right. This will give you as much room as possible for the second part which is steeply downhill under braking. The apex is unsighted until after you turn in and you need to be careful not to allow the car to run out too soon. From the bottom you will then be looking up hill towards Lavant Corner. There is a marshal's post to aim at initially to give you some guidance as to where you need to position the car. Once you arrive over the crest you can pick your braking point and turn in quite easily. Once turned in, be careful not to be greedy with the kerb on the inside or outside of the corner because it is tight. Be patient with the throttle application as the majority of accidents at Goodwood occur here.

The run down the Lavant straight is very quick with two slight kinks. These should be treated with the upmost respect as a mistake here is usually severely punished. From here the final section is Woodcote Corner. The high speed approach it very tricky so try to ensure that braking is all done in a straight line towards the first of the two turning points. At the first turning point, turn the car towards what will be the second turning point. From the second turning point bring the car into an early apex this allows you to get on the power very early for the short run to the tyre chicane. This is a very simple chicane but care should be taken as slower cars may be entering the pits just on the exit of the chicane.

Start

Goodwood is right handed, open and undulating. Exiting the infield pit lane there is a short run up to Madgewick.

Madgewick

The three main corners on this circuit are double apex, and here the first apex isn’t too important as long as you hit the second nice and tight. The total turn is about 120o and there is a slight bump in between the apexes which lifts the car so don’t try to change direction too fast in the middle.

Fordwater

Once the car settles again, back on the power towards Fordwater, a fast gentle right hander with a crest at the apex – this needs to be taken flat out for a quick lap.

St Mary’s

A short straight, and then brake firmly and downshift for the 30o right hander with no name (where Sir Stirling Moss famously crashed). Hold the car to the centre of the track on the exit as you are about to hard left for St Mary’s. Turn in positively but then relax a little as the camber drops away, the car will start to drift wide until the track rises again and grip returns.

Lavant Corner

Accelerate hard again and then brake firmly for the entry into Lavant Corner, another edouble apex right hander.

Lavant Straight

You are about to enter the Lavant Straight, the fastest part of the circuit, so keep it neat on the way in and make sure yoy are properly placed for the second part of the bend so that you can apply power all the way through. Every mph of exit speed counts here. Hold the throttle wide open all the way down Lavant, straightening the slight kink and keep your nerve as Woodcote, the double apex, rushes up to you.

Woodcote

Woodcote exits almost directly into the chicane so the priority is to keeo all that entry speed for as long as possible – brake late and hard, turn in and perhaps brake again, touch the second apex, a quick squirt then slow down for the chicane. Right then left, not much space on the exit and marked out by tyre walls so technique wins over bravado.