Villeneuve set to tame big bore Cobra at Goodwood Revival

40

Next month’s prestigious Goodwood Revival just received an extra dose of star power with 1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve joining the stellar line-up for the RAC TT Celebration race.

The three-day festival at the iconic Goodwood Circuit is already a must-see for historic racing enthusiasts, and Villeneuve’s addition – behind the wheel of a roaring 1963 AC Cobra – affectionately nicknamed the ‘Hairy Canary’ – promises to crank the excitement to eleven.

With a grid packed with V8-powered Cobras, V12 Jaguar E-types, and a cast of racing legends, this year’s event is shaping up to be a proper petrolhead’s dream.

A Champion’s Return to Goodwood

Villeneuve, no stranger to Goodwood’s hallowed grounds, is practically buzzing to get behind the wheel for the RAC TT Celebration, widely regarded as the pinnacle of historic racing.

The event recreates the magic of the 1964 World Sportscar Championship’s closed-cockpit GT class, with a field brimming with beasts like AC Cobras, Jaguar E-types, TVR Griffiths, and Porsche 904s.

©Goodwood Revival

Fresh off driving Niki Lauda’s Ferrari 312B at July’s Festival of Speed, Villeneuve can’t wait to mix it up on a circuit that’s as much about flair as it is about speed.

“I am very excited to be participating in the RAC TT Celebration,” he enthused. “It was very frustrating seeing all my pals having fun racing it out last year while I was sitting watching. Driving the Cobra on such a fun track will be an exceptional moment, can’t wait!”

A Star-Studded Grid

Villeneuve won’t be alone in the spotlight. The RAC TT Celebration is pulling in a who’s-who of motorsport royalty, from Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen to IndyCar icons Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, seven-time NASCAR king Jimmie Johnson, and BTCC aces like Gordon Shedden, Jake Hill, Matt Neal, and Tom Ingram.

Adding to the buzz, 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button is jumping into the fray with a freshly acquired 1962 Jaguar E-Type, bought specifically for this race.

©Goodwood Revival

“Every year, we are privileged to welcome some of the world’s greatest drivers and riders to the Goodwood Revival,” commented the Duke of Richmond.

“Drawing on experience from across the breadth of motorsport, these competitors turn their skill and passion to historic racing, often facing rivals they’d never otherwise meet on the track.

“I’m grateful to them for taking the time to join us over the weekend and look forward to seeing them in action.”

This eclectic mix of drivers, from F1 to NASCAR to touring cars, ensures a thrilling clash of eras and styles, all battling it out in lovingly restored machines from a golden age of racing.

More Than Just a Race

The RAC TT Celebration is the crown jewel of the Goodwood Revival, but the weekend is packed with other treats for fans. Expect an Alfa Romeo celebration, a track-opening parade featuring the quirky VW Type 2 Split Screen, and an all-sustainable fuel race that nods to the future of motorsport.

Read also:

Champions’ reunion: F1 icons serve up the memories at Goodwood

The event will also honor the legacy of two-time F1 world champion Jim Clark, widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers to ever grip a steering wheel.

With Villeneuve and Button leading a pack of racing titans, the Goodwood Revival is set to deliver three days of heart-pounding action, retro vibes, and a celebration of motorsport’s past and present.

As Villeneuve put it, it’s an “exceptional moment” you won’t want to miss. So, grab your flat cap, polish your goggles, and get ready for a weekend when history roars back to life!

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.