The 10 Best Demos in Goodwood Members’ Meeting History
The 81st Goodwood Members’ Meeting, presented by Audrain Motorsport, marked a remarkable decade since the revival of the iconic event in 2014. Over the past ten years, Goodwood’s legendary Motor Circuit has played host to a myriad of unforgettable moments. The members meeting has established itself as the traditional curtain-raiser for their annual motorsport calendar.
Amidst this excess of thrilling encounters, the Members’ Meeting’s demonstration runs have stood out, breathing life into some of motorsport’s most celebrated eras. We’ve witnessed and heard some truly extraordinary spectacles over the past decade. Here’s a curated selection of our ten favourite demonstrations that have resonated with Goodwood enthusiasts worldwide.
10. Drift (79MM)
Drifting, a motorsport discipline renowned for its adrenaline-fuelled sideways manoeuvres, took centre stage at the 79th Members’ Meeting. For a brief yet exhilarating interlude, Goodwood’s refined ambiance gave way to a display of sheer hooliganism, as six outrageous drift cars unleashed their tire-shredding prowess on the start-finish straight.
At the helm of these meticulously engineered machines were some of the world’s most revered drift champions, including the multiple-time Formula Drift champion James Deane and Goodwood’s esteemed friend Steve ‘Baggsy’ Biagioni. With unwavering finesse, they hurled their cars into seemingly impossible slides, captivating the audience with their gravity-defying artistry.
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9. Porsche 917 (77MM)
The 77th Members’ Meeting paid tribute to a motorsport legend, the Porsche 917, a sports prototype that etched its name in racing history with its global domination. The demonstration showcased a stunning array of five 917 iterations, spanning from the original 1969 model to the leviathans that conquered Can-Am until 1973.
The lineup included the 917, 917K, 917/10, and two 917/30s, each a testament to Porsche’s engineering prowess. Among them was 1970 Le Mans winner Richard Attwood, who graced the Motor Circuit once again to showcase the wonders of these awe-inspiring machines.
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8. 3.0-Litre Sports Prototypes (75MM)
The 75th Members’ Meeting delved into the golden era of 3.0-litre sports prototypes, a period marked by iconic machinery and legendary drivers. The demonstration featured a roster of Le Mans champions, including the formidable Matra MS670, a three-time Le Mans victor.
The Matra, with its biblical V12 engine, was accompanied by other notable entries, such as the Ford DFV-powered McLaren M8C, the V8 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3, and the Porsche 908. As they thundered around the Motor Circuit, these cars epitomised the raw power and exhilaration that defined this era of sports car racing.
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7. Goodwood Super Special (78MM)
Emerging from the pandemic’s grip, the 78th Members’ Meeting marked a grand return to form. To make up for lost time, Goodwood presented two events in quick succession, with the Members’ Meeting following just a month after the Revival.
Capitalising on the late-October darkness, a unique spectacle was devised – the Goodwood Super Special. This rally-inspired event brought together four decades of rally cars, culminating in a night-time run of the stage.
As the Motor Circuit action concluded, spectators anticipated the customary Members’ Meeting party. Instead, they were treated to a thrilling display of rally legends tearing up the track under the floodlights. The lineup included iconic machines like the Ford RS200, Audi Quattro S1, Lancia 037, MG Metro 6R4, Toyota Celica ST185, and an Escort Cosworth in its striking Repsol livery.
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6. GT1 (80MM)
The 80th Members’ Meeting turned up the volume with a demonstration that reverberated through the Goodwood estate – the GT1 demo. The early 2000s represented the zenith of GT racing, with a grid brimming with exotic machinery.
The demonstration featured a formidable assembly of more than 20 GT1 racers, spanning from 1998 to 2008. The lineup included the Aston Martin DBR9, Ferrari 550 GTS, Corvette C5.R, Saleen S7, and Chrysler Viper, accompanied by cameo appearances from Lamborghini, Marcos, and Lister.
This was no ordinary demonstration; it was a sensory overload, a cacophony of screaming V12s, ferocious V10s, and unrelenting V8s. This was a true celebration of GT racing’s golden era, a spectacle that left the audience’s ears ringing and hearts pounding long after the checkered flag waved.
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5. V10 Era F1 (79MM)
Speaking of peaks in motorsport, was the V10-era of the 1990s and early 2000s the pinnacle of Formula 1? If we’re focussing on the sound of the cars, surely there can be little argument that the 3.5-litre engine formula that graced the sport from 1989-1994, and the subsequent 3.0-litre V10s that were the heart of F1 until 2005, produced a truly spectacular soundtrack.
A soundtrack that was brought to Goodwood for the 79th Members’ Meeting, as they celebrated the V10 era of F1 in some style. Among others, they had Bruno Senna driving his uncle’s McLaren MP4/5B, Jake Hill in a Footwork FA14, and, stealing the show somewhat, a Jordan 195 being driven like it was 1995 all over again. All V10s, all reminding us why we miss those days of F1.
It just goes to show that, even when the list of cars involved isn’t filled with legendary race winners from Ferrari, Williams and the like, the sound of a proper F1 climbing towards 17, 18, 19,000rpm is something we can never get enough of.
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4. McLaren F1 GTR (73MM)
It’s a rare thing, when a single car can capture the imagination of an entire generation, rarer still when one such as the McLaren F1 can enthral multiple generations. Even now, some 30 years after it was first launched to the world, the F1 is still one of those cars that has an air of myth about it.
First launched as the fastest road car in the world, it didn’t take long to be turned into a racing car, the McLaren F1 GTR, that would win at the Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt in 1995. Powered by a specially made 6.1-litre BMW V12, there were 28 GTRs made between 1995 and ’97, and Goodwood brought 12 of them together to put on a wonderful demonstration at the 73rd Members’ Meeting.
With a handful of memorable liveries on show, from the Fina BMW cars that ran in the FIA GT championship, to the Harrods car that finished third at Le Mans in 1995, and of course the instantly recognisable Gulf-liveried ‘Longtail’ which just looks utterly brilliant in full flow around the Motor Circuit. This one was one of the greatest moments we’ve ever seen at Goodwood.
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3. Ground Effect F1 (74MM)
So how do we beat that? Well, bear with us. Let’s start with this, one of the most evocative eras in the history of Formula 1, brought back to life in the most incredible way. The ground effect F1 demo of the 74th Members’ Meeting was split into two parts by virtue of there being 33 cars in attendance. That in itself is simply jaw-dropping.
Then they made their way out onto the track and time stopped. Numerous world championship-winning cars, memorable machines once driven by legends including Andretti, Prost, Senna, Mansell and Villeneuve. Everywhere you looked there was a view that honestly was enough to put a lump in your throat. These cars are of an age that you might not expect to ever have the chance to see them in action. Yet here they all were flying around the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
Even a full half an hour of these wondrous machines wasn’t enough, as the second batch left the assembly area it was arguably even better than the first, bejewelled with the Brabham BT49, Williams FW08 and the McLaren MP4/1. This was more than just a demonstration, it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
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2. Group 5 Prototypes (74MM)
If a collection of Porsche 917s was good, three years prior at the 74th Members’ Meeting, Porsche’s famous Group 5 racer was joined by a host of contemporaries from that incredible period from 1970-’75.
With a list of cars that included several of what is considered to be one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever built, the 512, alongside several more 917s, Lola T70 Mk3Bs and a McLaren M6GT, the spectacle on the track was otherworldly. It’s cars like these that truly capture the imagination, with their streamlined long-tail shape, enormous roaring engines, and massive rear tyres. As spectacles at Goodwood go, this one came very close to being one of the very greatest things we’ve ever seen on the Motor Circuit. It was an opportunity to relive a truncated yet iconic period of motorsport, and the chorus of 5.0-litre 12-cylinder engines with a bit of Chevrolet V8 mixed in was a treat for the ears.
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1. LMP1 (77MM)
On a list of moments that all have a realistic claim to the top spot, we’ve gone for a demo from the 77th Members’ Meeting that raised the bar to an impossible level. We’ve celebrated some of the very greatest eras of motorsport over the past decade at Goodwood, and the LMP1 showcase was simply breathtaking.
At the time, it encapsulated an era of endurance racing that covered a 20-year period of Le Mans Prototypes, the LMP1 cars were the pinnacle of competition in the World Sportscar Championship that would morph into the World Endurance Championship in 2012. Roaring into the dusk on Saturday evening, these cars were in their element, with headlights on and engines howling.
The queue of cars led by the 2003 Le Mans-winning Bentley Speed 8 included Audi R8s, a Peugeot 908, and Dallaras powered by screaming Judd V10s. Simply incredible machines, more capable than anything we’d seen on the Motor Circuit before. Even as they ran well within their limits, these cars put on one hell of a show as the sun set and the South Downs echoed with the sounds of Le Mans.
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The Members’ Meeting has established itself as a beacon of automotive nostalgia, breathing life into the golden eras of motorsport history. With each passing year, the demos continue to push the boundaries of excitement, transporting spectators back in time and immersing them in the raw spirit of racing. From the thunderous roar of V10 Formula One engines to the graceful ballet of Group 5 prototypes, these demonstrations have become an integral part of the Goodwood experience, cementing the event’s reputation as a true celebration of motorsport’s finest moments.
