This weekend’s prestigious Glover Trophy race at the Goodwood Revival saw a great result for the Lotus marque; first and second. Starting from the front row, Andy Middlehurst and Nick Fennell – both driving Lotus type 25s – put on a stirring display of Lotus history in front of 60,000 spectators at the fabulous Goodwood Motor Circuit.
Nick Fennell took the lead in a closely contested start. On lap four, Andy Middlehurst was able to overtake his Classic Team Lotus team mate and managed to pull out a gap to secure victory. Dan Collins in his Lotus type 21 did well to finish sixth. Unfortunately Andrew Beaumont in his type 24 retired with a driveshaft failure.
At the prize giving Lord March shared with the crowd his boyhood memories of the Glover Trophy, when the Formula One stars of the day would compete for the first big trophy of the season. Jim Clark last won the race for Team Lotus in 1965 – in his Lotus type 25 – when he set the lap record which still stands today. Fastest forever!
The Lotus type 25 chassis R4 raced by Andy Middlehurst is owned by Australian John Bowers. It is Jim Clark’s World Championship winning car from 1963 and is prepared by Bob Dance, who was mechanic to Jim Clark in the day. Nick Fennell’s type 25 chassis R5 also was raced by Jim Clark in period and it is prepared by Kevin Smith, who was been with Classic Team Lotus at Hethel for 13 years.
In 1964 Jim Clark and Peter Arundel finished first and second at Goodwood, with Peter Arundel racing chassis R4. This time R4 made it across the line in first place, 47 years later.
Clive Chapman – Managing Director of Classic Team Lotus – summed up the victory: “Goodwood is a World class event which attracts huge attention from the media and the automotive industry. We owe a huge thank you to all the Classic Team Lotus racers and other Lotus drivers for flying the Lotus flag in such great style. Special thanks to John Bowers and Nick Fennell for realising a truly historic victory. All very emotional. Even my mother is impressed! After all, it is what she was used to in my father’s glory days.”
Source & photo credits: Classic Team Lotus
