For Immediate Release: 13 September 2013 THE 2013 GOODWOOD REVIVAL MARKS THE 50 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORD GT40’s DEVELOPMENT WITH A UNIQUE ONE-MODEL RACE The world’s finest collection of significant…

For Immediate Release: 13 September 2013

THE 2013 GOODWOOD REVIVAL

MARKS THE 50

TH ANNIVERSARY OF

THE FORD GT40’s DEVELOPMENT

WITH A UNIQUE ONE-MODEL RACE

The world’s finest collection of significant and authentic racing Ford GT40s

have been gathered at the 2013 Goodwood Revival (13-15 September) for an

exceptional one-model race; the first time in history that a dedicated

competition has ever been held for these iconic Ford racers.

The 2013 Revival’s Whitsun Trophy race, presented by UBS, marks 50 years

since the genesis of the Ford GT40 programme. Although the first GT40

wasn’t completed until early 1964, the Ford project actually began a year

earlier in 1963, when Henry Ford II - snubbed by Enzo Ferrari over the sale of

his company to the Michigan-based automotive giant - set out to beat ‘il

Commendatore’ at his own game, with sights set firmly on victory in the Le

Mans 24Hours race.

A Ford advanced vehicles operation was set up in Slough to deliver this goal

and the GT40 programme was led by Eric Broadley, who had engineered the

Lola Mk6 GT that first raced in 1963, a closed coupe designed along similar

lines to the GT40. The GT40 (initially known as the Ford GT) was created to

meet with new manufacturer prototype regulations at Le Mans, and the Ford

went on to become an endurance racing icon, winning the 24 Hours race at

la

Sarthe

four years in a row, from 1966 to 1969.

The UBS Whitsun Trophy race promises to make for an intriguing spectacle

and a fitting tribute to one of the world’s most revered sports car with a long

association with Goodwood, both at the Motor Circuit in period, plus the

Goodwood Revival, with examples racing here since the first event in 1998.

In addition, Goodwood Revival partner UBS is staging a special Le Mans-style

pit land paddock to display a number of GT40s, with additional examples of

this icon Ford located around the event, along with a track parade.

For media enquiries, please contact Gary Axon or Janet Bradley in the

Goodwood Motor Sport Press Office:

Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755109

Email:

speed@goodwood.com or gary.axon@goodwood.com

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