Sporting Excellence with Understated Elegance

GOODWOOD MOTOR CIRCUIT occupies a unique place in British motorsport history. Set within the South Downs on the Goodwood Estate, it is the only classic racing circuit in the world to have remained entirely true to its original layout since opening in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War.

Before the sound of racing engines echoed across the Sussex countryside, the land served a very different purpose. During the war years, the circuit was part of RAF Westhampnett, a frontline fighter airfield constructed on estate land generously offered by the 9th Duke of Richmond. The airfield played a vital role in Britain’s defense, and its perimeter roads would later provide the foundations for something altogether more celebratory.

In 1948, as Britain began to rediscover leisure and sport, Freddie March, 9th Duke of Richmond, was encouraged to consider using the airfield’s wide concrete roadways for motor racing. An enthusiastic amateur racer himself, the Duke immediately recognized the opportunity. On 18 September that year, Goodwood Motor Circuit officially opened, hosting Britain’s first professionally organized post war motor race meeting.

The opening was marked by a symbolic lap of the circuit by the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon in a Bristol 400, setting the tone for a venue that would blend sporting excellence with understated elegance. Thousands of spectators attended, eager to witness the return of top- level circuit racing after years of wartime interruption.

Over the next eighteen years, Goodwood became one of the most important motorsport venues in the country. Its fast, flowing layout suited both cars and drivers, while the estate setting gave meetings a distinctive character that set them apart from more utilitarian circuits. Formula One, sports cars, touring cars and motorcycles all competed at Goodwood, and many of the sport’s greatest names raced there during its original era.

Central to this period were the Members’ Meetings. Organized for members of the British Automobile Racing Club, these events were intended to be competitive yet convivial gatherings that prioritized camaraderie as much as racing. Between 1949 and 1966, seventy-one Members’ Meetings were held, forming the backbone of the circuit’s annual calendar and establishing traditions that are still felt today.

By the mid 1960s, however, the pace of modern racing was increasing rapidly. Concerned that contemporary cars were becoming too fast for the circuit’s unchanged layout, the Duke made the decision to close Goodwood to top level competitive racing.

The final Members’ Meeting took place in July 1966, bringing an extraordinary chapter of British motorsport to a close.

For many years thereafter, Goodwood’s racing history lived on through memories, archives and private use of the circuit. That changed in 1998 with the launch of the Goodwood Revival, an event dedicated to celebrating the cars, fashions, and spirit of the circuit’s original racing years. Its success confirmed that Goodwood’s past still resonated deeply with competitors and spectators alike.

Building on that renewed connection, the Members’ Meeting was revived in 2014. Reimagined for members of the Goodwood Road Racing Club, the modern Members’ Meeting was designed to recapture the atmosphere of the original events. Close access to the cars and drivers, fiercely competitive racing and a strong sense of community all remain central to its appeal.

Today, the Members’ Meeting stands as both a tribute and a continuation. It honors the vision of the 9th Duke of Richmond and the golden era of post war British motorsport, while opening each racing season with an event that feels as intimate, authentic, and spirited as those first gatherings more than seventy years ago.

Taking place April 18-19, 2026, the 83rd Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport will celebrate the legendary James Hunt and the golden era of 1970s Formula 1, alongside a thrilling Super Touring Car demonstration featuring the largest collection of Super Touring cars ever assembled bringing motorsport history roaring back to life.

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