Geneva, 14 September 2021 – Since 1997, the Goodwood Revival has celebrated the heritage of motor sport, taking a glorious step back in time to the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. For three days starting this Friday (17–19 September), automobiles and their owners, drivers and spectators will become part of this immersive celebration as the glamour and style of motor racing’s heyday is recreated. Rolex has a profound appreciation for the past and the legends that make up the fabric of the sport; for 17 years, the Swiss watch brand has supported the Goodwood Revival and the Rolex Drivers’ Club, sharing an eagerness to remember and learn from yesteryear.

Rolex Testimonee and three-time FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart says:

After a year’s absence, the Revival returns in 2021 with many of its crowd-favourite races, including the two-part St Mary’s Trophy for 1950s saloon cars and the spectacular, high-speed Whitsun Trophy. The world’s most valuable grid will line up on Friday as GT cars from the early 1960s race wheel-to-wheel into the dusk in the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy, renamed in honour of the man known as Mr Goodwood who died last year. On Saturday, there is an exciting one-off addition to the schedule in the form of the John Whitmore Trophy, pitting 30 Mini Coopers against each other in a two-driver contest to mark the car’s 60th anniversary. Tom Kristensen, a Rolex Testimonee, nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Goodwood regular, says:

The 2021 Goodwood Revival is incorporating new celebrations and viewing areas, as well as remembering special moments from Great Britain’s history. To commemorate the 1946 London Victory Parade, a motorcade of 150 military and civilian vehicles will take to the circuit on Sunday, led by a marching group that includes key workers from the armed and emergency services, so crucial to the continuing pandemic efforts. Away from the track, in admiration of the “make do and mend” mindset of previous generations, Woodcote Corner will showcase several restoration projects celebrating craftmanship and sustainability. This year, the Rolex Drivers’ Club – always at the heart of the weekend – will have a new home next to the Earls Court Motor Show, on display to visitors for the first time.

For Sir Jackie, travelling to Goodwood Motor Circuit each year is an opportunity to reflect on his career and the circuit’s considerable influence on his life:

In a sport that is all about racing against the clock, the Goodwood Revival is a rare and magical occasion that captures a moment in time, embracing the long-term pursuit for the preservation and promotion of heritage.

For all those involved, it is a unique opportunity to appreciate and reflect on the style, technology and personalities of a bygone era that continue to influence today’s world. Throughout Rolex’s history, the brand has supported those who strive to push the boundaries, and continues to take the time to celebrate pioneering individuals, such as Sir Jackie Stewart and Tom Kristensen, and their enduring legacies.

ABOUT THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL

The Goodwood Revival is the world’s greatest historic motor race meeting, and the only sporting event of its kind to be staged entirely in a period theme. More than just an unrivalled weekend of historic racing, it is a whimsical step back in time; an immersive celebration of a less disposable world, where “make do and mend” was a way of life rather than a casual slogan.

The Revival is, at its heart, a celebration of craftsmanship and sustainability, from an age when possessions were made to last and be cherished. It promotes a thoroughly modern ethos – to “reduce, reuse, repair, restore and recycle” – in the most authentic way possible. All the cars are original, having been lovingly maintained since new, many of the outfits have been handed down through generations, and even the retailers specialise in pre-owned artefacts – everything from clothes and accessories to automobilia and books.

It is, proudly, the world’s biggest and most glamorous second-hand event.

ROLEX AND MOTOR SPORT

Rolex’s close ties with motor sport date back to Sir Malcolm Campbell’s World Land Speed Record successes in the 1930s, when he became the first driver to break the 300 mph barrier (483 km/h) at the wheel of his car, Bluebird. Since then, Rolex’s presence in motor racing has grown steadily, its support extending to revered endurance events such as the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship. In 2013, Rolex became associated with Formula 1®, the pinnacle of motor sport, having supported Rolex Testimonee Sir Jackie Stewart since 1968. The three-time FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion has been joined by fellow high achievers from the world of motor sport: Tom Kristensen, the record nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, and Mark Webber, the multiple Formula 1® race winner and 2015 FIA World Endurance Champion. The brand also has a global appreciation for classic automotive events steeped in elegance, beauty and tradition, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and the Goodwood Revival.