Video: 2025 Sussex Trophy highlights | Goodwood Revival

Sussex Trophy highlights

Drivers found themselves lining up on a damp grid for the start of the 2025 Sussex Trophy, polesitter Olly Bryant got away slowly in his Lotus 15 to the benefit of Roger Wills in his own Lotus 15. Hot on his heels was James Wood was in yet another Lotus 15s and Chris Ward in a Jaguar D-type ‘long nose’.

Sending it into the first part of St. Mary’s, Ward looked as though he might leapfrog from third to first, but a mid-corner moment of caution meant he settled for second, now with a disgruntled Wood barely a foot behind him. 

As the leaders powered around Lavant. It was here Wood seized the initiative back from Ward, who now had his own issues to deal with. Fighting snaps of oversteer, James Cottingham in the Tojeiro Jaguar and Christian Albrecht’s Scarab-Chevrolet Mk1moved past him, though he retook fourth with a move at Woodcote.

Meanwhile up front, Wood had just done exactly the same on Wills to take the lead. Brilliant traction from Cottingham allowed him to take Wills down the pit straight and then set off in pursuit of Wood, closing out the first lap.

Ward continued to make a nuisance of himself, but oversteer once again saw him lose momentum. Albrech in the Scarab saw the door open and didn’t hesitate to steal fourth. Cottingham took the lead after eight minutes.

Further back, Olly Bryant was attacking Bonamy Grimes’ Lotus 15 with everything he had around the outside of Lavant, but to no avail. Cottingham, Ward and Wood were now all within a second of each other. Heading into St. Mary’s, it looked as though Ward might send one on Cottingham for the lead, but it was Wood who surprised them both, muscling his way to first in an audacious dive. 

Then, without warning, Albrecht’s Scarab had a mechanical failure and span at the start of the Lavant Straight, sending multiple cars spinning behind it and causing a red flag. At the restart, Olly Bryant now found himself in fourth behind the top three of Ward, Wood and Cottingham, and before the end of the lap he was up into third. A failed overtake from Wood for the lead at the chicane from saw Cottingham up to second.

An excellent move from Bryant saw him take the lead from Ward and, eventually, the race win in what was a remarkable turnaround. However, Bryant's car was found to have contravened regulations in the aftermath, which passed the win to Ward.

Sussex Trophy Official Practice

Few races in the world are easier on the eye than the Revival’s Sussex Trophy, which has been a near constant fixture in the schedule since 1998. And it’s not difficult to see why; these cars are just stunning, no matter your preference, you simply cannot deny the taste of sportscar designers between 1955 and 1960.

They emerged onto the Motor Circuit for Official Practice in changeable conditions on Friday afternoon, as a drying track provided every driver in the field the chance to make progress and improve their times throughout the 20-minute session.

A gentle start was quickly forgotten about as Chris Ward, Olly Bryant and Roger Wills began to unleash the potential of their gorgeous machines. The Lotus 11s of Bryant and Wills are so often at the sharp end of the Sussex Trophy field, but Ward was doing an admirable job of staying in touch in his Jaguar D-Type ‘long nose’.

Bryant powered through to claim pole position with a 1:27.356 on his final attempt, snatching the top spot from Roger Wills by less than a tenth of a second. Ward completed a hard-fought front row a further four tenths back. The stage is set for a barn stormer on Sunday morning.

Photography by Pete Summers. 

Sussex Trophy grid (Top 15)

What is the Sussex Trophy?

Roy Salvadori was the winner of the first Sussex Trophy held in September 1956. On that day it was a race for sports and racing cars up to 1.5 litres, and he took the chequered flag aboard a Cooper T41.

For subsequent years the race took on a number of different forms, variously as a race for sportscars up to 1.1 litres and, for the final few years up to 1966, as a multi-class GT race featuring the likes of the AC Cobra and Ferrari 250 GTO.

In the Revival era, the Sussex Trophy has run for all but one year. In its current format, being for World Championship sportscars of a type that raced between 1955-’60, it most closely resembles the 1958 running of the race, won by Stirling Moss aboard an Aston Martin DBR2. 

Lister Knobblys, Jaguar D-Types and Lola Mk1s promise an exquisite line up, while the Lotus 15s have found success at the Motor Circuit for the past two years.

When is the Sussex Trophy?

This stunning cohort of cars gets its first run out on Friday evening, with Official Practice taking place at 17:20. The fastest times from that session will determine the order for the starting grid for Sunday’s Sussex Trophy. Commencing at 10:30, this 25-minute race offers a mesmerising display to be enjoyed on the final morning of the 2025 Revival. 

Previous winners of the Sussex Trophy 

The 2025 Goodwood Revival is underway! You can watch every moment of the action by watching our live stream.

Photography by Pete Summers and Jordan Butters.