Sheep flock to the Revival for a unique Jim Clark celebration

For anyone unfamiliar with Jim Clark, he won both the 1963 and 1965 F1 titles, securing 25 Championship race wins over a seven-year period along with and 19 non-Championship race wins. On top of that he holds the record for the most grand slams — that’s pole position, fastest lap, race win and lead every lap, with eight, two more than Lewis Hamilton and three more than Alberto Ascari, Michael Schumacher and Max Verstappen. In 1965 Clark also won the 1965 British F2 title, the 1965 Indy 500, the 1965 Tasman series.

Away from all of those motorsport accolades however, and the reason you’re seeing a small herd of sheep chase the lap record at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, is that Clark came from humble beginnings in Fife, Scotland, and lived on a farm in Duns in the Scottish Borders. The son of a sheep farmer, he spent much of his life on the farm surrounded by animals. 

The sheep were unleashed onto the Motor Circuit from the Supershell building at Woodcote corner, and immediately they decided they wanted to head for the luscious green grass of the airfield inside the perimeter of the track itself. Thankfully an expertly trained sheepdog soon sorted them out, and before long the flock was on the move towards the chicane.

Missing the apex, the sheep continued down the pit straight past some of Clark’s race cars we’ve seen parade for the Revival’s daily Jim Clark Celebration, from an Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato and a Jaguar D-type, to a Lotus Elan 26R and the Lotus 33 Clark used to take the ‘65 F1 title. The sheep even paused for a moment to admire a Gemini-BMC Mk2, one of the first single seaters Clark drove. Exiting at Woodcote, rumour has it the sheep are now training for a lap record at the Nürburgring in 2026.

What better way to celebrate Jim Clark’s life and legacy than by combining his love for racing and the great outdoors? This really was a moment that will live long in the memory.

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

Photography by Rob Cooper, Pete Summers and Charlie Brenninkmeijer