Video: 2025 Fordwater Trophy full race | Goodwood Revival

When the flag dropped on Saturday afternoon, Martin Stretton in the #62 Lotus Elan 26R got the better of Andrew Smith's #47 Porsche 904 GTS. But as the cars streamed into the first corner, the more powerful Porsche got its nose in front to take the lead. 

Even before the end of the first lap, Smith and Stretton began putting air between themselves and the chasing pack, presenting a fascinating battle between the slippery, mid-engined Porsche and the super lightweight Lotus.

The race was settling into a rhythm when John Tordoff's Lotus Elan's suspension failed, leaving its offside front wheel sitting at a jaunty angle. The safety car came out followed by a red flag, so that a flatbed truck could safely remove the stricken Lotus. 

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When the race restarted, Stretton's Lotus started where it had left off — trying to find a way to get past Smith's Porsche. Stretton was pushing hard, using every bit of his car's agility, almost losing it with a big tail wag as he tried to conquer the Porsche's superior straight-line pace. 

Right behind him, a Lotus-on-Lotus battle was developing between the pale blue R26R of Michael O’Brien and Maxwell Lynn's white and green machine. The pair had hit on such a rich vein of pace that both looked like they could challenge Stretton, who had lost some initiative, for second position.

With less than five minutes of the race remaining, Andrew Smith's Porsche looked comfortable, but second and third place were all to play for. Would the 904 prevail, or would one of the pursuing Lotuses take a home win? Best watch the race to find out.