Video: 2026 Protheroe Cup highlights | 83MM

Protheroe Cup highlights

The orange glow of the setting sun gave the perfect light to glint off the curves of the grid filled exclusively with pre-1963 Jaguar E-types of the inaugural Protheroe Cup. And the long-bonneted coupés and roadsters really did race right into the sunset for the 29-lap, two-driver race on Saturday evening.

It was Richard Meins who started from pole position in the car he would later hand over to BTCC ace Rob Huff. For most cases, it was the owner-drivers out first and the stars taking the wheel for the second stint, but it wasn’t always that way round. Steve Soper was one of the professionals out for the race start.

As the race progressed, more of the pros came out for the fight to the flag including the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button. With lengthening shadows, the battles heightened for the curtain-call event of the Saturday of 83MM.

Protheroe Cup Official Practice

A full grid of Jaguar E-types took to the grid on Saturday for Official Practice for the first ever edition of the Protheroe Cup.

At the front of the grid, Chris Ward and John Young secured pole position in the 1961 Jaguar E‑type with an eye-watering time of 1:29.392, leading the pack by 0.407 seconds. Lining up alongside them is the all‑Torbolton entry of Rob Huff and Richard Meins, with Methuen pair of Alex Buncombe and Simon Watts close behind. This will certainly be a close contest between these two houses.

Further down the order, William Paul and Jenson Button start from ninth place after a hard-fought qualifying session. The pairing will be hoping to work their way up the grid when the race gets underway at 18:25 on Saturday.

Protheroe Cup grid (top 10)

Photography by Tom Baigent.

When is the 2026 Protheroe Cup?

This 25-strong grid of E-types will first head out onto the Motor Circuit for Official Practice at 10:50 on Saturday morning ahead of that evening’s race, which will close out proceedings on the opening day of Members’ Meeting at 18:25.

Who’s competing in the 2026 Protheroe Cup?

The Protheroe Cup is a two-driver race filled with big-name drivers, who will each be preparing to showcase their talents in relatively equal machinery. Jenson Button finally found success at the Goodwood Motor Circuit when he took his Protheroe-prepared ‘CUT 8’ E-type to victory in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy at the 2025 Revival, experience he’ll look to apply here at the wheel of the 1962 E-type he’ll be sharing with William Paul.

Other stars include Torbolton House Captain Dario Franchitti, who’ll be partnered by Gregor Fiskin, and five-time Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro will compete alongside Katarina Kyvalova. Super Touring icon Steve Soper, World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff and British GT’s Phil Keen will also be in action.

Which cars will be in the 2026 Protheroe Cup?

Jaguar E-types. Unsurprisingly, this single-make race means that all the cars on track will be extremely similar machines, but that’s what makes this race so compelling. E-types were produced from 1961-74, but this grid is restricted to the early models only.

At testing we were intrigued by one particular E-type that looked far more like a car for the road than the track, owned by Bob Neville to be raced by Alex Buncombe and Simon Watts, with plenty of Goodwood experience. Because of the single-make grid, Neville reckons “it should be close racing, it should be great fun. We just love E-types.” So do we, so the Protheroe Cup will be one of the most memorable affairs of the weekend.  

Photography by Tom Baigent and Jayson Fong. 

The 83rd Members' Meeting is live now! You can watch every moment of the action on our live stream right here on GRR.

Tickets for the 84th Members’ Meeting will be available immediately after this year’s event for Members and Fellows of the GRRC. Admission and Grandstand tickets will go on sale on Monday 20th April for Members, and Tuesday 21st April for Fellows.