This Aston Martin DB3S was raced by the biggest names in motorsport

Competing in the Salvadori Cup (for sports racing cars of a type that raced in period between 1955 and 1960) and representing house Aubigny, the British Racing Green Aston with its iconic yellow nose, swept, spacious wheel arches and roadster body was easily one of that weekend’s prettiest cars. 

As we stood admiring what was one of 11 works Aston Martins built in period, along with most of the main paddock clientele, Mathias Sielecki, the man burdened with the enviable job of driving it in anger, quietly introduced himself. 

This particular DB3S chassis was built primarily to race in the Le Mans 24 Hours, and it first competed there in 1954. It raced on that occasions with a coupe body, something that was quickly changed following its large shunt on the 138^th lap due its unstable nature at high speeds. Aston Martin were rightfully keen to alleviate such headaches for its future drivers, so a complete rebuild was signed off against the car. A decision that created the roadster bodied car that sits in front of us today. 

“In 1955 the car was rebuilt and raced once again at Le Mans by Collins and Frere, where it came second overall and first in class”. 

Redemption achieved at the Circuit de la Sarthe, the car went on to compete around Europe with notable success in 1955 and 1966. From a third place finish at the 1955 Goodwood Nine Hours at the hands of Peter Collins and Tony Brooks, to finishing second overall at the B.A.R.C at Aintree, again with the dashing and collected Collins at the wheel. 

“It was also driven by Stirling Moss and Collins at Sebring and at the Rouen-Les-Essarts Grand Prix by Moss again. It has quite a nice history,” says a humble and softly spoken Mathias. A man who has travelled all the way from his native Argentina to compete at Goodwood Revival and Members’ Meeting. Sadly, the formidable pairing of great friends Moss and Collins had to retire from second place after three hours at Sebring, but Moss was able to finish second at the G.P in the same year. 

“It was a Works car until 1956. It was then taken into private hands by the Whitehead brothers. It raced again in 1957 and 1958 where it came second again at the Le Mans 24 Hours.”

Powered by an original Works Aston Martin 3.0-litre engine, the pressure of piloting such an important piece of living history was not lost on Mathias. “It is a big responsibility of course, but a lot of fun. The car is great to drive, very nimble, very fast. It does everything you tell it to do and it never gives you any surprises. It also has a lot of power with its Aston Martin engine with twin-plug ignition. It's very sparky!”

But what of his hopes for the weekend? After an impressive fourth-placed showing as an amateur racer at Revival, was there any creeping ambition at play? 

“My hopes are low," he said with a smile. “I'm not in the same class as I was at Revival so I'm competing against faster, more modern cars. So basically my hopes are to finish with the car in one piece. It is very, very slippery out there. But Members’ is amazing, it's a little less crowded so you can enjoy the cars a little more. You can get the full experience and I’m just happy to be here.” 

Judging by the crowd that had congregated around the DB3S/6, there were many more people besides Mathias and the Goodwood office who were over the moon with its attendance. And just maybe, a few very special drivers were smiling down on this little Aston once again as it basked in the glorious Goodwood sunshine.

Photography by Jordan Butters and Jayson Fong.