Corvette Racing at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting

Goodwood certainly knows how to put on a show. In addition to the top notch historic racing at their annual Members’ Meeting, the high speed demonstrations never fail to deliver anything other than the most visceral and nostalgia tinged experiences. 2023 was no exception, with a celebration of the GT1 cars that dominated the top tier of endurance racing in the early 21st century.

In addition to a mouthwatering selection of Aston DBR9s, Chrysler Viper GTS-Rs and Ferrari 550 GTS Maranellos, British crowds were treated to two sublime Corvette C5-Rs and a C6 GT1 participating in the high speed demonstration sessions over the course of the event. A rare sight on these shores, with appearances usually only at Le Mans Classic and occasional Peter Auto events on the continent.

The first of the two demonstrations was set for the curtain closer on Saturday evening. With early springtime weather conditions in the UK being notoriously fickle, it was only with faint and distant hope that anything other than inclement conditions could be expected. Against the odds, the clear skies and low fading sunlight bathed the Goodwood circuit in a golden light, reminiscent of the evening hours at Mulsanne, where the blazing headlights of the C5R cut an unmistakable profile out of the hazy April dusk. As night fell, the evocative sound of the 6 litre V8 crackled in the evening air, offering a profound, nostalgic reminder of the glory years of these Pratt and Miller constructed, all conquering GT cars.