Goodwood to honour Shelby

By: Mark Higgins, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 23.01.2023

Carroll Shelby behind the wheel of CSX 2000 (Courtesy of Shelby American)

Carroll Shelby behind the wheel of CSX 2000 (Courtesy of Shelby American)

60-year connection

The 2023 Goodwood Revival will honour the man behind the AC Cobra and the Ford GT40, Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby; driver, engineer, and team owner who would have turned 100 on January 11, 2023. 

Shelby is best known for his AC Cobra, Ford Mustang models spanning several decades and as part of the team that took on Ferrari for Ford, developing the GT40 to the position of winning the Le Mans 24 Hour enduro four times in a row. 

Shelby Goodwood connection spans over six decades, first racing there and winning the 1959 RAC Tourist Trophy with Jack Fairman and Stirling Moss, clinching Aston Martin’s World Sportscar Championship.

This year Goodwood will gather many of the most significant cars in Shelby’s career for on track displays at the Revival, including the MC-TC in which Shelby made his racing debut in 1952. 

Although Carroll Shelby passed away in 2012, the Revival sees many Cobras competing in the RAC TT Celebration and Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy with GT40s racing in the Whitsun Trophy events.

As a driver Shelby made his name on the American scene before travelling to Europe and catching the eye of John Wyer at Aston Martin. He became a key member of the Aston Martin team for the 1959 championship, helping the marque secure its first World Sportscar Championship crown, driving the DBR1 to victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours alongside Roy Salvadori. 

After hanging up his helmet, Shelby founded Shelby American and developed the AC Cobra sportscar. It was based on the British AC Ace but with a Ford V8 engine shoehorned under the bonnet.

Shelby’s Cobras were raced across the world, becoming a symbol of American performance motoring. His desire to take on h Ferrari saw the creation of the Shelby Daytona coupe that would go on to win three races in the World Sportscar Championship including the TT at Goodwood in 1964.

Following this success Ford contracted Shelby American to help develop its GT40. Changes made by Shelby and test driving by Ken Miles and others saw the GT40 become a race winner, victorious at Le Mans four times in a row. 

Aaron Shelby, board member of Carroll Shelby International and grandson of Carroll, said: "Goodwood held a very special place in my grandfather’s heart. He competed there as a driver in an Aston Martin and returned to race at the Circuit with the Shelby American team cars during the 1960s.

The Duke of Richmond, founder of the Goodwood Revival said: "It’s such a privilege to be celebrating Carroll Shelby at the Goodwood Revival this year. He was a good friend and I remember when Carroll first came to the Revival back in 2000 – having raced and famously won at Goodwood in the 1959 TT – bringing with him his infectious personality and competitive spirit.

It will be wonderful to see those glorious cars that Carroll raced and designed in action at Goodwood once again over the weekend."

The Goodwood Revival runs September 8-10, 2023.

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