Electric Cars

The 2025 Goodwood Revival meeting delivered a spectacle of classic motorsport, highlighted by Tom Ingram's masterful defense of his RAC TT Celebration title and Jenson Button's long-awaited first victory at the event. Despite challenging conditions, including a torrential downpour, drivers pushed iconic vehicles to their limits, creating memorable moments for racing enthusiasts.

In a dramatic climax to the RAC TT Celebration, Tom Ingram, the reigning British Touring Car champion, once again demonstrated his exceptional skill. He expertly navigated his Jaguar E-type FHC through heavy rain, battling against Rob Huff, who incurred a 10.75-second penalty for a short pitstop. Despite Huff's determined pursuit in his own E-type, Ingram, alongside co-driver Richard Kent, replicated their 2024 success. The race unfolded from a dry start where AC Cobras initially dominated, with Olly Bryant leading before an inevitable stoppage caused by Dr. Afschin Fatemi's crash. The subsequent restart saw a complete shift in dynamics as rain transformed the track, favoring the independently-suspended Jaguars. Ingram and Huff engaged in a breathtaking duel, with both drivers exhibiting incredible commitment, even aquaplaning through corners in the worsening conditions.

Beyond Ingram's triumph, the Goodwood Revival witnessed other notable performances. Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 world champion, secured his maiden victory at the event in the Freddie March Memorial Trophy. Sharing a Jaguar C-type with Alex Buncombe, Button's win was particularly significant given his previous attempts, including a misfire that hindered his lead in 2023. The race also featured an exhilarating battle for third, with various classic cars jostling for position. Furthermore, the Sussex Trophy race provided high drama when a multi-car pile-up, triggered by an engine failure and oil spill, led to a red flag. Despite initial exclusion, Olly Bryant, following an appeal, was ultimately awarded victory, showcasing the intense, sometimes chaotic, nature of historic racing.

The event also featured the Goodwood Trophy for pre-1951 Grand Prix cars, where Mark Gillies secured his eighth victory in the iconic ERA R3A, cementing his place among the Revival's most successful drivers. The St Mary's Trophy, an all-star touring car race, saw thrilling duels between powerful 1950s machines. Tom Kristensen and Steve Soper engaged in a fierce contest, with Kristensen ultimately prevailing. The Fordwater Trophy and Whitsun Trophy races added to the excitement, with Andrew Smith clinching a win in the former and Alex Brundle celebrating his first Goodwood victory in the latter. Overall, the Goodwood Revival reaffirmed its status as a premier event, captivating audiences with a blend of historical reverence, fierce competition, and unpredictable racing action.

Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP world champion, has voiced his discontent with Yamaha's new V4-powered M1, stating he feels it's a step backward from the previous model. His candid remarks came after the morning testing session in Misano, where he finished a disappointing 17th, more than a second behind Alex Marquez of Gresini.

This Misano test marked Quartararo's second opportunity to evaluate Yamaha's V4 prototype, which is being developed for the 2026 season. While a private test in Barcelona a week prior offered some glimmers of positivity, the Misano outing left him without any discernible strong points on the new machine. Quartararo articulated his struggle, noting, \"At the moment, it's worse. In Barcelona, we felt some difference, that for me was in a better way. Here, we haven't found it yet.\" He further emphasized the absence of improvement in critical areas, despite assurances from his team that potential gains were still to be realized. Yamaha's decision to shift from its inline four-cylinder engine to a V4 was a strategic move, prompted by the belief that the former had reached its performance limits. However, Quartararo remains unconvinced that this engine change alone will be the panacea for Yamaha's ongoing struggles in MotoGP. He observed that similar problems persisted in both the Barcelona and Misano tests, despite the differing track characteristics. While Barcelona's smoother layout offered a slight advantage, Misano's more complex turns exposed the new bike's aggressive nature and remaining developmental challenges. Echoing the sentiments of Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez, who had previously pointed out front-end issues with the V4 M1 after its debut at the San Marino Grand Prix, Quartararo clarified that the primary concern was not merely front-end feel but rather the bike's turning capabilities. He acknowledged that the inline-four engine's turning was its sole strong point, lamenting that the V4 currently falls short even in that aspect, offering no significant positives. The focus now turns to identifying and addressing these fundamental issues.

The path forward for Yamaha and Quartararo appears challenging, demanding a thorough re-evaluation of the V4 project. The team faces the critical task of not only refining the new engine but also integrating it seamlessly into a chassis that delivers competitive performance and rider confidence. Success in this endeavor will be crucial for Yamaha to reclaim its dominant position in MotoGP and for Quartararo to once again compete at the pinnacle of the sport, showcasing the resilience and innovative spirit essential for overcoming such formidable technical hurdles.