The “mortal enemies” turned team-mates eyeing victory in the RAC TT Celebration

While the crisp morning sun endeavoured to dry the dampened Goodwood Motor Circuit at a Revival Test Day, we caught up with British racing ace Bobby Verdon-Roe, owner of Snake Eyes, who was visibly buzzing with anticipation ahead of the event.  

“Bring it on,” he grinned as he reflected on the star-studded grid he’ll be racing against. “I can’t wait to race against some of these guys.”

The striking livery of Snake Eyes is woven into Revival lore, but the car has not always looked so menacing. When Verdon-Roe first acquired the machine, its storied racing past was hidden beneath a much tamer exterior. 

“It was in a traditional sort of blue and white livery,” he recalled. “It was a sort of wedding car or something like that. It hadn’t raced in a long time. And I just thought, my God, that will look amazing if I put that livery back on it.”

Returning the Cobra back to its iconic snake appearance isn’t just an aesthetic triumph; it’s a homecoming. And beneath the nostalgic paintwork lies a brutal, uncompromising racing weapon. “Everything, absolutely everything is original,” Verdone-Roe emphasised. “This is the real thing. They’re very powerful — 465 horsepower I’ve got. They’re a handful, very hard to put the power down, and they’re a challenge to drive, but very satisfying when you get it right.”

Running a car as famous as Snake Eyes brings a massive reputation, and with it a mountain of responsibility. With all eyes on it, the car isn’t here just to make up the numbers. Verdon-Roe has a wealth of experience in this race, competing in it five time including a spectacular victory in 2008. 

The entry list for this year’s RAC TT Celebration is stacked with world-class talent and legendary machinery, but rather than being intimidated by the daunting competition, Verdon-Roe and his team are rising to the challenge. A highly successful testing program earlier in the year has given them a crucial edge. 

“We made a big step forward with the setup of the car this year,” he explained. “We did a test here at Goodwood a couple of months ago, before summer, and the car was much, much better. Much faster.”

That extra pace will be vital when going door-to-door with some of the biggest icons in modern motorsport. “There’s nothing like racing against, a big-name driver,” Verdon-Roe added, with a competitive glint in his eye. 

Perhaps the most fascinating twist in the Snake Eyes story this year lies in the driver pairing. To share the gruelling stint in the brutal V8, Verdon-Roe has drafted in a man he once traded paint with in the fiercest corners of British motorsport, touring car legend Jason Plato. 

“We were mortal enemies back in 1991,” Verdon-Roe laughed, “but we’re good friends now.”

With Plato’s legendary car control and Verdon-Roe’s performance knowledge of the machine, the duo have their sights firmly on the top step of the podium. However, Revival Testing threw up a significant logistical hurdle.

While Verdon-Roe possessed ample experience in the Cobra and had logged critical setup miles before the summer, the Test Day marked the first time Plato had ever driven the car. Taming a 471PS (347kW), short-wheelbase classic on Goodwood’s fast, sweeping curves is a tall order for anyone. 

As the event approaches, excitement surrounding the iconic car and its superstar line-up is reaching a fever pitch, and the drivers have one goal in mind. “We’re hoping we can get a podium,” Verdon-Roe smiled. “We both want to smoke a cigar”. 

When the flag drops for the climax of the Goodwood Revival, ‘Snake Eyes’ and its drivers will be ready to put on the ultimate show.

Photography by Joe Harding.

Saturday tickets and 3-Day passes for the Goodwood Revival have now sold out, and Friday and Sunday tickets are limited. 

If you’re not already part of the GRRC, you can sign up to the Fellowship today and save ten per cent on your 2026 tickets and grandstand passes, as well as enjoying a whole host of other on-event perks.