Video: The story of the rain-soaked 2013 RAC TT Celebration

30th August 2019

Seán Ward

If you’re familiar with the Goodwood Revival you’ve almost certainly heard of the Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration. Described as a ‘one-hour, two-driver race for close-cockpit GT cars in the spirit of the RAC TT races, 1960-1964’, it is usually one of the most dramatic races of the Revival weekend. 2013’s race was no exception.

Enter TopGear presenter Chris Harris. Harris is no stranger to Goodwood, having raced at the Revival and Members meeting several times, most recently during the 77^th Members’ Meeting Betty Richmond Trophy Mini extravaganza.

In 2013 he paired up with Members’ Meeting house captain Anthony Reid to drive a beautiful Lister-Jaguar Coupé in the RAC TT Celebration. Up against cars like the Ferrari 250 LM, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Maserati Tipo 151 and AC Cobra, and drivers like Jean Alesi, Karun Chandhok, Darren Turner, Henri Pescarolo and Tiff Needell, the race was always going to be hard fought, but the duo stood a good chance of finishing strong.

The weekend was complicated, however, and the race… Well, put simply, the heavens opened, which left many struggling. This is the story of that brilliant, drama-packed race, as told by the man behind the wheel.