Video: Super Touring Shoot-Out highlights | 83MM

Super Touring Shoot-Out qualifying

Qualifying for the Super Touring Shoot-Out got underway on Saturday afternoon and saw seven touring car legends take to the Motor Circuit in a bid to confirm themselves as the fastest in their field.

The format followed that of previous Members’ Meeting Shoot-Out events, each driver completed an out-lap, a single flying lap, and an in-lap as they got stuck into their first competitive action of the weekend.

Matt Neal was first out in the Honda Accord, and after a relatively uneventful practice session he was quickly up to speed and kept it neat and tidy despite going flat out through the terrifying Fordwater corner. With a top speed of more than 130mph down the Lavant Straight, he certainly looked committed on the entry to Woodcote, and he crossed the finish line with a time of 1:26.880 — more than two seconds quicker than his best time of the morning session.

Andy Priaulx was next in his Volvo 850, and you could see his commitment as he brushed the Chicane wall on his way to open his flying lap. The rear end was just barely hanging on as he threw it into Madgwick, and he again was fully on it as that remarkable five-cylinder engine roared through Fordwater. At the end of a thoroughly entertaining lap, he crossed the line in 1:25.212 to jump ahead of Neal.

John Cleland’s Vauxhall was next, as the great Scot returned to the cockpit of the car he raced way back in 1997. He looked right at home, keeping it beautifully smooth as the Vectra skittered over the bumps. With the bit between his teeth, he was again well over 130mph at the braking zone for Woodcote, but his lap of 1:27.391 was slower than what he managed during Practice.

Anthony Reid was another driver returning to a car he raced in period, the man famous for his feisty driving style was keen to make his mark on this event, and he left very little on the table as he got his flying lap underway. The car perhaps wasn’t quite as healthy as some of its competitors, however, so Reid was only able to manage a time of 1:31.385.

Next up was Steve Soper, who’s is never one to shy away from a battle, though at the wheel of a car he’s never driven before you’d forgive him for taking it easy. None of that, however; Soper’s clearly been enjoying himself in this car, and he’s an experienced hand around Goodwood, so he’s certainly a dark horse for success here this weekend. His qualifying lap was quick and clinical. He carried so much speed through each and every turn, and that paid off when he crossed the line in 1:25.001.

Colin Turkington made his touring car racing debut after the Super Touring era had already come to an end, but as a BMW man through and through he looked comfortable in his office as he set up for his qualifying run. The 320i with its Bastos/Fina livery looked absolutely incredibly out on track, and it was quick too with Turkington absolutely nailing the line. He completed his lap in 1:25.705.

The final car to run was Rob Huff, driving the second Vauxhall in this year’s line-up. Huff has previous in Members’ Meeting Shoot-Outs and he made his experience pay as he carried more speed and more commitment throughout. He was nothing short of flat-out through Fordwater and right on the edge through St. Mary’s into Lavant. The pace was visible as he left nothing on the table, and with a perfect run through Woodcote he crossed the line to complete his qualifying lap in 1:23.391.

Super Touring Shoot-Out grid

 Photography by Joe Harding. 

Four-time British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington will continue his long relationship with BMW by taking the wheel of a 320i, the kind of car that drivers like Steve Soper, Joachim Winkelhock and Johnny Cecotto drove to so much success in the mid-1990s. 

Talking of Soper, one of touring car’s greatest ever talents will be rolling back the years when he takes to the Motor Circuit in a Peugeot 406, a car that competed in the hugely memorable 1998 BTCC season. Much of Soper’s major success came overseas, peaking in 1995 when he claimed the Japanese Touring Car crown, but his exploits on British soil are equally impressive. 

His arch rival, the man with whom he collided to propel the sport of touring cars into the public eye, John Cleland, will no doubt be keen to reignite their feud from the cockpit of his own Vauxhall Vectra. Cleland won the BTCC twice, in 1989 and 1995, and remains to this day a fondly remembered star of the Super Touring era. By all accounts, he and Soper have become good friends since the fireworks of Silverstone in 1992, so security can stand down. 

Another star of the ‘90s, Anthony Reid, is positioned firmly near the top of the list of the greatest drivers never to win a touring car title. The 1992 Japanese Formula 3 Champion missed out on an opportunity to race for Jordan in Formula 1 after his sponsor folded, but went on to ply his trade as one of the fastest and most spectacular drivers in the BTCC. He came close to titles in both 1998 and 2000 and will showcase his speed at the wheel of his hugely successful Ford Mondeo. 

Three-time World Touring Car Champion and Aubigny House Captain Andy Priaulx will take part in his second Members’ Meeting Shoot-Out. Having excelled in the GT3 edition, he’ll go again in 2026, this time at the wheel of a Volvo 850. 

Another three-time Champion, this time in the BTCC, Matt Neal will add to the star power of the Super Touring Shoot-Out as he strives for glory at the wheel of a 1996 Honda Accord. After establishing himself as a leading independent throughout the 1990s, Neal’s eventual rise to become one of the most successful touring car drivers of all time was completed primarily at the wheel of Honda machinery, so he should feel right at home at Members’ Meeting. 

And the Shoot-Out line-up is completed by none other than Rob Huff, a man well versed in tearing around the Motor Circuit at ten tenths. The 2012 World Touring Car Champion will be one to watch when he unleashes another Vauxhall Vectra in search of another win at Goodwood. 

83rd Members' Meeting Super Touring Shoot-Out entry list

When is the Super Touring Shoot-Out? 

Those seven drivers will have their first chance to push their cars at full speed at 13:00 on Saturday afternoon. That ten-minute session will see all seven drivers on the Motor Circuit together as they get a feel for their machinery and test the limits around what is a fiercely challenging and high-speed track. 

Shoot-Out qualifying will get underway at 17:00, when all drivers will have one chance to set the quickest time they can and set the running order for the Final on Sunday. 

Before the showdown, however, there will be one more opportunity for the drivers to perfect their lines in a second ten-minute practice session at 10:10 on Sunday morning. It’s going to be a fascinating session, where we will get a final inkling as to who is favourite for the win. 

The Shoot-Out Final, the climax of Super Touring Celebration at the 83^rd Members’ Meeting, will begin at 16:10 on Sunday afternoon, where one of those seven drivers will cross the finish line to claim a stunning victory. 

The 83rd Members' Meeting is live now! You can watch every moment of the action on our live stream right here on GRR.

Tickets for the 84th Members’ Meeting will be available immediately after this year’s event for Members and Fellows of the GRRC. Admission and Grandstand tickets will go on sale on Monday 20th April for Members, and Tuesday 21st April for Fellows.

Photography by Joe Harding.