What is the Derek Bell Cup?

A contest for 1,000cc Formula 3 cars built between 1964 and 1970, the Derek Bell Cup turns the spotlight on diminutive lightweight single-seaters. Their small capacity four-cylinder engines means this race serves up quite the contrast to the rumbling V8s on show throughout the weekend, this grid produces more of a buzz than a roar when the green flag drops.

Of course, Derek Bell’s motorsport legend is built off his success in endurance racing. The British driver racked up five victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours across the 1970s and ‘80s and won the Daytona 24 Hours three times in 1986, ’87 and ’89.  Before all that, Bell also competed in Formula 1, securing drives with the likes of Ferrari and McLaren as he competed in nine Grands Prix between 1968-74.  

However, it’s the early chapter of his motorsport career that inspires this race. A West Sussex native, Goodwood was the site of Bell’s first race victory in 1964, at the wheel of a Lotus Seven. He entered into Formula 3 in 1965, where he competed for two years and picked up more wins, including at Goodwood. But it wasn’t long before he was called to the big time. Enzo Ferrari saw him race a Brabham BT23C in Formula 2 and shortly after Bell made his F1 debut at Monza in 1968.

The Derek Bell Cup honours the budding years of the great man’s motorsport journey, the time he spent learning his craft right here at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.

Bell’s first outings on a race track were made in a Lotus Seven, and while you can certainly expect to see Lotus’ lining up for this race, they will be joined by cars from a variety of manufacturers including Brabham, Tecno, March and Chevron.

It’s the Brabhams that have enjoyed the most success in this contest to date. Of the six editions of the Derek Bell Cup, a Brabham has won four times, but Michael O’Brien bucked that trend in 2024 when he and his Titan Mk3 overtook the Brabham BT18 of Andrew Hibberd to take the victory at the 82^nd Members’ Meeting.

While Ford engines can be found in the majority of competitors, the racing between these tiny machines is always close, the size allowing for battles between often three and more cars taking up every inch of the high-speed Motor Circuit.

Beautiful and entertaining, this race is impossible not to love as these stunning little cars and their closely fought action transport us back to the 1960s and the wonderful era of single-seaters.

While the Brabhams have often come out on top, the first Derek Bell Cup was won by the Chevron B17 of James King at the 73^rd Members’ Meeting. Though it hasn’t been a permanent fixture of the event, it always thrills as part of the race schedule so it’s a delight see it return after a year’s absence.

The race takes the form of a 20-minute sprint, and after the exhilarating tussle between O’Brien and Hibberd the last time out, we can’t wait to welcome back these small but mighty Formula 3 beauties when they return to the Motor Circuit at the 83^rd Members’ Meeting.

The 83^rd Members' Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport takes place on the 18^th & 19^th April 2026. Tickets are on sale now for GRRC Members and Fellows.

You can sign up for the Fellowship now. Click here to find out more.

Photography by Nick Wilkinson, Jayson Fong and Toby Whales.