What is the Varzi Trophy?

First introduced in 2017 at the 75^th Members’ Meeting, the Varzi Trophy reflects the advancement of the motor car from the Edwardian brutes as seen in the S.F. Edge Trophy to the cars that ushered in the beginnings of Grand Prix racing in the early 20^th century.

Achille Varzi is the man whose name is honoured by the race. He started out racing motorcycles before making the switch to cars, where he then enjoyed great success driving for Alfa Romeo, Auto Union and Bugatti in the pre-war period, engaging in a famed rivalry with Tazio Nuvolari.

Varzi is said to have won 33 races over his career, his standout triumph being his victory in the 1933 Monaco Grand Prix. There, with a Bugatti T51, Varzi and Nuvolari battled for the lead until the final lap, where the result was settled in Varzi’s favour after Nuvolari’s Alfa Romeo Monza caught fire due to over-revving.

While he takes his place in history as the winner of the first Formula 1 Grand Prix, held in Turin in 1946, the majority of Varzi’s racing career took place over the prior decade, making him perfectly in alignment with the cars that compete in the race that takes his name at Goodwood.

The entry list for the 2026 race promises pioneering Grand Prix machines from manufacturers including ERA and Mercedes-Benz, alongside Bugattis and Alfa Romeos the likes of which Varzi himself competed with.  

The Varzi Trophy has been a fixture at only two previous Members’ Meetings, in the past being for French and Italian cars of the era. The inaugural contest was an Italian affair, won by the Alfa Romeo Tipo B of Christian Gläsel ahead of Sean Danaher’s Maserati 6CM and Julian Majzub in the Bugatti Type 35.

Its most recent running was at the 79^th Members’ Meeting in 2022, when the front row of the grid was occupied by Patrick Blakeney-Edwards (Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza), Duncan Pittaway (Bugatti Type 35) and Ross Keeling (Delahaye 135).

Blakeney-Edwards suffered a poor start and dropped to fifth place, while Keeling and Tim Dutton, who started from row two, had a good run to the first corner. Pittaway took an early lead but ultimately retired, while Blakeney-Edwards recovered from his lacklustre start to pass the chequered flag first. He even had the luxury of time to back off as he crossed the line to allow the rest of the field an extra lap of racing.

Will the 83^rd Members’ Meeting follow the same Alfa Romeo pattern, or will a new winning make emerge? Hard fought races in previous competitions suggests this will be a closely fought race, but all questions will be answered when the Varzi Trophy gets underway at 83MM.

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

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Photography by Jayson Fong and Joe Harding.