Chichester Cup

Rear-engined Formula Junior single-seaters

Less than half-a-second separated the top three finishers in the Chichester Cup race for rear-engined Formula Junior single-seaters. Rising star Sam Wilson consolidated his earlier Earl of March Trophy success to lead home Pier Enrico Tonetti and Jon Milicevic but the result was in doubt to the flag.

Category veteran Stuart Roach suffered a heartbreaking car failure from pole position at the start, fellow front row man Wilson making a poor getaway and slipping to fourth place. He swiftly climbed back up the order to take the lead at Woodcote on the fifth lap aboard his Cooper T59 and immediately pulled out a three car length lead over early pacesetter Tonetti’s primrose-coloured Brabham BT6 with Formula Junior stalwart Milicevic close behind aboard his Cooper. At three-quarter distance of the 20 minute race, Wilson got slightly out of shape at Woodcote which allowed Tonetti to slip through, but Wilson was soon back in the Italian’s slipstream and nipped by as they headed past the grandstands the next time around. The lead trio demolished Edwin Jowsey’s 2006 lap record but Wilson wasn’t to be denied an emotional second victory of the 2011 Goodwood Revival.

“I’m a little overwhelmed,” the winner admitted. “These guys are great, fair racers and to win twice is just incredible.”