Padmore Takes Shortened Bruce McLaren Trophy Race

It was a busy Goodwood 74th Member’s Meeting for historic racer Nick Padmore with drives in the Bruce McLaren Trophy and the Whitmore Cup - his weekend being rewarded with a second place in the truncated race for the first event in a Lola T70 Spyder and seventh in the Whitmore Cup in a Mini Cooper S.

The reigning FIA Masters Historic Pre-1978 Formula One Drivers' champion, Padmore reminded everyone of his pace with pole position in Saturday afternoon’s qualifying for the Bruce McLaren Trophy, an event he won last year setting a new outright lap record on the way. In cold conditions Padmore ducked under that time in the powerful 1966 Lola, eight-tenths of a second quicker than the rest of the field.

In Sunday’s race Padmore was initially second but took the lead on the opening lap only for the event to be black-flagged after two laps due to the indecent that saw Michiel Smits go off heavily in another Lola. Due to the time lost as circuit staff delay with the issue the race result was declared after just two laps, Padmore taking the win in Phil Hall's Complete Motorsport Solutions-prepared ex-Team Surtees Lola.

With the day’s remaining races shortened, Padmore returned to the track in his family-owned Mini Cooper S for the Whitmore Cup. As the now half-distance race got underway, Padmore wast immediately caught up a bumper-to-bumper Mini battle with former WTCC champion, Rob Huff, before successfully making his move on the approach to Madgwick.

As the race continued, Padmore closed on and passed Jason Stanley's Cooper S for 7th position before going on the hunt for Nick Swift until the race ran out of laps, although Padmore was able to set the fastest lap out of all the Minis in the process.

"First of all we're relieved to hear that Michiel is on the mend,” said Nick, “that was a massive shunt and I wish him well as he continues his recovery.

"It's obviously nice to get the win but it wasn't under ideal circumstances and of course I would rather have won having completed the full race distance. The car felt great all weekend and I felt I had the race under control by the time the safety car was deployed.

"The race in the Mini was a lot of fun and I had some great battles with the other Minis. After a few problems in qualifying everything came good for the race and I was able to push and get stuck in.

"Thank you to everyone who came along to show their support this weekend. Special thanks to Phil Hall for the opportunity to race his car, Complete Motorsport Solutions, and IWC Schaffhausen watches - and also Swiftune for all their help with the Mini. I just love racing at Goodwood and I really hope to be back here again soon."