A Ford Galaxie fills the mirrors. A Lotus Cortina stretches its legs along the straight. Then, as the field reaches the next corner, a tiny Mini comes charging back into the fight.
That contrast is one of the great sights of the Goodwood Revival.
The racing Minis may be among the smallest cars on the circuit, but nobody watching treats them as supporting acts. They race hard, use every inch of the track and regularly find themselves battling machinery with considerably more power.
There is something irresistible about watching a Mini take on cars twice its size.
The 2026 St. Mary’s Trophy brought together production-based saloon cars from the first half of the 1960s. Austin and Morris Mini Cooper S racers lined up alongside Ford-Lotus Cortina Mk1s, Ford Galaxie 500s, Jaguar Mk2s, Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTAs and BMW 1800s.
On paper, some of those battles look thoroughly uneven. The Ford Galaxie is a vast, V8-powered saloon, while the Mini appears almost comically small beside it.
Once the racing begins, however, appearances become rather less important.
The larger cars can use their power on Goodwood’s fast sections, but the Minis fight back under braking and through the corners. Their compact dimensions, low weight and front-wheel-drive layout allow them to carry speed and change direction with remarkable enthusiasm.
A Mini is unlikely to win a straight-line contest with a Galaxie. Fortunately, a race involves rather more than one straight.
The St. Mary’s Trophy is decided across two separate races.
Professional drivers contested Part 1 on Friday. The owners then took their turn behind the wheel for Part 2 on Sunday.
That second race produced a wonderful demonstration of what makes the Mini so entertaining. The number 76 Morris Mini Cooper S of Nick Swift and the number 55 Morris Mini Cooper S of Ben Colburn became involved in a terrific battle with a Jaguar Mk2.
The Minis looked for an opportunity amid the traffic and eventually found their way through. Swift went on to bring the number 76 car home in fourth place, behind a Ford Galaxie 500 and two Ford-Lotus Cortina Mk1s.
That result neatly demonstrates why racing Minis remain so popular. They might give away considerable power and size to many of their rivals, but they are perfectly capable of getting involved at the sharp end of a fiercely competitive historic race.
They also look wonderfully dramatic while doing it. A racing Mini appears to lean on its door handles through the corners, scrabbling for grip while its driver keeps the throttle pinned and searches for the next gap.
It is difficult to imagine a better setting for these cars than Goodwood Motor Circuit.
The circuit opened in 1948 and hosted contemporary motor racing until 1966. The Minis, Cortinas, Galaxies and Jaguars competing in the St. Mary’s Trophy therefore look completely at home on a track closely associated with their original era.
Goodwood is also a fast, flowing circuit where momentum matters. That gives the Minis an opportunity to demonstrate exactly what made them such formidable competition cars.
The Revival’s period surroundings add to the atmosphere, but the racing itself is very real. These valuable historic cars are not being driven gently around for demonstration laps. They are raced closely and competitively, just as they would have been decades ago.
From the spectator areas, the differences between the cars are immediately obvious. You can see the Galaxies powering away, the Cortinas dancing through the bends and the Minis steadily reeling them back in.
Plenty of faster, rarer and more valuable machinery appears at the Goodwood Revival, but the Minis always seem to attract a particularly enthusiastic response.
Part of their appeal comes from familiarity. Almost everyone has a Mini story, whether they owned one, competed in one or simply remember seeing them everywhere.
There is also the timeless pleasure of supporting the underdog. When a Mini dives inside a much larger saloon or hangs onto its bumper through a corner, the crowd immediately takes notice.
Small in stature, huge in character and seemingly incapable of knowing when they are beaten, racing Minis are everything historic motorsport should be.
Watching the Minis racing at Goodwood left us wanting to find a few more.
UK Barn Finds is looking to buy classic Minis, including complete cars, usable classics, unfinished restorations and long-forgotten projects. If you have an old Mini tucked away in a garage, barn or shed, we would love to hear about it.
Send us a few photographs, your location and the price you have in mind through our classic car selling page.
Stay updated with the latest barn finds, auction news, and classic car adventures in our 'News & Waffle' section. Dive into rare discoveries, behind-the-scenes stories, and expert insights into the world of classic cars. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or simply intrigued by the tales behind these treasures, this is your hub for all things classic and captivating.
View All
This Morris Ital auction result might be one of the most gloriously retro things we’ve filmed all year. A 1980 Morris Ital HL. Finished in Russet Brown. With 69,174 miles showing. And, just to add another twist to the story, previously owned by Sarah Crabtree of Bangers & Cash fame. Before the bidding even started […]
This Reliant Scimitar auction result was always going to attract a certain comment. You know the one. Whenever a Scimitar GTE appears, somebody mentions the same member of the Royal Family. Usually several people do. So when this 1978 Reliant Scimitar GTE Auto came up at Anglia Car Auctions, I couldn’t resist asking: “Didn’t ...
This VW Golf Cabriolet auction result raises an interesting question. If you want a Mk1 Golf, but don’t want to spend serious money on one, is the Cabriolet still one of the cheapest ways in? This 1982 Golf Mk1 Cabriolet GLS went under the hammer at Anglia Car Auctions with a £2,500 to £3,500 estimate. […]
