Photo Report: Hot Lapping Goodwood Members’ Meeting With IWC
This past weekend, the 82nd Goodwood Members’ Meeting kicked off the Goodwood calendar for the year with a weekend of vintage car racing and all the excitement that comes with it. IWC has been the Members’ Meeting official timing partner since 2015, but this year is something special as the brand is heavily involved in the upcoming F1 film, which comes from Apple Original Films and is being released to the world on June 27th of this year.
As such, IWC was running a considerable promotional program at the Members’ Meeting, including a pop-up with the movie watches, a display with both track and roadcars from the film, the presence of two of the film’s stars, and an on-track demonstration highlighting some of the driving and filming tecniques that are featured in the upcoming movie. F1 is directed by Joseph Kosinski, who is likely best known for directing Top Gun: Maverick. If he and the undoubtedly massive crew behind the film can port even a slice of the experience from the Top Gun sequel, F1 will be unlike any racing movie we’ve seen before. Fingers crossed.
Presented in more than 100 images below, follow along as I get my first real taste of Goodwood. That means genuinely competitive (and sometimes destructive) wheel-to-wheel vintage racing, a stroll of the paddock, spotting a few IWCs in the crowd, seeing the F1 movie take to the track, and a whole lot more. This sunny Saturday kicked off at the IWC booth just inside the main gates to Goodwood.
A modern Mercedes-Benz AMG GT in full APXGP livery for the F1 film.
The prop race car from the film. Interestingly, the cars in the film are based on modified F2 cars that Mercedes prepped as F1 cars with special filming equipment integrated into the design. Both actors and stunt drivers operated these cars, and the film was shot in conjunction with actual Grand Prix events.
IWC CEO Chris Grainger-Herr sporting an IWC Pilot’s Performance Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
The tie, the watch (an IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar). All, very Goodwood.
The first of many Ingenieur sightings.
The crowd in front of the chicane before the start/finish line.
A 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 competes in the Gordon Spice Trophy.
A 1965 Ford GT would compete in the Gurney Cup (more on that in a bit).
Fans taking in the event.
I was thrilled to run into my pal Wesley Smith of Standard H, who was dressed for the event with his trusty IWC Portofino Chronograph.
A jaw-droppingly cool Elva-BMW MK8 takes to the track in the early laps of the Gurney Cup.
A 1932 Frazer Nash TT Replica tries to escape the pace of a 1935 Aston Martin Ulster.
A 1965 Ford GT40.
A fresh-to-market Ingenieur Automatic 35 IW324903.
I met a man wearing the Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL Toto Wolff limited edition. When I asked for a photo, he pulled out his phone and showed me that he also owns the previous Toto edition. These collabs work, especially for super fans of a team like Mercedes AMG-Petronas (of which Toto Wolff is CEO).
A better view of the 1932 Frazer Nash TT Replica as it zips through the chicane.
An old Land Rover can be just about anything you like – especially at Goodwood.
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition Racing Green.
An IWC Portugieser Chronograph.
Traditional indeed.
The Paddocks
Leaving the track for the moment, I headed under the walkway and into the infield for a stroll through the paddocks, where the cars are prepped for racing (or repaired following a race). The paddocks are an open and lively setting with cars coming and going through a consistent stream of foot traffic.
The covered walkway under the track. That metal roof over the stairs was installed after a racing car managed to wedge itself into the walkway.
Note the IWC Ingenieur spec for the many track clocks located throughout the facilities.
Cars, tools, and tents. What more do you need on a Saturday?
A silver 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB/C fielded by Racing Team Holland. 250s are seriously expensive and collectible cars, not the kind of stuff you’d expect to see duking it out on track.
The other Ferrari 250 GT SWB/C. Before it got a decent scar from some tough racing (keep scrolling).
One of IWC’s photographers sporting an IW506003 Top Gun Mojave.
A 1964 Lotus-Ford 23B.
One of the stars of the show for yours truly, and a fierce competitor later in the day, a 1966 Ferrari 206S.
I do love a Ford GT40.
A pair of Ford Escort RS2000s – 1976 on the left, and 1980 on the right.
Serious liveries with a 1979 BMW 323i and an Austin Metro HLS.
One of a handful of Jaguar D-Types on display. These remain, to my eyes, about as good as sports cars ever got (in terms of looks, I’ve not had the thrill of driving one).
A not-so-mellow-yellow 1695 Lotus-Ford 30.
Hard to describe the beauty of a vintage Ferrari with scars from racing. Let alone the fact that it’s a 250 SWB/C. If the lens I was using were any wider, my smile would be in the image.
Ds and Cs > Es. Change my mind.
A rare sight! It’s a 1963 Lotus 11 GT “Breadvan”
This car took second in its class at Goodwood in 1962.
Another shot of the hero 250, seen here getting some post race attention.
The #6 Ford GT40, another 1965 example.
Livery envy.
Light cover envy.
Badge envy.
A trio of Lotus-Climax 15s.
A 1958 Lotus-Climax 15 in a perfect shade of green. Green cars are best cars.
Likely my fave modern Ingenieur, the Automatic 40 in titanium (the IW328904). The black marker surrounds tie the whole room together.
A GMA (Gordon Murray Automotive) T.50. Note the man in white leaning against the car, that’s racing driver and commentator Dario Franchitti (who is also a development driver for the T.50 program).
An absolutely stunning 1962 AC Cobra.
A 1960 Aston Martin DB4GT.
The cockpit of a race-winning Jaguar D-Type, don’t miss the note on the steering wheel…
A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing”.
If you’re not paying attention in the paddock at Goodwood, you might be surprised by the close approach of a rare Ferrari.
I watched this 1973 BMW 3.0Si run a lot of laps.
An IWC on my own wrist, the steel Ingenieur 40.
Pit bike envy.
Hard to beat an old Alfa, this is a 1965 Giulia Sprint GTA.
More old Alfas.
IWC – And The F1 Movie – On The Track
While kicking around the paddock and even getting a tour from a lovely man named Bob, I heard over the PA that it was nearly time for the F1 (the movie) track demonstration with IWC. I got back to the viewing area and watched the last few laps of a pre-war series race and waited for the movie cars to take to the track.
In the crowd present for the IWC track demo, I spotted what I believe to be a rare Big Pilot IWC Racing Works. This was a 500-piece limited edition made of grade 5 titanium.
Always good to see a wide range of vehicles on the track, but no one likes to see the flatbed.
Especially when it’s carrying a lovely green 1931 Talbot AV105.
Another IWC pilot’s model in the audience.
The F1 film race car is pushed out onto the track. Sadly, this example is for display use, and I was told it is without a motor.
Moments after the last race ended, a trio of vehicles from F1 took to the track, including the two liveried cars we shared above (an F1 race car from the film and an AMG GT in APXGP livery) and an IWC-branded Mercedes SUV all kitted out for rolling shots with a remotely controlled Russian Arm.
The AMG GT and the camera car did a handful of laps while the camera feed was broadcast to the large displays around the track. This provided a strong demonstration of how the high-stakes stunt driving in the film is captured to full effect.
After the filming demo, Damson Idris, one of the stars of F1, suited up for a quick photo opportunity with his car from the film. He was soon joined by IWC CEO Chris Grainger-Herr (who we could have easily mistaken for the team principal of the fictional APXGP F1 team).
Damson Idris (who plays F1 driver Joshua Pearce) and IWC CEO Chris Grainger-Herr.
Back To The Races
With the F1 moment now in the rearview, it was time to get back to the racing. The following rounds out an incredible afternoon and evening at the track, culminating with the incredibly exciting Gurney Cup, which features sports-racing prototypes as a salute to both legendary racer Dan Gurney and sports cars of the ’60s (the likes of which raced at Le Mans).
In a remarkable demo, team Jota (which was celebrating its 25th year) brought out a truly big gun: the Cadillac V-Series.R LMDH car, which is racing in the 2025 World Endurance Championship. It is cutting-edge and disturbingly quick compared to previous races that day featuring cars more than 100 years older than this racy Caddy.
A richly red-toned Portugieser on a matching strap.
Some added complication with the Portugieser Toubillon Mystère Rétrograde IW504602.
A 1914 Straker Squire TT laps as part of the S.F. Edge Trophy featuring cars made before 1918.
I’ve waited a long time to see the Fiat S76 Record, aka. the “Beast of Turin”. This car was built in 1910 and is powered by – get this – a 28.4 liter 4-cylinder engine.
The crowd awaiting the start of the Gurney Cup.
A 1965 Ford GT40.
A different, less lucky, 1965 Ford GT40.
The darling 1966 Ferrari 206S chasing down a Ford GT40 and a Chevron-BMW B6.
More racing action in the Gurney Cup.
The winner of Saturday’s Gurney Cup was Frank Stippler in the 1966 Ferrari 206S. It was a hard-won race that left its mark on the car.
Old Ingenieur.
New Ingenieur.
An end-of-race wave from the 1969 Chevron-BMW B8.
There’s something so special about watching a Ford GT40 battle it out with a ’60s Ferrari on a track lined with cheering fans.
Cooling off in the pits after an incredible day at Goodwood.
Hodinkee
