Most modern racing ever seen at Goodwood as contemporary sidecars take centre stage

Goodwood’s 2024 motorsport calendar kicked off last weekend, with stars of the Sidecar World Championship taking centre stage in the first ever Sidecar Shoot-Out.

The April 13-14 Members’ Meeting is a much more relaxed affair than September’s Revival, which features two- and four-wheeled racing with pre-1966 machinery only. 

Instead, the Members’ Meeting opens its doors to newer racers, with the 2024 sidecar races being the most modern to date.

For the first time in over 50 years, contemporary motorsport was held at Goodwood, with eight of the best names in three-wheel racing going head-to-head in a series of sprints commemorating the 75th anniversary of the World Championship.

TT aficionado Ben Birchall was on hand to provide one of the biggest shocks, beating eight-time Sidecar World Champion Tim Reeves in their head-to-head sprint, despite running the shorter TT-style chassis against the longer short circuit outfits of the World Championship. 

Reigning double World Champions Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement would eventually take the victory with a lap of 1:21.174, at an average speed of 105.55mph.

Solos were also in action, with a pair of races for the Hailwood and Sheene Trophies. Run as a two-class grid, the Hailwood Trophy saw 250cc and 350cc two-stroke Grand Prix bikes battle it out against Formula 750 bikes, the latter competing for the Sheene Trophy.

Phil Atkinson took overall victory on a Yamaha TZ350, while Michael Russell won the Sheene Trophy aboard his Manx Norton.