INSIDER TIPS | GOODWOOD MM83

The Goodwood Members’ Meeting has never been about just turning up and watching racing. If you’re paying attention, it tells you where the historic car world is actually heading. And in 2026, there are a few clear signals worth watching.

RETURN OF THE 70'S

This year’s event leans heavily into the 1970s, with a full celebration of The James Hunt Years — marking 50 years since his 1976 Formula 1 title. Expect DFV-era machinery from McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus and more taking centre stage.

That’s not nostalgia for the sake of it.

It reflects a growing shift towards cars that are:

- visceral
- mechanical
- and, crucially, usable

The appeal isn’t just how they look. It’s how they feel when driven properly.

RISE OF 'USABLE PERFORMANCE'

Alongside that heritage, there’s a very different signal coming through.

The Super Touring Shoot-Out brings 1990s touring cars back into focus — a category that has quietly been gaining traction again. These aren’t delicate, over-restored machines. They’re aggressive, accessible, and built to be driven hard.

That matters. Because it mirrors what buyers are increasingly drawn to — cars that deliver an experience, not just presence.

MODERN ENGINEERING, HISTORIC SETTING

Goodwood isn’t purely about the past anymore.

The debut of Lanzante’s new 95-59 — a lightweight, central-seat, engineering-led supercar — is a clear example of where modern thinking is heading. Less about outright numbers. More about driver experience.

That same philosophy is increasingly shaping how people view classic cars too.

WHAT'S ACRUALLY DRAWING ATTENTION

Walk the paddock and ignore the obvious.

The real insight is in:

- where people stop
- what they’re photographing
- what conversations are forming around

Not always the rarest cars. Not always the most valuable. More often, it’s the cars that feel resolved — the ones that look like they’re being used, not preserved.

THE UNDERLYING SHIFT

Across all of it, there’s a consistent theme. Goodwood continues to reward cars that are:

- driven
- understood
- and capable of being used without hesitation

Not static perfection. Not over-restoration. Just cars that work.

FINAL THOUGHT

The Members’ Meeting doesn’t tell you what the market should be doing. It shows you what it already is. And if you’re watching closely, it’s usually ahead of everything else.