The classic car revival driven by sustainable fuel at Goodwood

WATCH: Jen Copestake is at Goodwood to check out sustainable vehicles

Stepping into the Goodwood Revival feels like stepping back in time. Surrounded by fashions from the post-second world war period and, of course, hundreds of classic cars.

‌With a theme of 'Revive and Thrive' the three-day annual event is all about reliving the glory days of motor racing at Goodwood.

Goodwood was home to RAF Westhampnett during World War II, where it was used as a base for aircraft like Spitfires and Hurricanes. In 1948, the landowner, the 9th Duke of Richmond, turned the perimeter road into a racetrack, bringing auto racing back to the UK after a 10-year hiatus. It was closed in 1966 and reopened in 1998, with an ethos of maintaining strong links to its past and showcasing the cars of its heyday.

To race here, your car must meet certain specifications for original parts. This year a new rule on fuel has been introduced - it must be made up of nearly three-quarters of sustainable components.

"Each liter of fuel has to be 70 percent made of sustainable material, so probably alcohol, mainly ethanol derived," says Luis Leitao, a mechanic who is at Goodwood with a replica of a 1957 Thunderbird Battlebird.

‌"It is a drier fuel so it poses some obstacles on the lubrication, but the engine builder overcame that, so we are good. We are happy."

‌The performance reportedly has not been compromised using the new fuel, though the running costs are higher.

"This is the first time I've driven with fully sustainable fuel and it doesn't feel as if there is any difference at all," says race car owner and driver Marc Gordon, who drove his car to victory in his event.‌ "The one difference is it is massively more expensive, it costs an arm and a leg. It is probably five or six times, maybe more, than normal fuel, and of course race cars use a lot of fuel."

‌In another first, the Goodwood Revival was broadcast live in China. Over 40,000 viewers joined racing commentator Skyline via an online livestream on the first day via three major social media platforms: WeChat, Douyin and Bilibili.

Ding Yang is the founder of New Silk Route Digital, responsible for the livestream. "The car is becoming a very interesting emerging industry in China," he says.

‌"A lot of people are working on their own cars and also they want to modify the cars. Goodwood's culture is perfect to show that audience, and a lot of people are interested in this kind of event."

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