Image via Goodwood Road & Racing/YouTube
In a way it’s both fitting and ironic to have AC Cobras and a Jaguar E-Type going up against each other on the racetrack. They certainly were contemporaries and so would face off against each other, but the two vehicles take a similar yet divergent approach to automotive performance you can see in this clip of them battling it out at Goodwood Revival.
Actor Keanu Reeves didn’t fare so well in his race over the weekend.
Of course, the E-Type has been called by some the most beautiful cars ever made. But it’s more than just a work of art on wheels, boasting good handling and smooth power delivery for plenty of motorsports chops. There’s a reason it’s a dream car for many a Brit and plenty of others around the globe.
Then there’s the AC Cobra, also a dream ride for countless motorheads. It boasts excellent handling, thanks to the British chassis, and a beautifully contoured body. But under that svelte exterior is a thumping, brutish American V8.
Yet that strange combination is partly what makes the Cobra a legend in both racing and road driving. A light, tight chassis married to a hard-hitting powerplant is quite the potent recipe.
As the footage from Goodwood Revival makes clear, it’s not just about the car but also the driver when it comes to getting around the track quickly. The two drivers take different approaches, each one adjusted for how their suspension and powertrain are tuned, but it’s also about the skill of the man behind the wheel.
After the one Cobra takes the lead, the Jag driver has to contend with another that’s been breathing down his neck. Eventually, that Cobra also gets around the E-Type as a TVR starts bearing down, eventually passing the Jaguar as well. This is what makes racing so great to watch, with close battles, mesmerizing sounds, and beautiful rides battling it out turn after turn.
Image via Goodwood Road & Racing/YouTube
