Former F1 racer Karun Chandhok was behind the wheel of a Ferrari 250 GTO when its V12 engine let go during the Goodwood Revival
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by Sam D. Smith
16 hours ago
The Goodwood Revival is undoubtedly one of the greatest sporting events on the automotive calendar. It’s not often that you get hundreds of classic cars – many being priceless collectibles – being driven on their door handles in close-combat racing. But, as with any competitive event, you’ve always got to be prepared for the unexpected, something that former Hispania Racing F1 driver Karun Chandhok found out the hard way, with a melted boot to commemorate the occasion.
Chandhok was piloting a Ferrari 250 GTO for the 2023 Lavant Cup. Billed as a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, the grid of 16 cars consisted entirely of ’60s Ferraris, each powered by the sonorous Colombo V12 engine. Included amongst the pack were several 250 GTOs, 250 GT SWBs, and a pair of 250 LMs. The pièce de résistance of the field, though was undoubtedly the 250 GT SWB Breadvan. Needless to say, all of the above have a dollar value to the tune of eight figures, although there has been some talk about how some cars included in the race may have been convincing replicas, including the ill-fated 250 GTO that caught fire.
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Regardless, each driver didn’t hold back. The event was littered with close racing and incidents, including two jump starts off the line and a heart-in-mouth moment for the #526 250 LM that brushed the tire wall after spinning out of the lead.
However, the most heart-stopping point was left to the #156 Ferrari 250 GTO with Chandhok behind the wheel. Starting sixth, the driver-turned-pundit made it into the podium places. But towards the end of the race, the Ferrari became engulfed in a flash fire, likely originating from an oil leak and sending the car into a 360-degree spin. The fire was almost over as soon as it began, with the onboard fire suppression system doing its job. Chandhok managed to not only recover from the spin but also ensured the car was quickly guided off track before jumping out sharpish. The marshals were quick on the scene, and the damage, thankfully, doesn’t appear to be terminal.
Taking to social media later in the day, Chandhok confirmed that he was OK and that he was returning to the event the following day. He also showed followers the remains of his melted boot, concluding that he was disappointed with the ending to what was a dream drive but that he was thankful to get away unscathed.
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Further details of the incident emerged on Sunday via the Goodwood website. Chandhok confirmed that the spin was caused by the rear wheels locking up, preceded by a “bang” just as the car exited the Lavant corner to get on the back straight. “As I turned I saw flames, so I got right off the track safely, to minimize oil going down and get out of the way.”
Chandhok went on to praise the marshals, as well as the gracious owner, who was very magnanimous about the whole situation. “The owner’s absolute first priority was that I was okay. He was extremely understanding. The owners deserve so much credit. They send these cars that were designed 60 years ago out racing, that are worth so much, understanding that things can go wrong and that these things happen.”
A representative of the Ferrari 250 GTO’s owner gave a statement, saying that the car had a hole in the engine and that the onboard fire extinguisher did its job. “Karun is fine, which was our first concern, let’s be clear. We race knowing they break,” said the representative. “It’s nothing unusual. No one bats an eyelid when a Formula 1 engine blows up. These cars are 50-year-old technology, and occasionally, one will blow up no matter how well-prepared.”
Regardless of whether the 250 GTO was an original $50-million car or not, thankfully the damage done wasn’t terminal, and most importantly, the addition of modern safety devices ensured that Chandhok was able to walk away uninjured.
Watch the full highlights of the race below.