LAS VEGAS - July 16, 2026 - The Shelby community and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, were once again at the center of the epic 1960s rivalry of Ferrari against Ford and Shelby American, which was celebrated during the Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 9-13, at the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex, UK. The tribute featured a rolling reunion of the three GT40 MkIIs that swept the 1966 Le Mans podium; it was the first time in over a decade that the three racecars have been seen tracking together. With the support of Goodyear, the first and second place Shelby American GT40s joined the third place Holman Moody car to run up the famous Hillclimb. Shelby family members, Shelby American executives, retired Shelby American race driver Allen Grant and members of international enthusiast club Team Shelby were a part of the event.
"The Goodwood Festival of Speed marked the 60th anniversary of Le Mans 1966 with the very Ford GT40 MkIIs that finished first, second and third in that landmark race," said Aaron Shelby, Board Member of Carroll Shelby International and grandson of the legendary Carroll Shelby. "It was incredible to witness cars driven by legends Ken Miles, Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon, Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson roar in close formation. Thanks to the Duke of Richmond's incredible efforts and support of Goodyear, it was an epic and deeply meaningful moment."
Each summer, approximately 300,000 people descend upon the Goodwood estate in the UK for a weekend full of racing and entertainment. The Festival of Speed features a wide range of racing past, present and future ranging from Formula 1 to the British Touring Car Championship, Drift Champions and this year, the historic GT40s.
The three cars (chassis P/1046, P/1015 and P/1016) ran the Goodwood Hill as part of the Americana celebration and "The Rivals - Epic Racing Duels" theme. Just as in 1966, the GT40s rolled across the finish line on Goodyear racing tires.
Shelby American and Goodyear have a long and strong relationship. Last year, Goodyear approached Aaron Shelby about its Fast Is In Us global campaign, which is part of the company's bold mission to become #1 in tires and service. Celebrating the famous Eagle performance tire family as one of the most iconic names in performance driving, Aaron Shelby and Shelby Legendary Cars arranged for a 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 to appear in the campaign. Aaron Shelby was also instrumental in convincing the owners of the three original GT40s to bring their cars to the UK.
"Le Mans 1966 remains one of the defining moments in Goodyear Racing history," said Xavier Fraipont, VP Goodyear Racing. "It was one of our first great international victories and a powerful demonstration of what happens when innovation, performance and determination come together on the world's biggest stage. Nearly sixty years later, it is a privilege to celebrate that achievement alongside Shelby, a brand that shares our passion for winning and pushing boundaries. We were proud to celebrate our history together featuring a Shelby Cobra 427 in our Global Marketing Campaign. The reunion of the iconic GT40s at Goodwood is a reminder that the spirit that drove those victories continues to inspire Goodyear Racing today as we strengthen our global motorsports presence and continue proving our performance in the world's most demanding championships."
Today, Goodyear Racing powers some of the world's most demanding championships, from NASCAR in North America to the FIA World Endurance Championship's LMGT3 category and premier endurance races across the globe. Goodyear also remains the most represented tire brand at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, supplying nearly three-quarters of the starting grid. Goodyear's presence at Circuit de la Sarthe has also grown beyond competition. In addition to the return of the iconic Goodyear Blimp above the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, the introduction of the Goodyear Passerelle further established a lasting symbol of the brand's heritage and commitment to one of motorsport's most legendary venues.
Goodyear also sponsored Shelby's presence at the Festival of Speed. Members of the Shelby family (Aaron and Brooke Shelby, Shawn and Rita Shelby, Randall and Mollie Shelby) joined Team Shelby for a special "VIP Experience." During the event, Aaron Shelby presented the Carroll Shelby Spirit Award to the Duke of Richmond on behalf of Carroll Shelby International in recognition of his Grace's contribution to the automotive industry. Previous recipients of the award include Ken Miles, Peter Brock, Bob Bondurant, Edsel B Ford II, Dan Gurney, Allen Grant, Don Prudhomme, Bruce Meyer, Craig Jackson, and Parnelli Jones.
Team Shelby was founded in 2008 by Carroll Shelby to give people an opportunity to enjoy their cars with fellow enthusiasts. Ownership of a Shelby vehicle is not required, only a passion for the brand and lifestyle. The factory sanctioned club provides benefits including an official membership kit and invitations to special worldwide events, such as VIP Experiences.
"Carroll Shelby was as famous for building friendships as he was for building race winning cars," said Tracey Smith, Executive Vice President of Carroll Shelby International and Team Shelby International Director. "Following Carroll's example, we've established strong relationships with wonderful people worldwide such as the Duke of Richmond, racing celebrities and executives at Goodyear and Ford Motor Company. Together, we ushered in a new era with special moments that will continue to build the Shelby community."
About Shelby American, Inc.
Founded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK), manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products. The company builds authentic continuation Cobras, including the 427 S/C, 289 FIA, 289 streetcar, Daytona Coupe and Shelby Series 2 component vehicles; it offers the Shelby GT, 1000, Super Snake, GT350, SE and GT post-title packages for the 2005-2026 Ford Mustang. Shelby American also offers the Shelby Raptor, Shelby F-150 Super Snake and Shelby F-150 trucks, as well as the Shelby F-250 Super Baja. Heritage cars include the continuation 1965 Shelby GT350 competition model, 1967 Ford Shelby Super Snake and 1968 Ford Shelby GT500KR. For more information, visit www.Shelby.com.
About Team Shelby
Team Shelby was founded in 2008 by Carroll Shelby to give people an opportunity to enjoy their cars with fellow enthusiasts. Many of the club's activities support charities and non-profit organizations. Ownership of a Shelby vehicle is not required, only a passion for the brand and lifestyle. With chapters worldwide, the factory sanctioned club provides benefits including exclusive access to "Members Only" areas of the club website (www.teamshelby.com), official Team Shelby Membership Kit, invitations to special events and monthly discounts on Shelby products.
About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 63,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 20 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.
###
Media Contact
Shelby American
Scott Black, TimePiece PR & Marketing
(214) 520-3430 or sblack@tprm.com
Goodyear
Marco Lo Prato, Manager Global Communications
+393429498176 or Jacopo_audino@goodyear.com