Well, here are a pair of Rolls-Royce vehicles that also have no details of what goes under the hood, and for a good reason: they have no engine in them. What you see before you are Rolls-Royce hand-built Gravity Racers, aka soapbox racers, that took part in 2001 and 2002 Soapbox Challenges at the Goodwood Festival of Speed before the company had officially relaunched. So, yeah, they are vehicles of significance to the British marque despite not being actual vehicles with powertrains.
Commemorating its Goodwood era’s inception, Rolls-Royce has restored the first-ever vehicles, two hand-built gravity racers from the early 2000s, predating even the first new Phantom. These unique vehicles, codenamed RR-0.01 and RR-0.02, played a pivotal role at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Soapbox Challenge, showcasing the brand’s innovative design and engineering prowess.
RR-0.01, resembling the Phantom VII, and RR-0.02, inspired by the Silver Ghost, both achieved notable success in their respective races, blending speed with distinctive Rolls-Royce elegance.
After being displayed at the Rolls-Royce headquarters, they were restored by the brand’s apprentices, repairing and refurbishing them to their original splendor.
These racers have now found a new home at the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club, adding a significant chapter to the storied history of Rolls-Royce and celebrating over two decades of modern craftsmanship and heritage at Goodwood.
For the benefit of those who don’t know. Soapbox racing, sometimes also known as gravity racing, is a sport where teams of people race DIY, non-motorized boxes, often resembling real cars, down a hill powered by gravity. Along the way down the hill, there are obstacles that the teams will have to avoid. It is a race that’s not much different from actual motorcar racing. It does require both good engineering to set up a robust, agile vehicle, and a good driver to steer the way.
Images: Rolls-Royce.
