Masters demos for F1, F3000, GP2
Masters Historic Racing will run a series of demonstrations for 3.5-litre Formula 1 cars and other powerful single-seaters built after 1985 at five meetings in 2021, including its Donington Park and Brands Hatch events.
The events, billed as Masters Singleseater Demos, build on a trial last year at Brands aimed at 3.5-litre F1 machinery, which attracted only a handful of participants. The British-based organisation has now opted to widen the scope to include Formula 3000, GP2 and Indycars.
Masters boss Ron Maydon said: “We tried it last year, which proved difficult in the present circumstances, but we definitely want to give it another go. We’re opening it up a bit because there are a lot of interesting things out there that aren’t 3.5-litre F1 cars and we want to welcome them all.”
Maydon said there has been “substantial interest” from potential competitors. But he refused to predict how many cars Masters might attract for Donington on 3-4 April amid the difficulties of international travel.
Historic racing regular James Hanson and two-time FIA Masters Historic Formula 1 champion Greg Thornton have declared an intent be at Donington. Hanson is intending to take part in an ex-andrea de Cesaris Jordan-cosworth 191, while Thornton is planning to bring two cars.
Thornton’s Titan Historic Racing organisation has eight cars that are eligible for the demos, including three Cosworthpowered Colonis: a 1989 C3, a C3C from the following year and a 1991 C4. He intends to field one of the Colonis and what he described as a ‘mini-ferrari’, a Lola Formula 3000 car clothed in Ferrari F2002 bodywork, at Donington next month.
EX-F1 driver Tony Trimmer is a candidate to share the driving duties at Donington. Thornton also revealed that he is hopeful that former Coloni F1 driver Roberto Moreno will be able to travel to Europe to drive one of Titan’s cars later in the year.
Maydon played down the chances of the demos developing into a full race series, but both Hanson and Thornton believe there are enough 3.5-litre F1 cars in running condition to make a championship viable.
Last year’s Brands event attracted a Benetton-ford B190, a Brabham-judd BT59, an Arrows-cosworth A11 and a Leyton House-judd CG901, while a Lola Formula 5000 car and a Mclaren M23 also took part.