Minassian to drive period 908 at pilot race for new Masters Historic Challenge
The new for 2018 Masters Historic Challenge, for LMP and GT machinery built between 2000 and 2011, will get a pilot race at Spa next month, while a three-car Peugeot 908 LMP1 programme has been confirmed.
The series is set for a six-round calendar next year. Preceding that will be the pilot race, in which series director Nicolas Minassian will be reunited with one of the 908s, a 2011 diesel V8-powered variant, which he drove at Le Mans in period.
“I’m so excited about it; I’m even going to get my old Peugeot overalls out of the cupboard to wear,” said Minassian. “I know how great these beautiful cars are to drive, so it’s wonderful that they are coming back for people to enjoy again.”
Minassian will take a pit stop penalty during the pilot race.
The three-car team of 908s will run under the Peugeot Classique by Chamberlain Synergy banner.
The cars – including an earlier diesel V12-engined 908 HDI FAP – have been bought by a consortium headed up by Bob Berridge.
“We have full technical support to run these cars,” said Berridge. “They did 36-hour tests flat-out, so running them for two or three seasons without a rebuild won’t be an issue.
“We have bought a full complement of spares and have had to secure the use of a warehouse to put them in.”