FIA Masters Historic Championships set for superb start
08.04.13
The opening round of the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship and the new FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship are both set for superb starts as they kick off their seasons at Barcelona this weekend, April 12th-14th
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The FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship headlines the annual Catalan Classic at Barcelona and already has 26 cars entered for its 2013 debut, with 13 different constructors being represented.
Heading the entry is reigning GP Masters champion Andrew Beaumont with his Lotus 76/1, but sure to be the focus of attention will be Larry Kinch’s iconic Ferrari 312T5. Ranged against them comes local hero Joaquin Folch (Brabham BT49C), the sister McLaren MP4’s of Nathan Kinch and Bobbie Verdon-Roe and Christophe D’Ansembourg (Williams FW07).
Belgian enthusiast Marc Devis joins the Historic Formula One ranks with his Arrows A3, as does pseudonymed Frenchman Mr John of B with his McLaren M29, while rapid French sports car racer David Ferrer campaigns an earlier M28.
Spa 24 Hours legend Jean-Michel Martin is on the grid with his Fittipaldi F8, while Greg Thornton pits his Mansell Lotus 92/5 against the Ensign N180 of Simon Fish who was a race winner in GP Masters in 2012.
The new FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship starts its first season with a 90-minute min-enduro race to wow the Spanish crowd. Regular pace-setters Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield (Lola T70 Mk3b) will be keen to get a good start to the season, but the Porsche 917 of Carlos Monteverde/Gary Pearson will be hot on their heels. While modern GT racers Steve Tandy and Dan Brown team up in Tandy’s Lola T70, Joaquin Folch will be one to watch in his Ford GT40, taking on Andy Newall in Pedro Macedo Silva’s GT40 Spyder. The GT section of the grid will pit Porsche RSR enthusiasts, James and Mark Bates, against the thundering Corvettes of Peter Hallford/Stephen Treherne and Neil Merry/Terry Van Der Zee.
Masters Event Manager Rachel Bailey Said: “We are very pleased to have such a strong entry for both of our new FIA series at their opening rounds. Entries are still coming in so hope hope to be even fuller by race day. It illustrates that drivers are still keen to race in FIA historic championships and we are very pleased by the level of enthusiasm and commitment we have received from competitors. We are sure they will be rewarded with an enjoyable season and exciting racing at some of the best historic events.”