Masters Historic Racing has provisionally revealed a superb grid of 1966 to 1985 Grand Prix cars for the Masters Historic Festival at Brands Hatch later this month (27/28 May). 17 cars are initially slated to enter a pair of Masters Racing Legends contests on the circuit’s famed full GP circuit.
The Masters Racing Legends will transport spectators back to a period in which Brands Hatch regularly hosted British and European Grands Prix. Iconic cars, resplendent in striking original liveries, will take to a circuit that has been altered little since that era bringing the classic sights and sounds of Formula 1 to Kent.
Star cars on this year’s grid will include a pair of McLaren MP4/1Bs, as raced in the 1982 by Niki Lauda and John Watson. These cars will transport fans back to the early days of the sport’s carbon fibre revolution, with Steve Hartley and Mark Higson at the wheel. In Lauda’s hands, the MP4/1B won that year’s British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, the second of his three victories at the venue.
Both MP1/Bs will be presented in the marque’s classic red and white paint scheme, and they’ll be joined by the similarly liveried McLaren M29 of Warren Briggs. The M29 hails from a slightly earlier, when it was introduced midway through the 1979 season for John Watson and Patrick Tambay.
Another iconic British F1 manufacturer expected to be represented strongly is Tyrrell, with no fewer than four examples on the current entry list. Ian Simmonds will pilot a Tyrrell 012 in Benetton colours, whilst James Hagan will pilot an 011 displayed in Michele Alboreto’s 1982 livery. The Tyrrell contingent is completed by the 011B of Jamie Constable and the 011 of American Ken Tyrrell, no relation to his namesake, the eponymous team owner.
Other famous cars on the list include the Lotus 77 of quick historic racer Nick Padmore, the Williams FW07B of Mark Hazell and Maximilian Werner’s Hesketh 308, as driven in the final two Grands Prix of 1975 by James Hunt. Two cars from the iconic ‘70s team Shadow are planned to appear as well, with Mark Harrison’s DN9 joined by Ewen Sergison’s DN9A.
The full grid should also include a trio of Arrows cars, with Simon Fish’s A4 accompanied by the A5 of Neil Glover and the A6 of Arthur Bruckner. The current line-up is completed by the ex-David Purley LEC CRP1 od Peter Williams and a March 761 in the hands of Paul Grant. Click here to view the entry list.
The Masters Racing Legends grid will top a busy two-day programme on Spring Bank Holiday Weekend, with a two races on the Sunday following a Saturday qualifying session. Other highlights will include the Masters Endurance Legends for ‘90s and ‘00s Le Mans machinery and the Masters Sports Car Legends for long distance race cars from an earlier period. Click here to view the full timetable.
Discounted advance tickets are available for £23 on Saturday and £28 on Sunday, with reductions for 13-15-year-olds and free entry for under-13s. For more information, click here.