Drivers and fans of historic Grand Prix cars are in for a treat in 2011 thanks to a new initiative from Masters Historic Racing.

A new race format for Grand Prix Masters car races will respond to the growing number of later post-1978 cars, by giving the pre-1978 ‘pre-ground effect’ cars a chance at outright podium wins with stand-alone races during some of the Masters Festivals in 2011 for the earlier cars. With a combined qualifying session for all historic Grand Prix cars at the start of a race weekend, followed by two separate races on a Saturday; one for 3-litre cars from 1968 to 1977 and the second race for post-1978 to 1985 cars. All the cars will race on the Sunday in a combined GPM race; both Pre and Post-1978 cars will receive podium honours, exactly the same as they would in their individual races on the Saturday. This will mean three race opportunities for fans and drivers of GPM cars over a Masters race weekend, and a chance for owners of Pre-1978 cars to showcase them during the weekend. 

Masters Event Manager Rachel Bailey explained: ”We are aware that the growing number of post-1978 cars wanting to race in GPM means that the original pre-1978 Grand Prix Masters entrants are now fighting for lower places rather than outright wins and we need to address that. By splitting the races on a Saturday, we hope to try and enthuse the earlier pre-1978 entrants to continue racing their cars. By including a combined race for all cars during a Masters weekend we are offering drivers a second race and fans a great chance to see a full grid of cars from the 1970s and early 1980s. Due to timetable pressures, we can only try our this new initiative at the Masters Festivals at Barcelona, Brands Hatch, Porto and Donington this year.”

The opening Grand Prix Masters races will be at the Catalan Classic Festival at Barcelona on April 8-10 although a number of cars will take to the track at the Masters Test Day at Donington Park on March 10th.