American racer and land speed racing record setter Charlie Nearburg is set to make his Masters Historic Racing debut in the Grand Prix Masters class this season.
Texan Nearburg will race a March 761B run by WDK Motorsport in Grand Prix Masters and will make his European F1 debut at the Barcelona circuit at the Catalunya Classic Festival on April 8th-10th. Charlie has raced his 1980 Williams FW07B in the USA and raced at the Goodwood Revival in 2003, but this will mark his first experience of F1 machinery on European tracks.
Nearburg began racing in 1973 before retiring to establish his own oil and gas exploration business. He returned to racing professionally in 1989 and has since raced in Toyota Atlantic, Trans-Am, IndyCar, Sebring 12 Hours, Daytona 24 Hours, and the Le Mans 24 Hours. In recent years, Charlie has concentrated on historic racing and land speed racing, being a regular in the SCTA and FIA Bonneville Salt Flats event. In 2010, Charlie established a new FIA record of 414.5 MPH with the “Spirit of Rett,” named in honour of his son who died of cancer.
This new 414.5 MPH record broke the 45-year old Summers Brothers “Goldenrod” record, and made the “Spirit of Rett” the fastest Single Engine car in history, the fastest Unblown car in history, and the fastest Gasoline-powered car in history.
“We are really pleased to welcome Charlie to Masters Historic Racing,” said Masters Events Manager Rachel Bailey. “It is great to see American drivers coming to tackle European circuits and we are sure that he will be competitive during the season.”
When asked about racing in Europe, Charlie said: “I started following Grand Prix racing when I was five years old and have long dreamed of racing on those legendary tracks. Many of my good racing friends here in the States have been racing with you for years, and they have continued to encourage me to ‘get with the program.’ Land Speed Racing has been the focus of my racing for the last five years, and will continue to be my number one priority. However, due to salt and weather conditions, we usually only get to race there one or two times a year, and always in August, September, and October, so it does leave some time in the spring and summer to travel to Europe. I am excited about having a well-prepared car run by a great team. It should be great fun making new friends and really experiencing the history of Formula 1 first hand.”
The Grand Prix Masters races at the Barcelona circuit form a part of the inaugural Catalunya Classic Festival with races provided by Masters Historic Racing.
