Masters USA set to storm the Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca

Masters USA and its fabulous grid of 1970s and 1980s Formula One cars is set to rock Laguna Seca with it annual visit to the Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion.With cars in period liveries and a varied grid offering a snapshot of Formula One of the era, fans are set for a thrill-a-minute spectacle on this famous Californian circuit. The entry is a mix of American and European drivers, and last year’s winner Charles Nearburg in his ex-Alan Jones 1980 title-winning Williams FW07 is leading the American charge and will be hard to beat. Against him is the ex-Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari 312T4 in the hands of Danny Baker, the car having gained fame for its part of the epic 1979 French Grand Prix battle at Dijon against Rene Arnoux’s Renault.Not to be outdone, the Europeans will be headed by former FIA Masters Historic Formula One Champion Greg Thornton in his ex-Mario Andretti Lotus 77 against the Essex-livered Lotus 81 of Andrew Beaumont, as also raced by Mario Andretti. Meanwhile Northern Irishman James Hagan is at the wheel of his ex-Michele Alboreto Tyrrell 011, Tommy Dreelan handles the effective March 761 that charismatic Italian Arturo Merzario raced in 1976 and Masters supremo Ron Maydon is at the wheel of the first Arrows chassis, the A1 that Riccardo Patrese drove in 1978.The American and Europeans won’t have it all their own way as the Lotus 78 of Japanese ace Katsu Kubota, the car raced in period by Swede Gunnar Nilsson, is making its Masters USA racing debut. Australian racer Chris Farrell is also making the long trip to California in his March 821. The exciting grid will also include four-times World Motorcycle Champion Eddie Lawson will be a front-runner, too, in his Wolf WR4, the car raced initially by Jody Scheckter in 1977, while more variety comes from John Goodman’s ex-Patrick Depailler Tyrrell 008 and Charles Warner’s Samson Shag-liveried Shadow DN9 that Jan Lammers raced in period.Add in Doug Mockett’s ex-John Watson Penske PC1, that won the 1976 Austrian GP, and sponsorship guru Zak Brown in his ex-Alan Jones Williams FW07 and the scene is set for a fantastic event.“It is excellent to see so many historically-significant cars on the grid,” said Masters USA’s Jo Seymour. “With a European versus America battle and the prospect of some fantastic racing, we are sure that fans will love every minute of the Masters USA spectacle at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. It will be a weekend not to miss.”


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