Nannini and Herbert join Masters
The series, which is likely to feature four races around the world this year, will welcome former Grand Prix winners Alessandro Nannini and Johnny Herbert as well as Roberto Moreno and Raul Boesel.
Italian Nannini was destined for further success, and rumored to be moving from Benetton to Ferrari, when he was involved in a helicopter accident that severed one of his hands. In an operation involving micro surgery the hand was re-attached but his top level racing days were finished. Since then he has raced touring cars but this will be his first return to single seater racing cars.
The cars will run this year with Mecachrome engines, as opposed to the original Cosworth units, thanks to a deal put together by driver Eddie Cheever, and with Michelin tires via an arrangement brokered by French veteran Rene Arnoux.
Races are scheduled on a street circuit in Bucharest, Kyalami in South Africa, the Losail circuit in Qatar, and at one other ‘surprise’ venue yet to be announced.
Series Director Bob Berridge said “"It's all a manifestation of a series that is now moving into an established position after all the normal start-up fire-fighting and cavalry charges, and we are now ready to really begin to exploit the potential of the Grand Prix Masters concept."