Monday 3rd October 2005

Mansell downplays his chances

Mansell rates Prost as favourite to win the GP Masters series

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'I'm not the favourite'

Nigel Mansell has spoken out in advance of the GP Masters race series due to start next month (see story link below):

What attracted you to the Grand Prix Masters series?

A series like the Grand Prix Masters has been talked about for several years but until now no-one had turned that talking into action. I’m glad they have, because having spoken at length with the organisers I can tell you that the concept is absolutely fantastic.

I visited the factory last week to look at the GP Masters car and everything about it is first class. The chassis and engine are really going to shock people when they see and hear them for the first time. It’s far better than any Formula One car from the 1980s, for sure, and is exactly the sort of car we drivers dream of!

First and foremost it puts the skill factor back into the hands of the driver, not just the car designers and engineers. Just looking at them you can see they have been professionally designed and built and will provide every driver with a level playing field – something that will be a breath of fresh air for motor racing fans the world over.

How will that level playing field manifest itself to fans watching?

Well, the cars are firstly not overly complicated. They have no traction control, for example, which means you can spin if you try too hard and damage your tyres if you are not careful with your driving style. Everything about them is equal, so ride-height and suspension settings and tyre choice will be dictated by the organisers to ensure that no-one can gain an advantage on anyone else. I think this, more than anything, is what has captured the imagination of all the drivers who are keen to participate.

The format of the race weekend is also very well thought out. We have enough practice time to get the cars well set-up and have a proper qualifying session where we can do as many laps as we like, which is great for the drivers and spectators. It won’t be like the current Formula One one-lap qualifying format, which is rubbish if you ask me.

So how do you think you will perform at the inaugural Altech Grand Prix Masters South Africa race on 11-13 November?

The first race is really just something that we will all need to get through. Until people see the cars in action I don’t think they will understand how quick they will be, which means they are going to be tiring to drive. So fitness will be a major factor in the first race and I think that will play into the hands of drivers who have been racing recently, rather than people like me who haven’t raced properly for a decade. I don’t think it would be wrong to say I am not one of the favourites to start with.

How important do you think it is to provide entertainment to race fans?

It is the be all and end all. Every GP Masters race will stand out because we will be available for fans, media and sponsors. Accessibility to famous racing drivers has vanished in modern motorsport and Grand Prix Masters will be something tangible, a series that opens up the drivers and cars to everybody. Compared to modern Formula One it will be so different.

Everything has been sterilised in Formula One now, the whole thing is controlled too much. Grand Prix Masters drivers have reached the top of the ladder and have nothing left to prove. We can compete without fear of offending anyone.

What will it be like to be racing against one of your biggest rivals Alain Prost again?

Prost will start as the hot favourite, have no doubt. He has been racing a lot recently and I haven’t been in a car for a long time. But I like being the underdog. I always was in my Formula One career and I will be again at the start of the Grand Prix Masters on 13 November in Kyalami, South Africa.

• Prost and Mansell race again

[scanasport]

I would have to rate as one of the favourites to win this! Hopefully he has kept fit on the golf course and will be able to charge through the field.

[rustybin]

Anyone know any more about the cars they will be driving?

[H8TPF]

This is brilliant!! Nige back behind the wheel!! He was a legend in the 90s and although he is knocking on a bit now he should make us all proud to be ENGLISH!!

[PhantomPH]

Do we know if this is going to be shown on TV yet?

Obviously ITV have F1, Sjy have A1 - wonder if Sky have claimed the Masters Series as well.

I don't care, as long as we can watch the race!

p~

[JulesV]

I think they are based on an old Reynard Indycar with no driver aids, about 600hp and big slicks. Sounds fun doesn't it?

[tork@tiv]

There's more information on the series here www.sagrandprix.co.za/site/index.php

It would be great if this series were available via terrestrial or freeview. I'm too tight to pay for loads of Sky / cable channels to get the 3 or 4 I might actually want to watch.

[rustybin]

Looks like fun, though 50 or 60 laps (depending on which page you read) is going to be hard going in that heat for some of the older boys.

I bet they are all delighted that DeCrasheris has signed up.

My money is on Prost.





Or Johansen

[the dodger]

Mansell will finish near the top. And he will appear totally exhausted, whingeing and whining as usual. Great! I miss him and his sort in F1.

C'mon Nige!

[tork@tiv]

This link points to what will be the Kyalami circuit site www.kyalami.co.za/ Pity it's not there yet!

[simonpac]

OMG i'm in South Africa that weekend! Does anyone know where the circuit is and the best way of getting there from Cape Town?

[sprinter885]

Ahh-takes you back to the last time when racers were men, had B***S,no traction control/launch devices/huge BHP & weren't afraid of swapping paintwork (or fists?)
I think I'll suggest Lord March invites a couple of the cars to Festival of Speed-I'd book my ticket toute de suite. (i.e.immediately)

[alanc5]

Cant' wait for this!

Bah, if only Senna was around /

Still, Nige is here and he's going to stick it to that frog. Go Nige!

[5150]

You're a loooong way from Kyalami down in Cape Town.

You'll need to get an internal flight up to Johannesburg initially, otherwise it's about a days drive......stopping only for gas!!

[LongQ]

[redacted]

[anonymous-user]

cars are built by a company called delta motrsport and powered by 3.5l V8 based on the Cosworth XB built by Nicholson McLaren who will be well known to hillclimb enthusiasts, lots more details at www.gpmasters.com

I'll be Cheering for Emmo!

[jacobyte]

Finally - back to proper Grand Prix racing again!

If this is as successful as I hope, it could decide the fate of the current format of F1, as Sunday afternoons with The Cock become a thing of the past with everyone watching this instead.

[jacobyte]

gpmasters.com said:

cars will boast a six-speed paddle shift gearbox

That's a shame. What's so hard about changing gear on your own? Messing up gearchanges provides more opportunity for decent racing. Ordinary gearsticks are cheaper to develop, too.

[scanasport]

Nigel has had a seat fitting and still looks a bit large. However I think this has more to do with the cars getting smaller. I still think Nigel will be the man to beat as all the cars are equal and the six speed paddle shift will be OK.

[jacobyte]

scanasport said:

Nigel has had a seat fitting and still looks a bit large. However I think this has more to do with the cars getting smaller.

I believe that's the excuse he used at McLaren

[LongQ]

LongQ said:

Hmm. Cars by Zytek. Does that mean they will be using the same engines as the A1GP boys I wonder?

Hmm. Don't know where I got that from but it must have been a link from somewhere in the story.