Watch GRAND PRIX MASTERS

Grand Prix Masters was a short-lived racing series that aimed to bring back some of the biggest names in motorsport to compete against one another in equal machinery. The series launched in 2005 and ran for just one season before being discontinued due to financial issues.

The premise of Grand Prix Masters was to pit retired Formula 1 drivers against each other in identical cars that were specially designed for the series. Some of the biggest names in motorsport signed up to compete, including Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Alain Prost, all of whom had won multiple world championships during their careers.

The cars used in the series were specially designed Reynard chassis that were powered by a 3.5-liter V8 engine producing around 650 horsepower. The cars were built to be as equal as possible, with a strict set of technical regulations governing everything from the suspension to the aerodynamics.

The races themselves were held on various circuits around the world, including Silverstone, Kyalami, and Qatar. Each race featured a short qualifying session, followed by two races of equal length. The starting grid for the first race was based on the results of the qualifying session, while the starting grid for the second race was determined by reversing the finishing order of the first.

Despite the quality of the drivers and the cars, the series struggled to gain traction with fans and sponsors. Races were poorly attended, and there was limited media coverage of the series. This lack of interest led to financial difficulties for the organizers, which eventually led to the series being discontinued after just one season.

Despite its short lifespan, Grand Prix Masters still holds a place in the hearts of many motorsport fans, who appreciate the opportunity it provided to see some of the greatest names in racing history back behind the wheel. Today, the cars and drivers of Grand Prix Masters remain an important part of motorsport history, remembered fondly by those who were lucky enough to witness their on-track battles first-hand.