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Wez

Kyalami Gets Ready For The Sa Grand Prix Masters

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South Africa's foremost motor racing circuit - the Kyalami International

raceway in Gauteng - is gearing itself up for the Altech SA Grand Prix

Masters - the inaugural race in the international Grand Prix Masters Series,

which takes place at this world famous circuit over the weekend of 11 to 13

November.

And this will be a trip down memory lane for at least three of the former

Formula 1 world champions - who raced at one of the world's most challenging

circuits when Kyalami hosted Formula 1.

Superstars Rene Arnoux, Nigel Mansell, Riccardo Patrese all have fond and

not so fond memories of the circuit.

Rene Arnoux (France) says he can't wait, "as long as my first Grand Prix

Masters race turns out better than my first F1 race at Kyalami.

"I was driving for the Martini team in 1978 and we had so many problems in

practice that I didn't even make it to the start of the Grand Prix. It

wasn't all bad news in South Africa, though, because one of my first F1

victories also took place there when I moved to Renault, so it would be good

to have some of that good fortune this next time around."

According to Nigel Mansell: "The format of the race weekend at Kyalami is

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.

According to Mansell, Prost will start as the hot favourite. "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 November 13 in

Kyalami, South Africa."

Ricardo Patrese says that Kyalami will be a challenging place for the series

to start: "I raced there on many occasions in Formula One and it is really

demanding as a race track.

"The high altitude means we will be working hard in the car and the layout

of the circuit means that you get no chance to relax in the car - it will be

tiring. It is also quite an undulating circuit with some noticeable swoops

and rises.

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More on the Grand Prix Masters:

"The Grand Prix Masters series currently features just one event but claims to have a list of stars including Mansell, Prost, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ricardo Patrese, Alan Jones, Stefan Johansson, Andrea de Cesaris, Rene Arnoux, Jan Lammers and Christian Danner. A full series is planned for 2006. The drivers will be competing for a prize fund worth $500,000 in specially-built chassis designed and built by Delta Motorsport and powered by Nicholson McLaren Cosworth engines."

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After searching the net through & through, I found the officail web site:

www.gpmasters.com

Looks better than a A1 car if you ask me.

gpmcar-altechlivery2.jpg

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A nose "a la" CART....I would kill to go to a race...all my heroes are running! (I wish senna was here)

background_car3.jpg

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A nose "a la" CART....I would kill to go to a race...all my heroes are running! (I wish senna was here)

I read that the chassis are the same as CART cars (Cant remember who makes them, think it was Lola or Reynard), that would explain the similar resemblance.

I will take photos and post them here for you guys.

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After searching the net through & through, I found the officail web site:

www.gpmasters.com

Looks better than a A1 car if you ask me.

gpmcar-altechlivery2.jpg

yeah looks more like F1 than the A1 GP cars...

Like the CART style nose meself, but it makes the front of the car look fat to me, lol.

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Like the CART style nose meself, but it makes the front of the car look fat to me, lol.

I suppose this is nessesary since a lot of the drivers would have eaten a lot of pies since their F1 days... Mansell for one :D

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nice looking car, but A1 car looks better imo.

Yes but I dont care how the car looks...I would kill to see all my favorite drivers racing again!

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More news...

Nigel Mansell returned to the c##kpit of a single-seater today when he

tested the Grand Prix Masters car at Pembrey in Wales.

The Delta-Motorsports built chassis had previously only been shaken down by

sports car expert Bob Berridge, and Mansell is the first of the 'masters' to

get behind the wheel.

The 1992 World Champion began the day on a damp circuit, and the track only

dried sufficiently to have a brief run on slicks. Despite the conditions

Mansell lapped the track around the 52-second mark. The circuit lap's record

is held by an F3 car at 50.6 seconds.

"What they have achieved with a new car is fantastic," Mansell said.

"Straight out of the box the car has performed wonderfully, it is very

neutral and responsive to changes. This championship is all about

entertainment and I'm now more convinced than ever that the series will

achieve that and more."

Event organisers are hoping for 100,000 people to attend the inaugural event

at Kyalami next month, based on impressive pre-event ticket sales.

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