Masters HGP set for Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada thriller!

The all-new North American-based Masters HGP series is set for its opening races at the 2014 Formula 1 Grand Prix Du Canada in Montreal on the 6th to the 8th of June. The series supports the Grand Prix and provides a fitting reminder of Canada’s GP great Gilles Villeneuve – at the circuit named after him – as well as seeing historic Formule One cars from both sides of the Atlantic in action. Masters HGP boasts a tremendous entry headed by a brace of ex-Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari 312 T5s driven by Bud Moeller and Larry Kinch. The cars, synonymous with the legendary French-Canadian, are sure to be a huge hit with the fans whilst Anthony Nobles will also drive an ex-Villeneuve car, the RAM March 01 that was driven in 1983 by Gilles’ brother, Jacques, although the car failed to qualify for the Canadian race that year. In a grid full of variety, Joaquin Folch will drive his ex-Nelson Piquet Brabham BT49C which bagged a fifth place in the 1981 Canadian GP, while Canadian fans will enjoy seeing the car that finished second in the 1978 Canadian GP as Doug Mockett drives the ex-Jody Scheckter Wolf WR6 and Chris Locke pedals the ex-Mario Andretti Lotus 77 that took third in the ’76 GP. The 1980 Canadian GP-winning Williams FW07B of Alan Jones is to be raced by owner Charles Nearburg, whilst Andrew Haddon drives the ex-Carlos Reutemann Williams FW07B from 1981. Of the other constructors on the grid, March features strongly with cars for Steve Cook (ex-Hans Stuck 741), Greg Thornton (ex-Ronnie Peterson 761), Charles Monk (ex-Vittorio Brambilla 761) and Tommy Dreelan (ex-Arturio Merzario 761), plus there are the rare cars of the era such as Ron Maydon’s unique Amon AF101 and Brad Hoyt’s ex-Alan Jones Hill GH1. James Hagan’s ex-Michele Alboreto Tyrrell 011 will be a front-runner as should Nathan Kinch in the ex-John Watson McLaren MP4/B that finished third at Montreal in 1982, while multiple Spa 24 Hours winner Jean-Michel Martin drives the Fittipaldi F8 that Keke Rosberg guided to ninth in the 1980 Canadian GP. Rachel Bailey, Masters HGP’s Event Manager, said: “We are delighted with such a strong entry for our opening Masters HGP race and are pleased to see cars from North America and Europe going head to head. We have cars with great histories and our two races will provide a fantastic, moving history lesson for fans young and old.” The next events for Masters HGP season are on consecutive weekends in July at Mont Tremblant, July 11th-13th, and Road America, July 18th-20th.