Masters Historic Racing plans to expands its North America presence in 2019, with new events and a new race series set to be introduced. Masters will continue its Historic Formula One Series, Masters USA, which will be partnered by the new Masters Endurance Legends USA category, to mirror the equivalent in Europe.
The Endurance Legends will offer the same eligibility as its namesake series that has been a success in its inaugural season in Europe, but also allow for some additional categories specific to the North American market with Prototypes, GT, GTP and Group C cars up to 2015 included.
At each event in North America, Masters will provide the new Masters Endurance Legends USA series with four times 40-minute sessions for one- or two-driver teams, alongside the Masters Historic Formula One USA series.
The Masters 2019 North American season will begin at Sonoma Raceway on June 1-2 for a new event in the form of the Sonoma Speed Festival where the Historic Formula One cars will be joined by the Masters Endurance Legends USA field for the first sighting of the new series.
On July 12-14, Masters will head across the border to Canada for the HMSA Sommet des Legendes at the Circuit Mont Tremblant where the Masters USA and Endurance Legends cars will be the star attractions. One week later, July 18-21, The WeatherTech International Challenge with Brian Redman will feature at Road America where both series will be in action again.
In August, Masters will include back-to-back weekends at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on August 10-11 where both the F1 and Endurance Legends grids will be featured at the Monterey Pre-Reunion and then on August 15-18 at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
Masters has been invited to the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on November 1-3 with support races in Texas.
Following on from Texas, the Masters Endurance Legends USA have been invited by HSR to take on the Daytona International Speedway on November 13-17 as part of the HSR Classic 24 Hour and then on December 4-8 at the Sebring International Speedway for the Sebring Classic 12 Hours.
Masters Founder and President Ron Maydon said: “This is a very important season for Masters in North America. We already have a great following from drivers and fans and our Masters USA F1 dates are once again offering drivers some of the best circuits available.”
“Our introduction of Masters Endurance Legends USA will, I am sure, be a huge success. There are plenty of cars in North America and a huge interest in sports car racing and we have already seen a number of these cars coming to race in Europe or in non-championship one-off American events, so a series at great circuits can only promote the class in the USA. I am looking forward to seeing how the new series unfolds and can’t wait to see the action. I am already encouraged to see how many of our existing F1 drivers have invested in cars for Masters Endurance Legends already!”
[Source: Masters Historic Racing; photo: Dennis Gray]
That’s fantastic! Can’t wait to see them in Daytona
Darn, no mention of Watkins Glen. Oh well, maybe next year.
All these “wings’ and ‘do-dads’ and wide “slick’ tires on cars….what is left to the skill of the driver virtually nothing…what dull racing it is these days !
Un fortunately the technology is moving faster than the cars theses days, more over the popularity of historic racing grows, “When men were men & cars were challenging “