Mansell meets old foes in Grand Prix Masters

FORMER world champion Nigel Mansell is ready to “make history” at the inaugural Grand Prix Masters event next month when he joins up with old racing foes and broadcasting legend Murray Walker.

The Grand Prix Masters concept pitches ex-Formula One drivers aged 45 or over against each other in high-powered single-seater cars, with the first race at Kyalami in South Africa on November 13.

Mansell will be on the grid alongside former champions such as Emerson Fittipaldi, Alain Prost and Alan Jones, with Walker confirming he will come out of retirement to commentate.

Mansell, aged 52, believes the concept will be a roaring success, but doubts his own ability to challenge at the front. He told PA Sport: "It's brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Grand Prix Masters have done such a fantastic job with the cars, they are very impressive.

"The cars are proper, pukka race cars.

"In testing, everyone has been going very quickly and a lot of drivers are just one or two 10ths of a second apart which is fantastic. It's fantastic for motorsport and it's fantastic for racing fans.

"There are some fit drivers here I need to lose weight and get fitter. The main reason I am here is I want to endorse it, I want to support the great job the organisers have done.

"It would be nice to win a race if possible but that is not my motivation, I just want to have fun."

Mansell tested at Silverstone on Thursday where Walker was revealed as the voice of Grand Prix Masters, which will be televised by the BBC.