Ecclestone planning new Historic Formula 1 series

Emerson Fittipaldi during the 1975 Brazilian GP

Bernie Ecclestone is planning to launch and manage a ‘Masters’ series for former Formula 1 cars and drivers.
With drivers like Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi and Riccardo Patrese at the wheel, ‘GP Masters’ was launched in 2005 but it folded after only 2 races.
Now, business journalist Christian Sylt reports that Formula 1 Chief Executive Ecclestone is planning his own series, to be called Historic Formula 1.
Forbes quoted Gerhard Berger as saying: “I am sure that it will be successful and that all former drivers would like to participate.”
Martin Brundle said he would like to take part, “especially if it was supporting the Formula 1 calendar”.
Sylt said that Ecclestone, who has been highly critical of the new turbo V6 era in Formula 1, plans to have the masters cars powered by deafening V10 engines.
“We have talked about it and it is something we ought to do,” Ecclestone told the Wall Street Journal.
“Many of these old drivers are still absolutely good enough.”
Ecclestone said that, unlike the defunct single-make GP Masters series, his idea would be to form a grid of real Formula 1 cars.
Brundle said: “To attract the household names of decades past I suspect the cars would need to be safer and less physical to drive.”
1996 world champion Damon Hill agreed: “I think most old drivers want to get home to bed early with a good book.” (GMM)