The 2024 Season marked a pivotal transition for Masters as outgoing boss Ron Maydon handed over the reins to new owner Fred Fatien, preparing for a fresh new era for Masters. The season was filled with thrilling moments, showcasing spectacular historic racing across eight vibrant venues—from the iconic Paul Ricard in April to the breathtaking Mugello in October. Each event brought unforgettable experiences, fostering connections among all the participants and stakeholders involved. Today, having returned from our last weekends of racing at the Formula 1 Support Races in Austin and Mexico City, we come together to celebrate and honour our richly deserved champions and winners of the 2024 Season.
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Masters Racing Legends for 1966/85 F1 cars
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The Patrick Head Class
From a thrilling 40-car grid at the season opener in Paul Ricard, our headlining Masters Racing Legends series for 1966-’85 Formula One cars finished in grand style at Mugello, featuring an exhilarating showdown between the reigning champion and the new champion battling fiercely for victory. Competing a part season only, Ken Tyrrell faced challenges in defending his title, but his successor in the Head class for 1978-1982 ground effect cars proved to be a formidable contender. Matthew Wrigley racked up no less than eight wins on his way to clinching a maiden title, again showcasing a Tyrrell 011 as the car to beat. Meanwhile, Simon Fish’s consistent point-scoring, highlighted by a class win at Donington, propelled him to a brilliant second place, capping off a strong season for the experienced racer.
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The Niki Lauda Class
In the post-82 Lauda class, Jamie Constable picked up the title despite alternating between his ground-effect Tyrrell 011 and a flat-bottomed model throughout the season. Two early-season class wins at Paul Ricard and Zandvoort were enough to seal the honours ahead of Georg Hallau, who took a class win at Zandvoort, and Valerio Leone, the Monegasque driver who came on strong towards the end of the season with a string of class wins at Spa and Mugello.
The Emerson Fittipaldi Class & The Jackie Stewart Class
The pre-78 Fittipaldi class – closely contested as ever – saw Peter Williams lift his first title. The Briton in the Lec CRP1 secured two class wins and impressively scored points in every one of the eight rounds. Four-time Masters champion Nick Padmore, with six class wins, dominated wherever he raced, while Ewen Sergison proved to be Williams’ fiercest rival on the road. Whether he was driving the Shadow DN9A or the pre-72 Stewart class-winning Surtees TS9A, Sergison and Williams engaged in a thrilling, friendly rivalry, often battling for the same piece of tarmac—only to share a couple of beers in the paddock afterward.
Masters Endurance Legends
Prototype Classes
At just 16 years old, Alfie Briggs made history as the youngest-ever champion in historic motorsport, clinching the Masters Endurance Legends prototype title at Mugello. With two commanding LMP2 class wins, Briggs overtook his former teammate Jack Fabby to take the crown. Initially sharing the Duqueine D08 LMP3 car with Fabby, who is in his twenties, Briggs’ path diverted from Fabby’s when he switched to race an LMP2 Honda before teaming up Yutaka Toriba in the LMP2 BR 01. Fabby started the season strong, securing back-to-back class victories at Donington, but Briggs steadily closed the gap, ultimately seizing the title at the season finale in Mugello. Meanwhile, Keith Frieser collected a long string of podium results and a standout overall win at Brno to leap above 2023 champion Ron Maydon for third in the rankings.
GT Classes
In the GT category, Cor Euser and his vibrant, roaring Marcos claimed the title, securing it through sheer merit with more race wins. Despite finishing with the same number of points as Finnish driver Kari Makela, Euser’s victories proved decisive in crowning him champion. The battle for third was just as close, with teammates Oliver Webb and Victor Jabouille ending the season in a tight heat, perfectly level on points.
Masters Sports Car Legends
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John Spiers and Nigel Greensall went one step further this year, transforming their runner-up finish last season into an unchallenged championship victory in the Masters Sports Car Legends. Dominating the field in their McLaren M1B, the duo claimed an all-conquering run to secure the title. Keith Ahlers and Billy Bellinger – who also competed in the pre-66 Hulme class pushed hard to keep up with the champions and ended up second overall in the standings. Double Brands Hatch winner Paul Cope lifted third along with father and son David & Olivier Hart who took a pair of overall wins at Silverstone and Spa. The unstoppable septuagenarian John Sheldon also tied for points with Cope and the Harts, making it four drivers finishing joint third.
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Craig Wilkins successfully defended his crown of the previous year’s inaugural Masters GT Trophy series, clinching five wins at Brands Hatch, Donington, and Zandvoort. Run close by teammates Neil Glover & Aaron Scott – equally Lamborghini-equipped – and Mosler duo George Haynes & Adam Sharpe, Wilkins headed an overall top-three order that closely mirrored the 2023 standings. Wilkins also took Corse class spoils while Haynes & Sharpe led the GT3 points table. Peter Reynolds & Daniel Quintero lifted GT4 class honours in their ‘Pink Panther’ Ginetta G55, while David Harrison won the Cup class in his Porsche 991.2 Cup.
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Masters Gentlemen Drivers
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In a triumphant return to solo driving, Julian Thomas reclaimed the Masters Gentlemen Drivers that he had previously won with Calum Lockie. Channelling his “inner Calum” on his way to a brilliant first win at Zandvoort, Thomas followed that up with a close second behind David & Olivier Hart in what was undoubtedly the best race of the season before notching up another win at Spa. Behind Thomas, five drivers share the runner-up spot as the mercurial Dan Eagling and the Harts were joined by Keith Ahlers & Billy Bellinger after the final round at Mugello. Meanwhile, with a single additional point gained at Spa, John Davison kept ahead of a pack of six drivers to claim third in the championship.
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Masters Pre-66 Touring Cars
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Sam Tordoff secured an incredible hat-trick of championships in the Masters Pre-66 Touring Cars, making it three consecutive titles. Behind the wheel of his Ford Falcon, Tordoff proved unbeatable, dominating all four rounds in which he competed. In the 2-litre class, Harry Barton put up a valiant fight, claiming five wins and keeping the pressure on Tordoff throughout the season. Meanwhile, Michael Whitaker Jnr delivered an impressive performance, earning a well-deserved third place in his Ford Mustang.
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