Masters Historic Racing at Formula 1® Gran Premio de la Cuidad de México 2024: Masters Racing Legends for 66/85 F1 Cars

Mike Cantillon led the field away from pole position, following a tight battle during Qualifying 2, and the pack was well-behaved as they hurtled along the lengthy main straight.

But Cantillon was unable to shake off the advances of Hart and the Arrows A3 driver latched onto the rear of the Williams FW07C as they negotiated the high-speed esses through the middle of the lap.

The lead duo ended the first lap split by just three-tenths of a second and Hart shadowed Cantillon along the main straight, before making his move with a bold overtake under braking for Turn 1.

Hart immediately bolted clear and instead Cantillon had to turn his attention to the chasing Constable.

Constable got a run through the esses and dived to the inside into Turn 12, with Cantillon respectfully giving room, while Steve Brooks also had a sniff before Cantillon steadied the ship.

In the space of a lap Hart opened an advantage of three-seconds on the duelling Constable and Cantillon, and once into second spot Constable gradually began chipping away at Hart’s lead.

But just as Constable got the lead down to two seconds disaster struck, as he spun under braking for Turn 1 on lap seven, leaving the Tyrrell 011B stricken on the track, and prompting the deployment of the Safety Car.

Constable was eventually able to get a push start but dropped a couple of laps, promoting Cantillon into second, and Brooks to third, while the Safety Car eradicated Hart’s buffer up front.

Hart initially streaked clear at the restart but Cantillon reeled in his rival, whittling the gap down to six-tenths of a second, setting up the prospect of a grandstand finish.

But that notion was squandered at the start of the final lap as Cantillon spun through Turn 1, costing him valuable time, and allowing Brooks through into second spot.

Hart was consequently clear to breeze to Race 1 victory, while Brooks was a beneficiary of misfortune elsewhere to finish runner-up, with Cantillon in third.

“It was a good race – I got pushed by Jamie on the straight so I thought ‘OK now I need to brake really late to defend from Jamie and overtake Mike,” said Hart. “It was a good race and everyone pushed hard and I’m happy to be first.”

Said Brooks: “To be here in Mexico, it’s exciting, it’s such a privilege to be here, and the race was very exciting.”

Cantillon conceded that he “couldn’t stay with the two guys up front” and explained his spun as “going for second gear too early” but was delighted with the “amazing experience.”

Octavio Rincon rose from seventh to fourth in his March 821, while Jeremy Loisel also gained three spots to finish in fifth place in his Maki F101C.

Paul Haggar started outside of the top 10 but climbed to sixth place, ahead of James Hagan, while Constable wound up eighth after his costly mid-race spin.

The top 10 was completed by Travis Engen – the sole entrant in Formula Atlantics – and Bruce Marquand.

Hart led away from pole position and opened a 1.9-second advantage through the course of the opening lap, while Steve Brooks resisted Cantillon’s advances in the battle for second.

Cantillon lunged on his rival into Turn 1 at the start of lap two but ran deep, forcing him to cede position, though Brooks’ defence was almost at an end.

Cantillon breezed past Brooks along the straight at the start of lap three to set off in pursuit of leader Hart, whittling away an advantage that had stretched to two seconds.

Cantillon set a sequence of fast laps in his Williams FW07C and caught Hart mid-way through the race, feigning a move towards Turn 1 that was repelled by a defensive Hart.

The pair lapped line astern and again Cantillon had a look on the approach to Turn 1, but once more Hart defended the position, while another attack into Turn 4 was swiftly cut off.

Cantillon attacked once more on the following lap and ducked to the outside line around Turn 4, squeezing Hart almost onto the grass, completing a fine move, though Hart remained glued to the back of the new leader.

A mistake exiting the final corner proved costly for Cantillon, and Hart used the slipstream to re-take the lead into Turn 1, with both surviving running slightly too deep into the complex.

From there Hart pulled a two-second gap to complete a weekend sweep, with Cantillon finishing runner-up.

Said Cantillon: “Wow, what an incredible race – and on behalf of the drivers I’d like to dedicate the race to Ron Maydon, for giving us the most incredible series, forever grateful, we want to see him back next year racing! It was an entertaining race, I’m so happy to be here.”

Jamie Constable started in eighth place after his costly spin in Race 1 but quickly carved his way through the pack to move into third spot.

“After the disappointment yesterday it was great to have a good race, I caught the boys up front but after four or five laps hanging on I lost my tyres a bit – but it’s fun to be here, wonderful atmosphere,” said Constable.

Constable briefly chased Cantillon but was unable to live with the pace of the leading pair and settled for a strong podium position.

Greg Caton held fourth through the opening half of the race but his smoky March 741 finally gave up the ghost, forcing him into retirement, and elevating James Hagan into fourth spot.

Octavio Rincon was fifth while Brooks regressed to sixth by the flag, with Jeremy Loisel taking seventh place.

Doug Mockett was eighth while Patrick Haggar took ninth place despite a spin exiting the final corner while in pursuit of Mockett. Frederic Fatien rounded out the top 10.