Monza Revival 2026: Masters Racing Legends for 66/85 F1 Cars

Werner d’Ansembourg emerged victorious from a spectacular four-way battle to claim the opening Masters Racing Legends race at the Monza Revival, beating pole-sitter Matthew Wrigley by just 0.656 seconds after 25 minutes of flat-out racing. Mike Cantillon completed an all-Front Row Racing podium in third, only 1.469 seconds behind the winner, while Jamie Constable made it four cars covered by less than 2.5 seconds at the chequered flag!

The race developed into one of the closest contests of the season, with the leading quartet remaining locked together throughout. Starting from pole after a superb qualifying lap, Wrigley led the field away in his Tyrrell 011 with d’Ansembourg immediately applying pressure in the Williams FW07C. Cantillon, Williams FW07, slotted into third ahead of Constable, Tyrell 011, as the four front-runners quickly established themselves at the head of the field, while Briggs, McLaren M29C, settled into fifth with Spiers, March 761 leading the Fittipaldi class battle.

Behind them, Leone, Arrows A6, headed the Lauda class runners while Facundo Chahwan, Penske PC3, Oliver Chapman, March 761, and Martin Bullock, Williams FW06, contested the midfield during the opening laps. Sadly Bullock’s race came to an early end after just two laps, becoming the first retirement of the afternoon.

At the front, Wrigley and d’Ansembourg traded fastest laps as neither driver could establish a meaningful advantage. The Williams repeatedly challenged the Tyrrell under braking into Monza’s heavy chicanes, while Cantillon remained within striking distance, ensuring any mistake from the leading pair would immediately become costly. Constable also refused to let the leaders escape, making it a tense four-car contest for victory throughout the race.

Further back, Briggs drove a measured race to remain close enough to capitalise should the leading quartet encounter trouble. Spiers meanwhile controlled the Fittipaldi class, gradually pulling away from Chapman while Leone comfortably held the advantage in the Lauda category.

The race was interrupted when the Safety Car was deployed when Yutaka Toriba, Williams FW07C, had contact with Steve Brooks, Lotus 91. During the neutralisation, Alejandro Chahwan was investigated after overtaking the Safety Car and was later ordered to start Race 2 from the back of the grid.

Racing resumed with only a handful of minutes remaining, setting up a sprint to the finish between the leading contenders. the leading four remained inseparable. Wrigley responded with the fastest lap of the race – a 1:42.965 – to keep d’Ansembourg behind, but the Belgian remained glued to the Tyrrell’s gearbox throughout the closing laps.

As the chequered flag approached, d’Ansembourg finally edged ahead to secure victory by just 0.656 seconds, with Cantillon crossing the line less than a second further back. Constable completed the remarkable four-car finish only 2.489 seconds adrift of the winner, while Briggs finished another fraction behind in fifth.

Spiers brought his March home sixth overall to take the Fittipaldi class win ahead of Chapman, while Leone completed the overall top seven and claimed maximum Lauda class honours. Mark Higson, McLaren MP4/1b, Marc Sydow, Shadow DN9B and Alejandro Chahwan, March 811 rounded out the overall top ten.

John of B took victory in the Stewart class with his stunning Matra MS120C whose rare V12 machine resonated with a glorious note around the ‘Temple of Speed’.

Werner d’Ansembourg hadthe perfect start to the Monza weekend after overcoming pole-sitter Wrigley in one of the closest finishes seen in Masters Racing Legends this season.

Mike Cantillon secured victory in a heavily interrupted second Masters Racing Legends race at the Monza Revival after a dramatic contest that was brought to a premature end by a red flag. The Irishman took the chequered flag in his Williams FW07 after six racing laps, finishing just 0.814 seconds ahead of Jamie Constable, with Werner d’Ansembourg completing the podium a further seven tenths behind.

Although only six laps were completed under green, the race produced plenty of action. John Spiers finished an excellent fourth overall to claim another Fittipaldi class victory in his March 761, narrowly ahead of Oliver Chapman in a similar machine, while Mark Higson recovered to sixth in his McLaren MP4/1b. John of B once again secured Stewart class honours with the unexampled Matra MS120 C, whereas the Lauda class went without a classified finisher after Valerio Leone retired early.

With the grid formed with the first 25% of the grid reversed, Warren Briggs started from pole position. The New Zealander made the perfect getaway in his McLaren M29C and led the opening lap ahead of Jamie Constable and Mike Cantillon, while Matthew Wrigley found himself shuffled down the order despite setting the pace throughout much of the weekend. Behind the leaders, d’Ansembourg held fifth, with Spiers leading the Fittipaldi class runners ahead of Leone and Chapman.

The opening lap was barely complete before drama struck. An incident at the Rettifilo chicane brought out double yellow flags and the Safety Car, neutralising the race almost immediatelyand tragically this was the end of the race for Briggs.

Then racing resumed and Cantillon wasted little time in taking control. The Irishman swept into the lead ahead of Constable and d’Ansembourg. An unfortunate contact between the two March 761s of Chapman and Spiers under braking for the chicane meant there was no option other than a red flag. The results were dialled back one lap so the classified result saw d’Ansembourg out of the frame in third with Cantillon victor and Constable second. Spiers take fourth overall, comfortably clear of the remaining Fittipaldi contenders, Facundo Chahwan, Penske PC3, second in class and fifth overall and Oliver Champman, third in class and sixth overall. Higson, Steve Brooks, Marc Sydow, John of B, Alejandro Chahwan and Paul Tattersall completed the finishers. Wrigley visited the pits on the third lap to check the front end of his car for potential damage, but all was well, so returned and began his recovery drive to the front only to be delayed during the second safety car period when he was with the mid-field pack. All chance of the a return to the podium was curtailed, yet despite all of the disruption, he demonstrated the pace of his Tyrrell by setting the fastest lap of the race with a 1:46.269!

It was a pity that the second race never got into its stride and was blighted by mishaps. Nevertheless, the unanimous feedback from the Masters Racing Legends grid was that they all highly approved of Masters return to the ‘Temple of Speed’ for the first time in seven years.