How to create a new F1 legends series

Would you like to see a one-make Formula 1 support race series that could be described as a hybrid of Grand Prix Masters and BMW M1 Procar?

Or to put it another way, imagine that the current Porsche Supercup was open only to former F1 stars, and consider how entertaining it might be to see them racing around Monaco or Silverstone as a curtain raiser to the main event.

As we say goodbye to 2018 and head into a new season I thought it would be fun to speculate on how such a series - let's call it 'Formula 1 Legends' by way of shorthand - might work. If the money could be found to make it happen...

The BMW Procar championship of 1979-'80 (pictured below) is often cited as the best grand prix support event. What made it special was that contemporary F1 drivers competed, although even back then the Ferrari and Renault guys were not allowed to take part due to commercial clashes. Repeating that format in the modern era, with so many more demands on the time of drivers, would be impossible.

So why not focus on the stars of the past - guys who raced in the '70s, '80s, '90s and even '00s, who were the first heroes of generations of F1 fans, and whose names still resonate? Put 18 or 20 of them in identical cars, all prepared by the same organisation, and light the blue touch paper.

The concept of past stars competing against each other works well in sports such as tennis and golf, and it's been tried before in racing.

There have been some memorable one-offs, such a Ford Escort event put together by Theodore boss Teddy Yip in Macau in 1978, or the Mercedes 190 race at the opening of the new Nurburgring in '84, both of which featured incredible line-ups. In '93 Tom Walkinshaw ran Fast Masters, an ill-fated series for over-50 US stars, using the Jaguar XJ220.

Some fantastic names were attracted to the Grand Prix Masters series in 2005-06, including the likes of Nigel Mansell and Emerson Fittipaldi. Alas only three races were held at Kyalami, Losail and Silverstone before a financial implosion. The cars, based on an old Reynard Champ Car design, were too expensive to run, and the standalone events didn't work.

There are plenty of ex-F1 drivers around whose names still have value, and who are present at grand prix weekends as TV commentators or in other roles

In 2008-09 the Asia-based Speedcar series supported some grands prix, with a decent field of ex-F1 drivers in cheap-to-run stock cars. The organisation was independent, and it too failed.

If the car used for a new 'Legends' championship was a quick but not exorbitantly priced GT machine, and the series was commercially tied to grand prix weekends as an official part of the package in the same way that Formula 2 and the new Formula 3 currently are, it could be a different story.

It would tick several boxes. Firstly, Liberty Media is looking for ways to bolster the show on F1 race weekends. Indeed, it has made a specific commitment to help justify the high sanction fees that promoters pay. Consider that in 2018 we had a BOSS single-seater race - a series not worthy of grand prix support status - on the German GP bill and at the United States GP there was an F3 event with just six starters.

Secondly, it could give Liberty something extra to sell to current and potential F1 sponsors, on top of the basic current package of circuit signage and hospitality and so on.

And thirdly, there are plenty of ex-F1 drivers around whose names still have value, and who are present at grand prix weekends as TV commentators or in other roles, and yet aren't as well utilised for the fans on site as they could be. Many of those drivers still have a desire to race, but there isn't much out there that appeals.

So how would a legends series work, and why would it make sense?

Who would be eligible to race?

The basic entry requirement would be that a driver has started a grand prix. Ex-F1 drivers, especially those who have not raced regularly in other series, would want to compete against their peers, and not take on a mixed field that includes specialists who drive GT or touring cars all the time.

For the same reason there would probably have to be a minimum age requirement of 40, which was the cut-off for Grand Prix Masters. Retired F1 drivers would not be too keen to take on a 20-something who is still trying to prove himself, as Ayrton Senna did when he outran the past heroes at the Nurburgring Mercedes 190 race.

The series could focus on the TV commentators and pundits who are present at races anyway - that list alone includes the likes of Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Johnny Herbert, Martin Brundle, Alex Wurz, Marc Gene, Christian Danner, Ivan Capelli, Rubens Barrichello, Luciano Burti, Mika Salo, Marc Surer, Jacques Villeneuve and Pedro de la Rosa.

The presence of their commentators would also make it a no-brainer for the broadcasters to come on board, guaranteeing airtime for the series.

As a bonus drivers could gain knowledge that they can use in their day jobs from having sampled the tracks, so that's an extra motivation - RTL man Danner contested a GT race at the first Singapore GP for exactly that reason.

Also readily available are the FIA driver stewards, such as Nigel Mansell, Emanuele Pirro, Danny Sullivan, Derek Warwick, Eliseo Salazar and Derek Daly. Other ex-drivers regularly seen at races include fathers of current racers, such as Jos Verstappen or Jean Alesi, or those connected to teams, such as Alain Prost.

There could be an element of raising funds for charity that would help justify participation for some of the more reluctant drivers

That's just the guys who are regulars in the F1 paddock - there's an endless supply of other eligible candidates who could take part.

There could also be one or two wildcard entries for non-F1 drivers, possibly with a local connection that could help the race promoter. Think of the likes of Carlos Sainz Sr, Mick Doohan, Valentino Rossi and Tom Kristensen, or even a high-profile gentleman racer such as actor Patrick Dempsey.

Why would drivers do it?

It would be naive to believe that retired F1 drivers will race purely for fun, even given the fact that many of them will be on site anyway, with their travel expenses already paid.

This is the real world, and they still have to earn a living - and if they are promoting F1, the car manufacturer, and the sponsors, it's only right that their input is respected with suitable remuneration.

How payments would work is open to debate, but whatever the start money or prize fund system is, ideally it should be the same for anyone, as nobody wants to find out that another driver negotiated a better deal. The only exception could be some form of bonus to help motivate past world champions to take part.

There could also be an element of raising funds for charity that would help to justify participation for some of the more reluctant drivers. The beneficiaries could be nominated by the drivers themselves, by local promoters, or by Liberty.

Is it a full championship?

Should it be an actual championship with a points system, raising the stakes, or is it a series of races? The likelihood is that not every driver will be available to do every race, and the series won't have an identical entry list each time.

If it is run as a full championship, then counting each driver's best results could make it a little fairer for those who can't do every round. A success ballast element could stop someone dominating.

If it can be made to work then two races per weekend, on Saturday and Sunday as per F2 and F3, would maximise entertainment value.

Grids could be drawn by lots, with the guy starting 20th in race one on pole for race two. If traditional qualifying is used then an F2-style reversed grid could be used for the second race.

Given that GT cars won't be cheap there could be some kind of deterrent to prevent too much bumper car action. In the BMW Procar days Bernie Ecclestone told drivers that they would have to pay for damage, but that might be pushing it a bit! Alternatives for bad behaviour could be strict stop/go penalties, ballast for the next race, or even a 'sin bin' and bans.

What would the schedule be?

For the first year a simple European schedule could be an economical starting point, which makes sense in terms of the transport of the cars and infrastructure. Using the 2019 calendar that would be nine events in Spain, Monaco, Austria, France, Britain, Germany, Hungary, Belgium and Italy.

The top management of a manufacturer that has a suitable GT4 car said they would love to get involved - but they couldn't underwrite the whole thing

The problem is that European weekends are already pretty full with F2, F3 and Porsches, and it's the flyaways that often need some extra action. Adding those races obviously takes transport costs to a different level.

That could be addressed by maximising the number of trips that can be made by sea freight. Shipping all the cars to the first race and back from the last would help. Inevitably in between some air freighting would be involved, but if this is an F1/Liberty owned series, then it can be done at a reasonable cost.

Who will pay for it?

Somebody has to fund all this, and it can't fall totally on the shoulders of the manufacturer that supplies the cars. There are costs associated with transport, preparation, personnel at the races, the paddock infrastructure, driver fees, and so on.

For 25 years Porsche has paid a significant fee to have a presence on a majority of grand prix weekends, either with the main Supercup, or at some venues with a regional series.

A legends series could be created overnight if Porsche would agree to supply 20 identical 'works' cars and use its current calendar slots to run them for ex-F1 drivers. But that is not how the company's Supercup business model works - it sells cars and parts to private teams who enter their own drivers, most of whom pay for the privilege.

So another manufacturer would have to be found who would be willing and able to provide a suitable car. Those directly involved in F1 should obviously be given priority for the tender, namely Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Honda, Renault and, via Red Bull, Aston Martin. If none of them fits the bill, it could be opened to outsiders. Pirelli tyres are an obvious requirement, politically and commercially.

As noted earlier, the series would also be an opportunity for F1/Liberty to give extra value to sponsors, in other words the likes of Rolex, DHL, Heineken, Emirates and Johnnie Walker. Race title sponsors such as Gulf Air and Etihad could have branding on the cars for their races.

Third party sponsors could also get involved, possibly on a car-by-car basis - there could be a pink BWT car, for example. Broadcasters could bring in individual backers for their commentators, and drivers could even sell space on their cars or overalls.

If set up with passenger seats the racecars could also be used for Pirelli Hot Lap rides for VIPs and competition winners, something that McLaren, Mercedes and Aston Martin were heavily involved with this year.

Could it ever happen?

Although this is just a fun idea - something to prompt a winter debate in the pub - much of the above has been shaped by conversations I've had with potential drivers and other insiders.

The top management of a manufacturer that has a suitable GT4 car said they would love to get involved - but they couldn't underwrite the whole thing.

Inevitably there are some ex-F1 drivers who say they definitively retired, or who are understandably wary about not being on the pace in a car they are not familiar with.

But of the guys I spoke to the majority said they would be up for it, if it all made sense and worked financially. Even Alain Prost said he'd take part if Renault allowed him to - perhaps he could ask his bosses to provide a fleet of RS01s!

Another world champion told me that the opportunity to raise funds for charity would tip the balance in favour of competing.

And what of the man who could make it happen? When I sounded out Ross Brawn he said he liked the idea, but reminded me that Porsche pays a substantial fee to be on the F1 undercard. He asked the inevitable question - who's going to pay for it?

Perhaps somebody out there can help...