Kalkhoven wants Masters in USA

"This is a format that I think has got some legs if it can get the right sort of exposure I'd like to take it across to the United States, to some of the areas where we have sort of two hundred, two hundred and fifty thousand people," said Kalkhoven.

"I mean they remember Emerson(Fittipaldi), they remember Nigel (Mansell)," he said of the former Champ Car champions, before admitting to talks with GPM CEO Scott Poulter to take the series across the Atlantic. "We were talking about how we could do it, we were just talking. I only met him for the first time last night, but the format's got potential, I like the format."

Kalkhoven's unexpected visit to Qatar's Losail International Raceway also fuelled speculation that he intends to supply engines to the nascent series. While these rumours were downplayed by the American, a future Cosworth engine supply deal was not entirely off the cards, he admitted. "No, that (an engine arrangement) wasn't what we were talking about, but, mind you, we have just started talking..."

However, Kalkhoven explained that his friendship with Fittipaldi was the main reason why he went to Qatar. "Emerson is a very good and long-standing friend of mine, so primarily I came here to see him."