More drivers enter Qatar race

The trio will join the majority of the ex-Grand Prix drivers who took part in the maiden race at Kyalami last November, including winner Nigel Mansell, runner-up Emerson Fittipaldi and second runner-up Ricardo Patrese.

Martini, van de Poele and Caffi all tested the 600bhp Delta Motorsports GP Masters car at Silverstone last week, in preparation for the next event at Losail International Circuit on April 29.

Former Minardi driver Martini, whose best Formula One results were a brace of fourth-place finishes in the 1991 San Marino and Portuguese Grands Prix, praised the car following the test.

"The Grand Prix Masters car is better than the last Formula One car I drove back in the mid 1990s," he said. "Last week at Silverstone was my first outing in what many other drivers have described to me as a sensational racing car, and they're not wrong."

At 42, Caffi is below the age limit for the series, so he will drive the safety car and act as the series' official test driver until he is eligible.

"I actually tested for Grand Prix Masters last October at the first Silverstone test but I am too young," Caffi said. "Too old, yes, but I never believed I'd see a day when I was considered 'too young' to race!

"I believe immensely in this series and the golden history of Grand Prix racing that it represents and did so well to re-create in Kyalami last year.

"I have now accumulated considerable test mileage in these cars and I cannot tell you how much fun they are to drive.

"I have to now do is age by one more year before being in a position to race the machinery that I am so proud to test and develop for this outstanding new series."

2006 Grand Prix Masters of Qatar Driver Entry List:

 1. Rene Arnoux         (France)
 2. Eddie Cheever       (USA)
 3. Christian Danner    (Germany)
 4. Andrea de Cesaris   (Italy)
 5. Emerson Fittipaldi  (Brazil)
 6. Stefan Johansson    (Sweden)
 7. Jan Lammers         (Netherlands)
 8. Nigel Mansell       (Britain)
 9. Pierluigi Martini   (Italy)
10. Eliseo Salazar      (Chile)
11. Hans Stuck          (Germany)
12. Riccardo Patrese    (Italy)
13. Patrick Tambay      (France)
14. Eric van de Poele   (Belgium)
15. Derek Warwick       (Britain)

    Alex Caffi          (Italy) Test and Safety Car driver