Mansell raring to get back to racing

Mansell, who also won last year's first GPM race in Kyalami, is raring to get back to racing. "To add more chapters to the history we made at our sell-out event in South Africa is sensational news and I for one cannot wait to get back into action," said Mansell.

"For me personally, the special one will of course be Silverstone," added the Briton, who won his three races at the Northamptonshire circuit between 1987 and 1992 at the wheel of a Williams.

"Racing a thoroughbred Grand Prix car in-front of a home crowd at Silverstone will be a surreal and mighty experience. My last Grand Prix race there was back in 1992 and was one of many victories that season that culminated in both the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championship."

Mansell, who raced for Ferrari in 1989 and 1990, is also looking forward to the event in Monza, the traditional home Grand Prix for the Maranello team. "Racing in front of the Italian 'tifosi' will also be very special for me and if we can deliver anything like the spectacle we succeeded in doing in South Africa, the fans will absolutely love it."

Grand Prix Masters CEO Scott Poulter commented: "Following the success of our inaugural event in South Africa last November, the public demand for 'more' has been simply fantastic. This is testament to the tireless efforts of everyone involved in the series and it gives us all great pleasure today in announcing a calendar which will see the series visit some spectacular racing venues across the world.

"With the exception of the recently-opened Losail International Raceway in Qatar, the other circuits have provided the setting for so many of Grand Prix racing's historic moments and with the likes of Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi and many other legends, re-creating that magic is what Grand Prix Masters is all about."

Poulter further added: "Our ambition for this year is to build upon the success of our debut event and to ensure the highest level of satisfaction for both trackside and TV viewing race fans."

The 2006 Grand Prix Masters season will kick off at Losail on 29 April and will close at Kyalami on 12 November.