Grand Prix Masters was a single-constructor motor racing series that launched in 2005, featuring former Formula 1 racing drivers and running for two seasons. The Masters had a specific set of entry requirements for drivers, with the aim of bringing the greats of motor racing back together and competing on a level playing field. This concept appealed to multiple drivers, with Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Ricardo Patrese among the notable entrants.

The 2005 GP Masters car was based on a 2000 Reynard 2KI Champ Car and powered by a 650 brake horsepower, 3.5-litre V-8 engine, a derivative of the Cosworth XB engine. The car weighed 650 kilograms and was claimed to have a top speed of 200 mph. It was built to demonstrate the raw skill of the drivers and produce a thrilling race experience. Common driver aids such as ABS, power steering, and traction control were absent. The concept of racing against former competitors in identical cars and on Formula 1 circuits appealed to Mansell, the 1992 Formula 1 World Champion. He agreed with GP Masters to race in the series and joined Team Altech, electing to compete using his famous race number “5”.

For the 2005 season, only one event took place due to various delays. On 13 November, all 14 drivers were present on the grid at Kyalami in South Africa. Nigel Mansell took pole position from Emerson Fittipaldi after a fierce battle, and the Englishman would go on to win the first and only race in the 2005 season. Mansell continued this momentum into the first race of 2006, finishing 1st on 29 April at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The next race was scheduled to be held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy on 5 May, but due to noise restrictions it was cancelled. The next and final race was at Silverstone on 13 August; Mansell retired on lap 26 and did not get another chance to race in the series due to races at Sepang and Kyalami being cancelled. For the 2007 season, financial troubles hit race organisers and Grand Prix Masters was forced to shut down. Following this, Mansell took the car he raced in and added it to his collection, where it has remained since.

Having been kept on static display since its last competitive outing, the Reynard will require mechanical inspection and recommissioning prior to returning to the race track, and this lot is offered without an engine. The car retains its 2006 Grand Prix Masters livery and presents a wonderful opportunity to acquire a unique open-wheeled race car owned and driven by one of the Formula 1 greats.