Mansell Nigel
Mansell, Nigel (GB)
b 08/08/1954 (Upton-on-Severn)
1963 - Started karting
1976 - Gave up job at Lucas for racing. FF1600, 6 wins
1977 - May: broke neck in two places. FF1600 champion, 33 wins
4th in only Vandervell F3 race at Silverstone (Lola T570)
1978 - F3 (March 783)
Mar 19 Silverstone 2nd/Pole
Mar 27 Thruxton 7th
Apr 16 Brands Hatch 7th
Apr 22 Oulton Park 7th
Apr 30 Donington Park 4th
British F2 (Chevron)
Jun 24 Donington Park DNQ
BMW County Championship (BMW 320i)
Apr 16 Silverstone 2nd
Jun 3 Donington Park 1st
Jun 30 Oulton Park ret
Aug 26 Mallory Park 3rd
1979 - First Lotus test at Paul Ricard. Joined Unipart F3 team (March 783
and 793)
Mar 4 Silverstone 11th
Mar 11 Thruxton 2nd
Mar 25 Silverstone 1st
Apr 1 Snetterton 8th
Apr 8 Donington Park 7th
May 7 Brands Hatch 6th
May 20 Donington Park ret/accident
May 27 Monte Carlo 11th
Jun 10 Brands Hatch 4th
Jun 17 Cadwell Park ret/suspension
Jul 1 Silverstone 8th
Jul 14 Silverstone 6th
Aug 27 Silverstone 6th
Sep 9 Donington Park 2nd
Sep 15 Oulton Park ret/accident/broke back
1980 - F3, 9th. F2 (Ralt RH6/80-Honda), 12th, 8 pts
Jun 8 Silverstone 11th
Jun 22 Zolder ret/accident
Jul 20 Zandvoort 5th
Sep 28 Hockenheim 2nd
Formula One Results:
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DATE GP CIRCUIT CAR Q R
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1 9 8 0
17/08 AUT Osterreichring Lotus Cosworth DFV 81B 24 Engine
31/08 NL Zandvoort Lotus Cosworth DFV 81B 16 Brakes
14/09 I Imola Lotus Cosworth DFV 81 DNQ
1 9 8 1
29/03 BR Jacarepagua Lotus Cosworth DFV 81 13 11 -1 Lap
21/04 RA Buenos Aires Lotus Cosworth DFV 81 15 Engine
17/05 B Zolder Lotus Cosworth DFV 81 10 3
31/05 MC Monte Carlo Lotus Cosworth DFV 87 3 Suspension
21/06 ESP Jarama Lotus Cosworth DFV 87 11 6
05/07 F Dijon Lotus Cosworth DFV 87 13 7 -1 Lap
02/08 D Hockenheim Lotus Cosworth DFV 87 15 Fuel Leak
16/08 AUT Osterreichring Lotus Cosworth DFV 87 11 Engine
30/08 NL Zandvoort Lotus Cosworth DFV 87 16 Electrical
13/09 I Monza Lotus Cosworth DFV 87 12 Handling
27/09 CAN Montreal Lotus Cosworth DFV 87 5 Accident
17/10 USA Las Vegas Lotus Cosworth DFV 87 9 4
1 9 8 2
23/01 ZA Kyalami Lotus Cosworth DFV 87B 18 Electrical
21/03 BR Jacarepagua Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 14 3
04/04 USA Long Beach Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 17 7 -2 Laps
09/05 B Zolder Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 7 Gearbox
23/05 MC Monte Carlo Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 11 4 -1 Lap
06/06 USA Detroit Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 7 Engine
13/06 CAN Montreal Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 14 Accident
18/07 GBR Brands Hatch Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 23 Handling
08/08 D Hockenheim Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 18 9 -2 Laps
15/08 AUT Osterreichring Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 12 Engine
29/08 CH Dijon Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 25 8 -1 Lap
12/09 I Monza Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 23 7 -1 Lap
25/09 USA Las Vegas Lotus Cosworth DFV 91 19 Accident
1 9 8 3
13/03 BR Jacarepagua Lotus Cosworth DFV 92 22 12 -2 Laps
27/03 USA Long Beach Lotus Cosworth DFV 92 13 12 -3 Laps
17/04 F Paul Ricard Lotus Cosworth DFV 92 18 Driver
01/05 RSM Imola Lotus Cosworth DFV 92 15 12 -6 Laps
15/05 MC Monte Carlo Lotus Cosworth DFV 92 14 Accident
22/05 B Spa Francorhamps Lotus Cosworth DFV 92 19 Gearbox
05/06 USA Detroit Lotus Cosworth DFV 92 14 6 -1 Lap
12/06 CAN Montreal Lotus Cosworth DFV 92 18 Handling
16/07 GBR Silverstone Lotus Renault 94T 18 4
17/08 D Hockenheim Lotus Renault 94T 17 Engine
14/08 AUT Osterreichring Lotus Renault 94T 3 5 -1 Lap
28/08 NL Zandvoort Lotus Renault 94T 5 Spun
11/09 I Monza Lotus Renault 94T 11 8
25/09 EUR Brands Hatch Lotus Renault 94T 3 3
15/10 ZA Kyalami Lotus Renault 94T 7 13 -9 Laps
1 9 8 4
25/03 BR Jacarepagua Lotus Renault 95T 5 Accident
07/04 ZA Kyalami Lotus Renault 95T 3 Turbo
29/04 B Zolder Lotus Renault 95T 10 Clutch
06/05 RSM Imola Lotus Renault 95T 18 Spun
20/05 F Dijon Lotus Renault 95T 6 3
03/06 MC Monte Carlo Lotus Renault 95T 2 Accident
19/06 CDN Gilles Villeneuve Lotus Renault 95T 7 6 -2 Laps
24/06 USA Detroit Lotus Renault 95T 3 Gearbox
08/07 USA Dallas Lotus Renault 95T 1 6 -3 Laps
22/07 GB Brands Hatch Lotus Renault 95T 8 Gearbox
05/08 D Hockenheim Lotus Renault 95T 16 4
19/08 AUT Osterreichring Lotus Renault 95T 8 Engine
26/08 NL Zandvoort Lotus Renault 95T 12 3
09/09 I Monza Lotus Renault 95T 7 Spun
07/10 EUR Nurburgring Lotus Renault 95T 8 Engine
21/10 P Estoril Lotus Renault 95T 6 Spun
1 9 8 5
07/04 BR Jacarepagua Williams Honda FW10 5 Exhaust
21/04 P Estoril Williams Honda FW10 9 5 -2 Laps
05/05 RSM Imola Williams Honda FW10 7 5 -2 Laps
19/05 MC Monte Carlo Williams Honda FW10 2 7 -1 Lap
16/06 CDN Gilles Villeneuve Williams Honda FW10 16 6
23/06 USA Detroit Williams Honda FW10 2 Accident
21/07 GB Silverstone Williams Honda FW10 5 Clutch
04/08 D Nurburgring Williams Honda FW10 10 6
18/08 AUT Osterreichring Williams Honda FW10 2 Engine
25/08 NL Zandvoort Williams Honda FW10 7 6 -1 Lap
08/09 I Monza Williams Honda FW10 3 11 -4 Laps
15/09 B Spa Francorchamps Williams Honda FW10 7 2
06/10 EUR Brands Hatch Williams Honda FW10 3 1
19/10 ZA Kyalami Williams Honda FW10 1 1
03/11 AUS Adelaide Williams Honda FW10 2 Transmission
1 9 8 6
23/03 BR Jacarepagua Williams Honda FW11 3 Accident
13/04 ESP Jerez Williams Honda FW11 3 2
27/04 RSM Imola Williams Honda FW11 3 Engine
11/05 MC Monte Carlo Williams Honda FW11 2 4
25/05 B Spa Francorchamps Williams Honda FW11 5 1
15/06 CDN Gilles Villeneuve Williams Honda FW11 1 1
22/06 USA Detroit Williams Honda FW11 2 5 -1 Lap
06/07 F Paul Ricard Williams Honda FW11 2 1
13/07 GB Brands Hatch Williams Honda FW11 2 1
27/07 D Hockenheim Williams Honda FW11 6 3
10/08 H Hungaroring Williams Honda FW11 4 3 -1 Lap
17/08 AUT Osterreichring Williams Honda FW11 6 CV Joint
07/09 I Monza Williams Honda FW11 3 2
21/09 P Estoril Williams Honda FW11 2 1
12/10 MEX Hermanos Rodriguez Williams Honda FW11 3 5 -1 Lap
26/10 AUS Adelaide Williams Honda FW11 1 Tyre
1 9 8 7
12/04 BR Jacarepagua Williams Honda FW11B 1 6 -1 Lap
03/05 RSM Imola Williams Honda FW11B 2 1
17/05 B Spa Francorchamps Williams Honda FW11B 1 Underbody
31/05 MC Monte Carlo Williams Honda FW11B 1 Exhaust
21/06 USA Detroit Williams Honda FW11B 1 5 -1 Lap
05/07 F Paul Ricard Williams Honda FW11B 1 1
12/07 GB Silverstone Williams Honda FW11B 2 1
26/07 D Hockenheim Williams Honda FW11B 1 Engine
09/08 H Hungaroring Williams Honda FW11B 1 Wheel
16/08 AUT Osterreichring Williams Honda FW11B 2 1
06/09 I Monza Williams Honda FW11B 2 3
20/09 P Estoril Williams Honda FW11B 2 Electrical
27/09 ESP Jerez Williams Honda FW11B 2 1
18/10 MEX Hermanos Rodriguez Williams Honda FW11B 1 1
1 9 8 8
03/04 BR Jacarepagua Williams Judd FW12 2 Overheating
01/05 RSM Imola Williams Judd FW12 11 Electrical
15/05 MC Monte Carlo Williams Judd FW12 5 Accident
29/05 MEX Hermanos Rodriguez Williams Judd FW12 14 Engine
12/06 CDN Gilles Villeneuve Williams Judd FW12 9 Engine
19/06 USA Detroit Williams Judd FW12 6 Electrical
03/07 F Paul Ricard Williams Judd FW12 9 Suspension
10/07 GB Silverstone Williams Judd FW12 11 2
24/07 D Hockenheim Williams Judd FW12 11 Accident
07/08 H Hungaroring Williams Judd FW12 2 Driver
25/09 P Estoril Williams Judd FW12 6 Accident
02/10 ESP Jerez Williams Judd FW12 3 2
30/10 J Suzuka Williams Judd FW12 8 Accident
13/10 AUS Adelaide Williams Judd FW12 3 Accident
1 9 8 9
26/03 BR Jacarepagua Ferrari 640 6 1
23/04 RSM Imola Ferrari 640 3 Gearbox
07/05 MC Monte Carlo Ferrari 640 5 Gearbox
28/05 MEX Hermanos Rodriguez Ferrari 640 3 Gearbox
04/06 USA Phoenix Ferrari 640 4 Gearbox
18/06 CDN Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari 640 5 DISQ
09/07 F Paul Ricard Ferrari 640 3 2
16/07 GB Silverstone Ferrari 640 3 2
30/07 D Hockenheim Ferrari 640 3 3
13/08 H Hungaroring Ferrari 640 12 1
27/08 B Spa Francorchamps Ferrari 640 6 3
10/09 I Monza Ferrari 640 3 Gearbox
24/09 P Estoril Ferrari 640 3 Accident
22/10 J Suzuka Ferrari 640 4 Engine
05/11 AUS Adelaide Ferrari 640 7 Accident
1 9 9 0
11/03 USA Phoenix Ferrari 641/2 17 Clutch
25/03 BR Interlagos Ferrari 641/2 5 4
13/05 RSM Imola Ferrari 641/2 5 Engine
27/05 MC Monte Carlo Ferrari 641/2 7 Battery
10/06 CDN Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari 641/2 7 3
24/06 MEX Hermanos Rodriguez Ferrari 641/2 4 2
08/07 F Paul Ricard Ferrari 641/2 1 Engine
15/07 GB Silverstone Ferrari 641/2 1 Gearbox
27/07 D Hockenheim Ferrari 641/2 4 Undertray
12/08 H Hungaroring Ferrari 641/2 5 Accident
26/08 B Spa Francorchamps Ferrari 641/2 5 Handling
09/09 I Monza Ferrari 641/2 4 4
23/09 P Estoril Ferrari 641/2 1 1
30/09 ESP Jerez Ferrari 641/2 3 2
21/10 J Suzuka Ferrari 641/2 3 Drive-Shaft
04/10 AUS Adelaide Ferrari 641/2 3 2
1 9 9 1
10/03 USA Phoenix Williams Renault FW14 4 Gearbox
24/03 BR Interlagos Williams Renault FW14 3 Gearbox
28/04 RSM Imola Williams Renault FW14 3 Accident
12/05 MC Monte Carlo Williams Renault FW14 5 2
02/06 CDN Gilles Villeneuve Williams Renault FW14 2 6 -1 Lap
16/06 MEX Hermanos Rodriguez Williams Renault FW14 2 2
07/07 F Magny Cours Williams Renault FW14 4 1
14/07 GB Silverstone Williams Renault FW14 1 1
28/07 D Hockenheim Williams Renault FW14 1 1
11/08 H Hungaroring Williams Renault FW14 3 2
25/08 B Spa Francorchamps Williams Renault FW14 3 Electrical
08/09 I Monza Williams Renault FW14 2 1
22/09 P Estoril Williams Renault FW14 4 DISQ
29/09 ESP Barcelona Williams Renault FW14 2 1
20/10 J Suzuka Williams Renault FW14 3 Accident
03/11 AUS Adelaide Williams Renault FW14 3 2
1 9 9 2
01/03 ZA Kyalami Williams Renault FW15 1 1
22/03 MEX Hermanos Rodriguez Williams Renault FW15 1 1
05/04 BR Interlagos Williams Renault FW15 1 1
03/05 ESP Barcelona Williams Renault FW15 1 1
17/05 RSM Imola Williams Renault FW15 1 1
31/05 MC Monte Carlo Williams Renault FW15 1 2
14/06 CDN Gilles Villeneuve Williams Renault FW15 3 Accident
05/07 F Magny Cours Williams Renault FW15 1 1
12/07 GB Silverstone Williams Renault FW15 1 1
26/07 D Hockenheim Williams Renault FW15 1 1
16/08 H Hungaroring Williams Renault FW15 2 2
30/08 B Spa Francorchamps Williams Renault FW15 1 2
13/09 I Monza Williams Renault FW15 1 Hydraulics
27/09 P Estoril Williams Renault FW15 1 1
25/10 J Suzuka Williams Renault FW15 1 Engine
08/11 AUS Adelaide Williams Renault FW15 1 Accident
1 9 9 3
Indycars (Newman Haas - Lola-Ford Cosworth), CHAMPION, 191 pts
Mar 21 Surfers Paradise 9th/Pole
Apr 4 Phoenix practice accident
Apr 18 Long Beach 3rd/Pole
May 30 Indianapolis 3rd
Jun 6 Milwaukee 1st
Jun 13 Detroit 15th/Pole
Jun 27 Portland 2nd/Pole
Jul 11 Cleveland 3rd
Jul 18 Toronto retired/wastegate
Aug 1 Michigan 1st
Aug 8 New Hampshire 1st/Pole
Aug 22 Elkhart Lake 2nd
Aug 29 Vancouver 6th
Sep 12 Mid-Ohio 12th/Pole
Sep 19 Nazareth 1st/Pole
Oct 3 Laguna Seca retired/accident
Toca Shootout (Ford Mondeo)
Oct 31 Donington Park retired/accident
1 9 9 4
Indycars (Newman Haas - Lola-Ford Cosworth), 8th, 88 pts
Mar 20 Surfers Paradise 9th/Pole
Apr 10 Phoenix 3rd
Apr 17 Long Beach 2nd
May 29 Indianapolis ret/accident
Jun 5 Milwaukee 4th
Jun 12 Detroit ret/throttle/Pole
Jun 26 Portland 5th
Jul 10 Cleveland 2nd
Jul 17 Toronto ret/handling
Jul 31 Michigan ret/throttle
Aug 14 Mid-Ohio 7th
Aug 21 New Hampshire ret/accident
Sep 4 Vancouver 9th
Sep 11 Elkhart Lake 13th
Sep 18 Nazareth ret/handling
Oct 10 Laguna Seca 8th
F1 Q R
03/07 F Magny Cours Williams Renault FW16 2 Transmission
16/10 EUR Jerez Williams Renault FW16 3 Spin
06/11 J Suzuka Williams Renault FW16 4 4
13/11 AUS Adelaide Williams Renault FW16 1 1
1 9 9 5
RSM Imola McLaren Mercedes MP4/10B 9 10
E Barcelona McLaren Mercedes MP4/10B 10 Retired - handling
1 9 9 8
Chamonix 24 Hrs (Ford Escort BMW), 12th with Ari Vatanen.
British Touring Cars (West Surrey Racing Ford Mondeo), 18th, 7 pts
Jun 14 Donington Park ret/accident
Jun 14 Donington Park 5th, 54:00.662
Aug 31 Brands Hatch Indy ret/accident
Aug 31 Brands Hatch Indy ret/accident
C A R E E R S U M M A R Y
+------+---+------------------+-----+----+----+----+----------+
| YEAR |POS|TEAM |RACES|WINS|POLE|FLAP| POINTS |
+------+---+------------------+-----+----+----+----+----------+
| 1980 | | Lotus Cosworth | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | 14| Lotus Cosworth | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 1982 | 14| Lotus Cosworth | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 1983 |=12| Lotus Renault | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 1984 | 10| Lotus Renault | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 1985 | 6 | Williams Honda | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 31 |
| 1986 | 2 | Williams Honda | 16 | 5 | 2 | 4 | (70) 72 |
| 1987 | 2 | Williams Honda | 14 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 61 |
| 1988 | 9 | Williams Judd | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 1989 | 4 | Ferrari | 15 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 38 |
| 1990 | 5 | Ferrari | 16 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 37 |
| 1991 | 2 | Williams Renault | 16 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 72 |
| 1992 | 1 | Williams Renault | 16 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 108 |
| 1994 | 9 | Williams Renault | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 1995 | - | McLaren Mercedes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
+------+---+------------------+-----+----+----+----+----------+
| TOTAL | 187 | 31 | 32 | 25 | 510 |
+-----------------------------+-----+----+----+----+----------+
MANSELL Nigel (GB), Biography 1995
Nigel Mansell is living proof that, metaphorically, determination and dedication can move mountains. The two qualities have been evident in Mansell since he began racing in Formula Ford in 1977.
Nine years later, they almost brought him his ultimate ambition: the Formula 1 World Championship. Just 18 laps from the end of the 1986 season finale in Adelaide, Mansell's dream exploded along with the left rear tyre of his Williams.
It was to be another six years before he finally gained the crown in a brilliant season, after repeated frustrations had brought him to the point of retirement. Within weeks of becoming World Champion, he had turned his back on Formula One and in 1993 went Indycar racing. Adapting with astonishing speed and fighting back from yet more injuries, he won the Indycar title - the first back-to-back championships ever in the two series.
Now, at a mature but utterly determined 41, he has rejoined Formula One full-time with the Marlboro McLaren Mercedes team, another World Championship definitely in his sights.
In his early days, Mansell was only able to compete by supplementing his income as an engineer with menial, part-time work. In 1977, he won 32 of the 42 Formula Ford 1600 races he contested. He broke his back in a racing accident but returned, against medical advice, to clinch a championship.
Two years later Nigel and his wife, Roseanne, sold their house to pay for four Formula 3 drives. His March was not the most competitive car on the grid, but Mansell's efforts attracted the attention of the late, great Lotus boss, Colin Chapman.
Just as he was about to be invited to test for Lotus, Nigel crushed vertebrae in his neck after an F3 collision with Andrea de Cesaris. "Don't worry, I'll be there," Mansell said, in response to Chapman's doubts as to whether he was fit enough to try the Lotus.
Mansell was disappointed when the 1980 seat alongside Mario Andretti went to the late Elio de Angelis, but he was given an opportunity in a third Lotus in the Austrian Grand Prix. He had to draw on all the reserves of his courage to bear the pain of fuel burns, caused by spillage as the tank was being filled.
Mansell was given a full-time drive the following year, becoming close friends with Chapman before the latter's death in December 1982. But he did not get his hands on a truly competitive chassis until he was signed by Frank Williams to partner Keke Rosberg in 1985. He won an emotional first victory at Brands Hatch, in the European Grand Prix that year.
Throughout the next two seasons, when he was joined at Williams by Nelson Piquet, Nigel became the driver to beat. In 1986, he won five Grands Prix and was only pipped to the crown by Prost at that traumatic final race.
The following season saw the Williams-Honda conclusively the quickest combination and Nigel, this time, was first past the chequered flag on six occasions. Despite that, Williams team mate Nelson Piquet took the title with only three wins, after Mansell's hopes had disappeared in a practice accident at Suzuka in which he damaged his neck.
After a fruitless 1988 season with a Judd-powered Williams, Mansell was signed by Ferrari shortly before Enzo Ferrari's death that August. Despite the newness of the teams's V12 engine and automatic gearbox, he scored a memorable win in his first race for the Prancing Horse stable, in Brazil. A tremendous drive, from 12th place on the grid, brought Mansell another win in Hungary, a race he rated as: "Definitely the best drive of my career".
Mansell fully supported Ferrari's signing of World Champion Alain Prost, assessing that the Frenchman's arrival, on equal terms, could only strengthen Ferrari's hand in 1990. "We know we are in good shape for a crack at the World Championship," he said. Nigel quickly formed a rapport with the triple World Champion while they pursued an intensive programme of winter engine development for the Scuderia.
After a disappointing start to the season, Mansell's luck changed in Portugal where he equalled Stirling Moss's record of the most successful English driver with 16 Grands Prix victories. He took second place in three races, scored points in three more, and won three pole positions, finishing the season fifth in the World Championship.
At the British Grand Prix Mansell announced he was to retire from Formula One but public support, and his belief that Williams, which offered him Number One status, could give him a good chance of winning the title, made him change his mind. He returned to the team with which he had won 13 races, his status as Britain's top driver officially confirmed with the award of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Five victories in 1991 started with a new record for the most Grand Prix wins by an English driver. He was the only driver to seriously challenge Ayrton Senna for the Drivers' World Championship and finished the season runner-up for the third time in his career. He re-signed for Williams, but moved his family base from the Isle of Man to Florida.
1992 was Mansell's year, winning the Drivers' Championship at last. Mansell set a record 14 pole positions in the season and won nine races, clinching the title in Hungary, only the 11th of the 16 races. But after failing to agree terms for another season with Williams, he announced at the Italian Grand Prix in that he had signed to drive in the United States for the Newman Haas team in a Lola-Ford in the PPG IndyCar World Series.
ΓΏ He won the opening round in Surfers Paradise, Australia, but crashed heavily in practice at Phoenix - the first oval event of his career. Despite an operation for a back injury, he finished third at Long Beach and in his first Indianapolis 500 - which he came close to winning. Further victories came at on the ovals of Milwaukee, Michigan, New Hampshire and Nazareth where he clinched the Championship in the second last race.
His second Indycar season was disappointing, with Newman Haas outgunned by Penske, and he had a big crash at Indianapolis. Eagerly sought by Formula One, he made four "guest appearances" with Williams, driving sensationally in the rain in Japan and then winning the Australian Grand Prix.
It was those final performances that convinced him that he wanted to return to fight for the World Championship again, this time for a team he has always admired as a rival, Marlboro McLaren.
