The People's Hero

Nigel Mansell was the first British Grand Prix driver since Stirling Moss to capture the imagination of the British public. Champions like Clark and Stewart were well-known by many, and adored by afficionados, while Graham Hill was admired by many. Mansell, however, was a true hero of the people.

Nigel was born in Upton on Severn near Malvern in Worcestershire, on 8 August 1954. He struggled hard to make his name in motor sport, taking the conventional route through karting and the minor formulae. His early career was as varied as many other drivers, with setbacks aplenty. What seperates him from those drivers is Nigel made it to the top when he became Formula One World Champion.

That championship season came in 1992, twelve years after his first Formula One drive for Team Lotus. At the time he was living in Florida and was more mentally and physically prepared to race than at any other time in his career. He had also been given a stunning car by the Williams team. He triumphed at Kyalami in the season opener leading team-mate Patrese home for a Williams 1-2. The exercise was repeated at Mexico City and then again at Interlagos. His fourth win of the season came at a damp Barcelona circuit, while in the next race at Imola the Williams duo showed themeselves to be be the class of the field, with yet another 1-2.

Stewarts record was passed the following weekend at the British Grand Prix. Mansell did not just win at Silverstone, he totally obliterated all opposition; seizing pole, fastest lap and a winning margin of 40 seconds over Patrese. Martin Brundle took the third step on the podium. Mansell further extended his championship lead at Hockenheim with another win before moving onto the Hugaroring where, with a second place, he clinched the title. However his season was not yet over.

At Spa Nigel had to be content with second again, this time behind Schumacher. The circus moved to Monza where just before the race he announced his retirement from Formula One. During the race Mansell led but signalled Patrese to pass so he could win on his home soil. However it was not to be as both Williams' developed gearbox problems, Mansell retired and Patrese took fifth as Senna scored his third win of the year. Next stop was Estoril where Mansell returned to winning ways once more. It was his ninth win of the season; a new record. Japan came next and for the first time the racing was the story at Suzuka. Patrese won the race from Berger and Brundle, after Mansell waved Patrese through then lost his engine. Adelaide was once again the host of the season's final outing and Mansell retired with Senna when the Brazilian punted him while attempting to take the lead. The race gave Berger another win with Schumacher a close second.

For Nigel a career in Indy racing beckoned where driving for the Newman-Haas team he would take the title in his first season. 1994 saw him lured back to Williams on an ad-hoc basis; tempted by a very large fee from Renault. Unfortunately by the time he got a drive Damon Hill had begun to shine and Coulthard was constantly improving. However, when he did get a drive he fought a good fight with Alesi at Suzuka and managed to win in the aftermath of Hill & Schumacher's coming together in Adelaide. In 1995 an attempt to run the lacklustre McLaren MP4/10 was abandoned when he struggled to get into the car and then failed to get to grips with it. Whether or not he continues racing Nigel will certainly retain an interest in the sport and in the motor trade, through his TVR and Ferrari dealerships. Regardless the man the Italians called Il Leone to Britons he is still the people's champion.