Friday 19th February 2010
Mansell's Le Mans Challenge Gets Off The Ground
Red Five Ginetta Zytek shakes down in Portugal test
Our Nige, back behind the wheel of Red Five
The Mansell dynasty's Le Mans challenge has taken to the track for the first time after a two-day test at the Autodromo do Algarve in Portugal. Now, we know it's probably a little early to be getting excited about Le Mans, but Nigel Mansell's plan to campaign a Ginetta-Zytek is simply too exciting to ignore.
Despite torrential rain, the Beechdean Mansell Motorsport team managed to get plenty of miles beneath the wheels of their Ginetta Zytek GZ09S LMP1 car. Nigel Mansell spent most of the first day finding a set-up for the car, before sons Leo and Greg hopped in for a spell behind the famous red five. Leo and Greg spent more time in the car on day two.
The Beechdean garage - ice cream not included
Mansell was clearly pretty pleased with the test, and to be so close to Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre's Oreca - a very competitive team and car. "It's truly brilliant when you can draw breath and say that the test has surpassed every expectation," said Mansell.
"The Zytek engine powered car worked pretty flawlessly; I'm so proud of Leo and Greg, the times they got down to in a very short window were very competitive with the Oreca car, which was obviously the main test car, being supported so well by Dunlop. To gel a team in just three and a half months is fantastic and,while we know we have a huge challenge ahead, we are so pleased with what has been accomplished here."
The Mansell helmets
As well as being the base for a national motorsport hero, our Nige's pit garage is going to prove a popular place for another reason. Beechdean is a maker and purveyor of farmhouse dairy ice cream and, as the Algarve test proved, is apparently more than willing to hand out more than the odd freebie. Which is far from a bad thing - as long as they don't fit a PA system to the racer that plays a jangly version of Greensleeves...
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Papa Hotel
Original Poster
9,465 posts
51 months
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Fantastic to see!
We know Nige has the talent but he must be about pensionable right now.... is the stamina there? I hope so, good luck Nige!
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West4x4
629 posts
41 months
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Must be some expensive ice cream to have its own race car will it be fitted with a mr whippy machine and sell ciggies to 13 year olds on the sly?
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soad
15,890 posts
45 months
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Oddball RS
1,192 posts
87 months
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UncappedTag
2,019 posts
54 months
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Watched them in the BTCC support single seaters and whilst they have talent were never front runners. But that was a few years back 
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BBS-LM
3,490 posts
93 months
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Great news for the Mansell team and I wish them well. I love the Helmet picture too, excuse me nurse? 
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wab172uk
875 posts
96 months
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Good luck to the Mansell 3 
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Housey
1,487 posts
96 months
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Never been a fan of 'Our Nige', his public persona just leaves a bad taste as to some of his tails of woe over the years, but the bloke can make a car go very quick and I wish them all success at Le Mans!
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Pilgrim20vt
48 posts
51 months
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" Now, we know it's probably a little early to be getting excited about Le Mans..."
You are joking, right?
I've been excited about Le Mans 2010 for pretty much the last 8 months!
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Parabola
1,229 posts
66 months
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Pilgrim20vt said: I've been excited about Le Mans 2010 for pretty much the last 8 months! Not just me then 
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Altrezia
6,826 posts
80 months
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Parabola said: Pilgrim20vt said: I've been excited about Le Mans 2010 for pretty much the last 8 months! Not just me then Snap Not long till Sebring, too!
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wab172uk
875 posts
96 months
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Housey said: Never been a fan of 'Our Nige', his public persona just leaves a bad taste as to some of his tails of woe over the years, but the bloke can make a car go very quick and I wish them all success at Le Mans! Have you read his book? To say there is a slight difference between the way Hamilton got to F1 and the way Mansell got there, is a big a gap as here to the moon.
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RichB
24,243 posts
153 months
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Good luck to him and his lads, he must be very proud of them...
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MGJohn
6,646 posts
52 months
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wab172uk said: Housey said: Never been a fan of 'Our Nige', his public persona just leaves a bad taste as to some of his tails of woe over the years, but the bloke can make a car go very quick and I wish them all success at Le Mans! Have you read his book? To say there is a slight difference between the way Hamilton got to F1 and the way Mansell got there, is a big a gap as here to the moon. Well said wab172uk. Always been a fan of 'Our Nige'. His public persona was largely as relayed by 'our' media who always big up any negativity. One of the reasons why we are a nation of 'also rans' with a very few exceptions ~ Nigel Mansell being one of them. The man will always be the "Peoples" champion and for good reason too. A true legend. Here he is larking about with two other fine British winners:~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ2KDunCHdU&fea...... 
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5 USA
4,452 posts
114 months
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Parabola said: Pilgrim20vt said: I've been excited about Le Mans 2010 for pretty much the last 8 months! Not just me then It's always good to see some good old British enthusiasm for the most successful British F1 driver of all time. Fought his way up through the system and fought his way to the front. What's more, when he left F1 Mansell joined the Newman/Haas CART team. In his first CART race at Surfers Paradise, Australia, he took pole position and won his first race. Never been done before. Nor has anyone else won back to back championships astride the Atlantic. IMO one of the greats. Favourite moment? Mansell and Senna dicing at high speed in their Willliams and Lotus cars. Never bettered.
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torchy6
70 posts
41 months
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As someone who was instrumental in putting Mansell on the map and being ***t on for my pains I can assure you that you have never heard how bad he is. Self serving ***hole who will fail at this as in his other comebacks.
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The Leaper
1,715 posts
75 months
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Shame on you, Riggers! It's NEVER too early to get excited about Le Mans. I'm having to miss it in 2010 and I'm already excited about being there in 2011. I am going to Le Classic Le Mans 2010....not a satisfactory substitute for the real thing, though.
R.
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Papa Hotel
Original Poster
9,465 posts
51 months
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torchy6 said: As someone who was instrumental in putting Mansell on the map and being ***t on for my pains I can assure you that you have never heard how bad he is. Self serving ***hole who will fail at this as in his other comebacks. Here, let me help you off that fence. There now, that's better. Now, why don't you say what you really think?
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RichB
24,243 posts
153 months
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Reminds me of an interview years ago with the South African snooker player Perry Mans just after he'd lost a game, when asked if he had a grudge he said "Of course I've got a grudge, I keep me car in it."
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fieldl
1,282 posts
100 months
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I'd have money on one of the kids binning it inside of 10 hours. I'd admire his talent and tenacity but having met him twice he is a miserable git.
Just a shame his kids don't have the same talent/natural ability.
Mind you I wouldn't mind being at their level and having their experience.
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