RE: Il Leone back on the prancing horse
Wednesday 11th April 2007
Mansell gets to know the F430Nigel Mansell OBE will be back in a Ferrari at Silverstone on 6th May. The former world champion will be driving for Scuderia Ecosse in the FIA GT championship at the Tourist Trophy event. Mansell drove for Ferrari in the 1989 and 1990 seasons winning three Grand Prix and was the last driver to be personally selected by Enzo Ferrari before the old man’s death in 1988.
No 'tache, but still 'quick'...Mansell said, “This was a challenge I had to accept. Stewart (Roden) runs a very good team and the cars are beautifully prepared. The Ferrari 430 is fun to drive but it remains to be seen how I will get on in a race situation as ex-F1 drivers tend to race with a target on their backs! I had a great time with the team at Knockhill and it’s going to be good to work with Pirelli again as we have enjoyed many years working together in the past. I hope to see everyone at Silverstone as I think we are in for a great weekend of racing.”
Il Leone back on the prancing horse
Mansell to race Ferrari F430 at Silverstone FIA GT
Mansell gets to know the F430
The team heard a rumour that Mansell was considering driving a Ferrari 430 in America and suggested he might like to try closer to home.
Nigel joined regular drivers Chris Niarchos and Andrew Kirkaldy at Knockhill in Scotland on 5 April where he was reported to be quickly on the pace. In addition to the Knockhill test, ‘Our Nige’ will be taking part in a Pirelli tyre test at Estoril (24-26 April) prior to the Silverstone race to complete his preparations.
No 'tache, but still 'quick'...
Discussion
It is pretty wierd that even 20 years on this guy is still one of the biggest crowd pullers at a UK motorsport outing.
Especially as he is quite a dull chap.
I'm a huge fan and definately want to see him back on the circuit but can't get my head around why so many of us like the guy.
The one event I would dearly love to see would be him up against Prost and Senna (not in a bedroom fashion, I must add). It could only be beaten by a free LedZep concert after.
Re that Mondeo incident, I believe there were certain factors to that that were kept very quiet. As a clue, it may be worth digging out the old footage and taking note of the in car action as he spins the wheel back and forth and then check it against the outside shots to see no movement at all from the front wheels.
One of the BRDC's many conspiracy theories.
Especially as he is quite a dull chap.
I'm a huge fan and definately want to see him back on the circuit but can't get my head around why so many of us like the guy.
The one event I would dearly love to see would be him up against Prost and Senna (not in a bedroom fashion, I must add). It could only be beaten by a free LedZep concert after.
Re that Mondeo incident, I believe there were certain factors to that that were kept very quiet. As a clue, it may be worth digging out the old footage and taking note of the in car action as he spins the wheel back and forth and then check it against the outside shots to see no movement at all from the front wheels.
One of the BRDC's many conspiracy theories.
9 years ago
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bM5ua_bz5Y
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU5npDoGebE&mode=related&search=
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9mjebghIy8&mode=related&search=
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bM5ua_bz5Y
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU5npDoGebE&mode=related&search=
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9mjebghIy8&mode=related&search=
Edited by RTH on Wednesday 11th April 17:12
Dull chap??? Away from the cameras he's an interesting, funny & engaging man to listen to.
No matter. The reason both the British and Italian fans warm to Nigel is (a) Because he always was (and still is) bloody fast and (b) because he's a fighter, a racer who never stops pushing hard.
I seem to recall that Nigel was quicker than both Jenson Button and Mark Webber on the top gear track? And his performances in GP Masters have pretty much dominated the field in terms of sheer pace, although not reliability (wasn't it always thus?).
I wonder if history will remember other talented British F1 drivers so fondly... Coulthard, Button, Hill, Irvine, Hamilton..?
No matter. The reason both the British and Italian fans warm to Nigel is (a) Because he always was (and still is) bloody fast and (b) because he's a fighter, a racer who never stops pushing hard.
I seem to recall that Nigel was quicker than both Jenson Button and Mark Webber on the top gear track? And his performances in GP Masters have pretty much dominated the field in terms of sheer pace, although not reliability (wasn't it always thus?).
I wonder if history will remember other talented British F1 drivers so fondly... Coulthard, Button, Hill, Irvine, Hamilton..?
corozin said:
Dull chap??? Away from the cameras he's an interesting, funny & engaging man to listen to.
No matter. The reason both the British and Italian fans warm to Nigel is (a) Because he always was (and still is) bloody fast and (b) because he's a fighter, a racer who never stops pushing hard.
I seem to recall that Nigel was quicker than both Jenson Button and Mark Webber on the top gear track? And his performances in GP Masters have pretty much dominated the field in terms of sheer pace, although not reliability (wasn't it always thus?).
I wonder if history will remember other talented British F1 drivers so fondly... Coulthard, Button, Hill, Irvine, Hamilton..?
No matter. The reason both the British and Italian fans warm to Nigel is (a) Because he always was (and still is) bloody fast and (b) because he's a fighter, a racer who never stops pushing hard.
I seem to recall that Nigel was quicker than both Jenson Button and Mark Webber on the top gear track? And his performances in GP Masters have pretty much dominated the field in terms of sheer pace, although not reliability (wasn't it always thus?).
I wonder if history will remember other talented British F1 drivers so fondly... Coulthard, Button, Hill, Irvine, Hamilton..?
At least you can forgive Irvine as he was always knackered when he arrived at the circuit. He strikes me as the last F1 driver to actually try and live faster than he could drive.
Agree completely about Mansell. Phenominal entertainer in a car but just faded against all that in public.
I was there at the British Grand Prix when the track was invaded in his winning year (1992).
And when I say 'there', I mean 'about 2ft away from Nigel and his car as he stood there'.
I remember seeing the TV afterwards and you saw Nige quiet down the crowd and say something. Murray 'THE GOD' Walker suggested Nigel was telling the crowd to calm down and that the behaviour was out of order.
Rubbish.
He said, "If you touch the car - I'll be disqualified". En-masse, we all took one step back and resumed the 'NIGEL!' chant.
Great guy. We were his supporters and he knew it.
And when I say 'there', I mean 'about 2ft away from Nigel and his car as he stood there'.
I remember seeing the TV afterwards and you saw Nige quiet down the crowd and say something. Murray 'THE GOD' Walker suggested Nigel was telling the crowd to calm down and that the behaviour was out of order.
Rubbish.
He said, "If you touch the car - I'll be disqualified". En-masse, we all took one step back and resumed the 'NIGEL!' chant.
Great guy. We were his supporters and he knew it.
PhantomPH said:
I was there at the British Grand Prix when the track was invaded in his winning year (1992).
And when I say 'there', I mean 'about 2ft away from Nigel and his car as he stood there'.
I remember seeing the TV afterwards and you saw Nige quiet down the crowd and say something. Murray 'THE GOD' Walker suggested Nigel was telling the crowd to calm down and that the behaviour was out of order.
Rubbish.
He said, "If you touch the car - I'll be disqualified". En-masse, we all took one step back and resumed the 'NIGEL!' chant.
Great guy. We were his supporters and he knew it.
And when I say 'there', I mean 'about 2ft away from Nigel and his car as he stood there'.
I remember seeing the TV afterwards and you saw Nige quiet down the crowd and say something. Murray 'THE GOD' Walker suggested Nigel was telling the crowd to calm down and that the behaviour was out of order.
Rubbish.
He said, "If you touch the car - I'll be disqualified". En-masse, we all took one step back and resumed the 'NIGEL!' chant.
Great guy. We were his supporters and he knew it.
But someone still nicked the stearing wheel from it. I wasn't in the throng at the time but in the box at Stowe.
O/T Spoke to Damon Hill after the race who was sporting a rather nasty looking blister on his right palm. Far be it to suggest that either a) flappy paddles on the Williams had made him soft (he was their test driver at the time) or b) it was the first time the Brabham had lasted long enough for him to get one!
Was it really?? I never knew that!
Oh and wasn't that the first time Hill actually finished a race as well?
There is a wonderful photo I have from where my Dad was holding the camera when Martin Brundle in the Bennetton (sp?) nearly ran him over. The photo is as the camera went off as Dad leapt out of the way. A slightly blurred shot from VERY close up.
Anyone who doubts why Nigel is still loved by fans, need only watch the closing laps of the 1992 Monaco grand prix.
Oh and wasn't that the first time Hill actually finished a race as well?
There is a wonderful photo I have from where my Dad was holding the camera when Martin Brundle in the Bennetton (sp?) nearly ran him over. The photo is as the camera went off as Dad leapt out of the way. A slightly blurred shot from VERY close up.
Anyone who doubts why Nigel is still loved by fans, need only watch the closing laps of the 1992 Monaco grand prix.
There will be a strong presence of 'vette and Viper owners from PH at the FIA GT racing on the 6th as we have club parking
Looking forward to seeing one of my all time heroes racing and also Oliver Gavin of Corvette Racing fame will be racing the Luc Alphand Adventures C6-R Corvette in the race too!
Looking forward to seeing one of my all time heroes racing and also Oliver Gavin of Corvette Racing fame will be racing the Luc Alphand Adventures C6-R Corvette in the race too!
Think we Brits always like the drivers who have the balls to lay it all on the line just like Mansell and McRae!
Mansell always used his own lines in F1 and proved in BTCC (in the wet) that he could compete with the best drivers they had then!
McRae - what can you say about him... - in the Le Mans 24hr that he took part in he actually went faster went it got dark when usually all the other drivers drop a few seconds!!!
Let's hope someone can come and fill the gap they left soon.....
Mansell always used his own lines in F1 and proved in BTCC (in the wet) that he could compete with the best drivers they had then!
McRae - what can you say about him... - in the Le Mans 24hr that he took part in he actually went faster went it got dark when usually all the other drivers drop a few seconds!!!
Let's hope someone can come and fill the gap they left soon.....
scotty_917 said:
I hope it's more constructive than his guest drive in a BTCC Mondeo at Donnington! 
Damn..beat me to that comment too. Tell him to mind the bridge!
Having said that, "Our Nige", is in my mind one of the last of the real racers. Look at the aura he had in GP Masters (if not too much success)
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