| Our guest in Episode 42 is Nigel Mansell, the 1992 F1 World Champion and the winner of 31 Grands Prix. A hero still amongst F1 fans all over the world, Nigel rose to F1 the hard way - without sponsorship and without the early support of inner-circle British decision-makers. He had, though, a God-given talent and a cast iron determination to succeed; and, as such, he stands today as a model for all those with even a glint of ambition in their eyes. His season in 1980 was pivotal: he was quick in F3 but he was replaced in the March team mid-season when they hired a driver with money. He tested and raced occasionally for the new Ralt-Honda F2 team; and he worked long hours as a truck-driver/test driver at Team Lotus. Colin Chapman gave him an F1 chance first in Austria and then at Zandvoort. He drove the skin off those Lotus cars - and was rewarded with a full-time race drive for 1981. The rest is history. He switched to Williams in 1985, won his first race at Brands that year, joined Ferrari in 1989-90 and then returned to Williams in 1991. In 1992, setting records that still stand today, Mansell dominated the World Championship. As if that was not enough, Nigel went on to win the 1993 IndyCar World Series for Newman-Haas and almost to take the Indy 500 at his first attempt. A driver who didn't know the meaning of giving up - or of finishing second - Nigel in retirement has devoted much of his life to charitable causes, to his family - and to his second sporting love (golf ... |
