What can you say about a man who wins the 1992 Formula One World Championship, quits, moves to the states and promptly wins the 1993 CART series? Brilliant? Phenomenal? Sensational? Yes, all of those understatements. But Nigel Mansell’s achievements in motor racing are worth more, much more.
Oh, I know “Our Nige” could be an infuriating whinger, theatrical, melodramatic and in need of constant love from his fans. But he was also incredibly brave, determined, aggressive, brimming with natural talent, had remarkable car control and believed unshakably in himself. Anyone who saw him win the 1989 Grand Prix of Hungary for Ferrari would have to agree with that. He was, and is, a phenomenon. I say is, because in 2005 at the ripe old age of 52, Nigel embarked on an occasional new career in single-seater motor racing at Kyalami, South Africa in the Grand Prix Masters series. And he beat the shit out of the rest of the field, which included the likes of Emerson Fittipaldi, Riccardo Patrese and Patrick Tambay.
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