Nigel Ernest James Mansell is a British racing driver, who was born in the heart of England on August 8th 1953. Hi won world championship in Formula One in 1992.
Nigel start his driving career from karting in the 60's. He won his first race at age 14. The psychology was in place - approach every competition believing that winning is everything and losing doesn't exist.
As Nigel's father said Karting was fun but motor racing was serious. To realize his ambition of Formula 1 racing Nigel knew he had to climb the ladder and get noticed by a Formula 1 team. The only route was via British Formula Ford and Formula 3.
Nigel invested £15 in a one day lesson in Formula Ford. It was a wise move. He was good, he won his first race and in 1977 became the Formula Ford Champion.
Nigel Mansell salvaged his F1 career by mortgaging his home, illustrating the determination that on the track earned him the sobriquet “Il Leone” from the Tifosi and the enduring allegiance of British Formula One fans.
In Formula One he take part in 15 seasons. Mansell remains the most successful British Formula One driver of all-time in terms of race wins with 31 victories, and is fourth overall on the Formula One race winners list behind Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna.
In 1981 Nigel became to F1 with the Lotus team. After just 5 races Ernest received his first podium.
1989 saw Nigel in the scarlet red car - number 27 FERRARI. He was the last driver to be picked by Enso Ferrari and this proved to be a wise choice for the late team owner. Nigel was nicknamed Il' Leone for his aggressiveness on the race track winning on his first time out for the Italian team in Brazil - A truly memorable race weekend.
Nigel returned to the Williams team in 1991 with the sole goal of winning the World Championship. The 91 season was successful and the following year on the 16th August - his daughter Chloe's birthday - in Hungary he won the long awaited moment: to stand on the podium as the 1992 Formula 1 World Champion. Has Formula 1 been the same since?
