45. With James Hunt on the golf course. He was one of the greatest characters of motorsport.
46. Flying my Jet Star during the time I lived and worked in the US.
47. I’ve also had the chance to have plenty of fun in the water, as here at Surfers Paradise, perfecting the Rocket Ride, which was a new challenge.
48. Fishing is another passion of mine, whether out at sea or somewhere a little calmer.
49. The John O’Groats to Paris charity ride was a major undertaking and we all had to muck in to ensure we could complete the challenge.
50. The aim was to raise money for UK Youth and the trip was just about the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, cycling 1320 miles in 11 days just nine days after breaking my collarbone. I was lucky to be supported throughout by some fantastic riders and crew too numerous to mention.
51. My last motorsport race: the 2010 Le Mans. After a crash during the race, I decided it was time to call it a day.
52. However, I am still involved in the sport as an FIA steward. Here I am back at Silverstone with Martin Sorrell, Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt.
53. With my family after receiving my CBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in February 2012.
54. We had to do a lot of work to restore the home of the Mansell Collection to its former glory.
55. The Mansell Collection we have on display in Jersey, above our Mitsubishi franchise, is packed with fond memories from my career.
1. The tea shop in Baughton, near Upton-upon-Severn, where I was born in 1953.
2. Sitting in a kart in the local park with my younger sister Gail.
3. With Rosanne at Cadwell Park in 1972 – note racing number 44, long before Lewis Hamilton was born.
4. Rosanne shows off our lovely new Mini Clubman that we bought soon after we got married in 1975.
5. Karting in the rain at Little Rissington.
6. Formula Ford was very popular, as this picture taken in 1977 shows. It was my first full season at this level, and I took a big step forward in my career that year.
7. Racing in Formula Ford was exciting, but I wasn’t yet at the stage of having any sponsors on my car.
8. My Unipart car on its way to ending upside down in 1979. This was my first full season in Formula 3, and it ended up being a good one.
9. Celebrating a win at Silverstone in 1979 – my performances that year caught the eye of Colin Chapman.
10. With Colin Chapman of Lotus, the man who not only gave me the opportunity to race in Formula 1, but taught me so many other lessons about life.
11. Elio de Angelis was my first team-mate in grand prix racing – a lovely guy and a brilliant driver.
12. Unsurprisingly, the twin-chassis Lotus that Colin developed attracted lots of attention – and was banned before it could ever race.
13. Resting on the pit wall with Rosanne during the Detroit Grand Prix.
14. Walking away from the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix with a broken arm. Sadly, Riccardo Paletti wasn’t so lucky that day – along with Gilles Villeneuve, he was one of two drivers to be killed in horrific accidents that season.
15. On the podium at Brands Hatch after coming third in the European Grand Prix of 1983, my best finish of a difficult season.
16. I led the Monaco Grand Prix in 1984 – the first race after Mom’s funeral. Many drivers crashed that day and the race was stopped shortly after I went off.
17. Everyone shelters from the scorching sun in Dallas, 1984. After two hours between concrete walls on a track that was breaking up, there was little left to push the car, but we did it anyway, resulting in my lights going out.
18. Keke Rosberg and me, along with the rest of our new Williams team-mates in 1985.
19. Celebrating my first ever grand prix victory, at Brands Hatch in 1985 – an amazing achievement to join the winners’ circle of F1 racing, something that many drivers sadly never get to do.
20. Rosanne, Leo, me, Greg and Chloe together. It was hard to maintain a normal family life with being constantly on the Formula 1 circuit, and Rosanne had to sacrifice so much to support my career.
21. Happy times on the Isle of Man, albeit a little windy.
22. The closest finish ever recorded in Formula 1. After a huge battle with Ayrton Senna, he just pips me to the chequered flag in the 1986 Spanish Grand Prix.
23. With my Williams team-mate Nelson Piquet. Our working relationship was difficult at times.
24. Piquet is behind me as I close in on victory in the 1986 British Grand Prix, my fourth win in five races.
25. The devastation is clear on my face after an exploding tyre forced me out of the grand prix in Adelaide at the end of that season, costing me the world title.
26. Making a point to Murray Walker. In many people’s minds, the two of us formed a Formula 1 double act.
27. One of my favourite victories: the 1987 British Grand Prix. I’d just gone ahead of Piquet after pulling off a special manoeuvre on Nelson.
28. In agony after taking 75G through my spine following a crash in qualifying on the Suzuka circuit in 1987 – it brought a premature end to my season, as I finished runner-up once more.
29. My time with Ferrari couldn’t have got off to a better start, as I win my first race – at Rio in 1989.
30. After this spectacular crash in the French Grand Prix, I still managed to finish second, but overall I completed just six races in that season.
31. Sharing a light-hearted moment with Alain Prost during the 1990 season, but his arrival meant the Ferrari team became more focused on him.
32. A great shot of a great car at the British Grand Prix, after which I announced my retirement.
33. Working with the Williams team once again in 1991. With my engineer David Brown, Adrian Newey and Sir Frank Williams.
34. Clean shaven after I became concerned that my moustache was making me more susceptible to hay fever. Sir Dave Brailsford isn’t the only one to look at ‘marginal gains’ to improve performance.
35. Giving Senna a lift after his car had run out of fuel at the end of the 1991 British Grand Prix. A spontaneous gesture of goodwill.
36. Celebrating my win at the 1992 Spanish Grand Prix with runner-up Michael Schumacher, where he showed what a brilliant driver he was.
37. The crowd poured onto the Silverstone track after I’d won my 28th grand prix, taking me past Sir Jackie Stewart’s British record. The fans were, as usual, awesome.
38. With five races still to go, my second place at the Hungarian Grand Prix means that I am finally world champion. Standing to attention to listen to the National Anthem was a moment I will keep with me for the rest of my life.
39. Celebrating another trophy with Paul Newman and Carl Haas. It was the filmstar who persuaded me to drive for his IndyCar team in 1993.
40. Racing at Surfers Paradise, where I won my first IndyCar race, was so much fun.
41. The worst accident of my career at Phoenix when I crashed while going at 187mph, puncturing a three-foot hole in the concrete.
42. Stretchered away from the track, the pathologists told me they’d only seen injuries like mine on victims of plane crashes. Despite the damage – I had to have 148 stitches in my back – I returned to racing just two weeks later.
43. Talking to my team-mate Damon Hill in Adelaide soon after my return to Formula 1 following the death of Ayrton Senna. He was battling with Schumacher for the world title, but when they collided, it saddened me greatly to have a grandstand seat as I watched this unfold.
44. My brief spell at McLaren in 1995 lasted just two races before I decided to call time on my F1 career.
45. With James Hunt on the golf course. He was one of the greatest characters of motorsport.
46. Flying my Jet Star during the time I lived and worked in the US.
47. I’ve also had the chance to have plenty of fun in the water, as here at Surfers Paradise, perfecting the Rocket Ride, which was a new challenge.
48. Fishing is another passion of
mine, whether out at sea or somewhere a little calmer.
49. The John O’Groats to Paris charity ride was a major undertaking and we all had to muck in to ensure we could complete the challenge.
50. The aim was to raise money for UK Youth and the trip was just about the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, cycling 1320 miles in 11 days just nine days after breaking my collarbone. I was lucky to be supported throughout by some fantastic riders and crew too numerous to mention.
51. My last motorsport race: the 2010 Le Mans. After a crash during the race, I decided it was time to call it a day.
52. However, I am still involved in the sport as an FIA steward. Here I am back at Silverstone with Martin Sorrell, Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt.
53. With my family after receiving my CBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in February 2012.
54. We had to do a lot of work to restore the home of the Mansell Collection to its former glory.
55. The Mansell Collection we have on display in Jersey, above our Mitsubishi franchise, is packed with fond memories from my career.
Nigel Mansell Autobiography Page 36
