Nigel Ernest James Mansell, British motor racing driver and Formula 1 World Champion, was born on 8 August 1953 in Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, England. His career is one of perseverance, determination and success, spanning several decades at the highest levels of motorsport. Mansell's path to motorsport began in karting, where he soon proved himself a talented driver. In 1976, he moved to Formula Ford, where he won 33 of 42 races, earning him the championship. His success in Formula Ford opened the door to Formula 3, where he continued his winning streak despite suffering serious injuries in a 1977 accident. His skills caught the attention of Colin Chapman, founder and boss of the Lotus team in Formula 1. Mansell made his F1 debut for Lotus in 1980 at the Austrian Grand Prix. During his tenure at Lotus (1980-1984) he achieved some notable results, but his first F1 race win still eluded him. In 1985 he switched to the Williams team, which proved to be the turning point of his career. He achieved his first F1 victory at the 1985 European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. In the years that followed, Mansell became one of the most competitive drivers on the grid. In 1986 he came very close to winning the World Championship, but a dramatic tyre puncture in the last race of the season in Adelaide robbed him of that opportunity. His career at Williams continued until 1988 when, after a brief stint at Ferrari (1989-1990) where he earned the nickname "Il Leone" (The Lion) for his determined driving style and doggedness, he returned to Williams in 1991. In 1992 he finally reached the pinnacle of his career when he won the F1 World Championship title. During that season he won nine races, a record at the time, and dominated the championship from start to finish. Surprisingly, after winning the F1 title, Mansell decided to retire from Formula 1 and focus on the American IndyCar series. In 1993, he continued his success when he won the IndyCar championship as a rookie, making him the first driver in history to hold the F1 and IndyCar championship titles simultaneously. Mansell briefly returned to F1 in 1994 and 1995, racing for the Williams and McLaren teams, but did not achieve the same success as before. After retiring from active racing, Mansell devoted himself to various business ventures and occasional appearances at motorsport events. Nigel Mansell remains a motorsport icon and his career is often cited as an example of courage, perseverance and fighting spirit. With a total of 31 Formula 1 victories and one championship title, he is one of the sport's greatest legends.
