Biography

Nigel has a history of back injuries:- 1. Broke his back in an 'F3' accident in 1979, apparently ending his career. However, he'd already been spotted by Colin Chapman of 'Lotus', who gave him an 'F1' race seat in mid 1980. 2. Crushed some vertebrae in his spine in a practice accident in the 1987 Japanese Grand Prix. The bottom of his spine had endured a 60g impact. 3. Injured his back in practice crash for the 1993 Phoenix 'IndyCar' race, which punctured the outside concrete retaining wall of the track. Desperate to return ASAP, he had needles drain litres of fluid from his back in between practice sessions for the following race. He won the race and later the championship.

1992 Formula 1 World Champion, 1993 CART Champion & CART Rookie of the Year.

In an indirect way, Nigel Mansell served as an involuntary 'shield' for Alain Prost at the 1984 Portuguese Grand Prix. With Prost (1st) and Niki Lauda (3rd), Prost would have been champion by 1.5 point; however, a brake issue on Mansell's Lotus on lap 52 ended this unintended assistance to the Frenchman.

The number 5 Williams of Nigel Mansell became red starting with the 1985 Canadian Grand Prix to make the car more easily distinguishable of number 6 car of from his teammate, Keke Rosberg. From a distance, the original white numbers looked too similar. Nigel Mansell used this number consistently throughout his first tenure (1985-1988) and upon his return in 1991 and 1992. The British public and media affectionately adopted the "Red Five" moniker for Nigel Mansell's car, which was famously popularized by the iconic BBC Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker.

Was the last driver to be picked personally by Enzo Ferrari to drive for him before his death in August 1988.