@Mansell_Nigel • TORONTO, ON (CANADA) – Nigel Mansell will be inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame at the 20th annual Induction Ceremonies, presented by Canadian Tire, at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, September 27.
Known as ‘Our Nige’ in Britain, Mansell’s determination and combativeness made him ‘Our Nige’ in Canada as well in Formula One in Montreal and Indy car in Vancouver and Toronto.
The only racer to win F-1 and Indy car( CART) world championships back-to-back, 1992 and 1993, Mansell is this year’s international inductee, joining Canadian Inductees Scott Maxwell, Paul Tracy, Diana Carter, John Magill and Norris McDonald. Ironically Mansell won his Indy style championship (1993) the same year Tracy won his first event (Long Beach).
“I was very pleased and honored to hear from my friend and CMHF chairman, Dr. Hugh Scully, that I have been elected to the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame,” Mansell said.
“I have always enjoyed my racing in Canada, both in Formula One and Indy car. My wife Roseanne and I look forward to being part of the ceremony in Toronto.”
Spectacular wherever he raced, Mansell was particularly dynamic at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where he won from the pole in 1986 driving a Williams Honda Turbo, his breakthrough year.
Mansell utterly dominated F-1 in 1992 (driving a Williams Renault) : fastest qualifier for 14 of 16 Grands Prix, winner of nine.
During his next step in his career, Indy car ( CART) in 1993, Mansell won first-time-out, from pole, in the season opener in Australia. Although classified a rookie by the American series, Mansell won five races on his way to the championship – a total matched only by Paul Tracy,
In Canadian Indy car events, Mansell demonstrated his determination to be fastest even when finishing first wasn’t in the cards. Although his Lolas didn’t handle as well as other competitors, Mansell wrestled the Newman-Haas entries to front-row starts in both Canadian races in 1994. Finishing was the challenge. Mansell took the lead at Toronto’s Exhibition Place only to pit with a flat tire and later dropped out with handling problems.
Tickets for this fan friendly celebration will be available through the Hall’s website www.cmhf.ca by July 21st, 2014. Last year’s event sold out within three weeks.
From Sid Priddle for the CMHF
{fcomment}
Discussion about this post