Impressing Colin Chapman

Nigel Mansell’s skill as a test driver, including setting the fastest lap around Silverstone in a Lotus car at the time, impressed Colin Chapman enough to give him a trio of starts in F1 in 1980. Despite being unpopular with sponsor David Thieme of Essex Petroleum, Chapman announced at the start of the 1981 season that the seat vacated by Mario Andretti (who left to join Alfa Romeo) would be filled by Mansell.

Chapman and Mansell are seen here-above at Montréal in 1981, where the Brit had to retire after a collision.

Mansell’s four years as a full-time Lotus driver were a struggle, as the cars were unreliable. Out of 59 race starts with the team, he finished just 24 of them but still managed to finish five times third during the four years, before moving to Williams for the 1985 season. First victories and a fantastic career would follow.