Missed opportunities

Mike Thackwell (born 30 March 1961) is a former racing driver from New Zealand who excelled in Formula 2 and in endurance racing, and who, at the age of 19, made his debut in Formula One.

Having tested for both Ensign and Tyrrell, Mike Thackwell was signed in 1980 by Ken Tyrrell as a test driver for the Tyrrell Formula One Team, he combined this programme with another F2 campaign.

Thackwell made his official Formula One debut when Tyrrell made a third car available for him at the Canadian Grand Prix. However, on the first lap Alan Jones and Nelson Piquet collided at the first turn and were hit by several cars, including Jarier and Daly, both driving Tyrrells. The race was red-flagged.

As both Jarier’s and Daly’s cars were too badly damaged to repair quickly for the second start, Thackwell was instructed by Ken Tyrrell to give up his car to Jarier…

Thackwell had another opportunity at the next race, again with Tyrrell, at the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. After he suffered a fractured brake disc during qualifying, he was unable to qualify for the race.

Between 1980 and 1984, Mike Thackwell entered 5 Formula One Grand Prix for the Arrows, Tyrrell and RAM teams, took two starts but failed to score any championship point. The New-Zealander, one of the brightest prospects of motor racing at the time, never really got the chance to prove his talent in F1.

Picture below: Mike Thackwell returned to Tyrrell in 1984 for the German Grand Prix, where he failed to qualify for just 0.055secs.