The City of Birmingham can boast many a famous face who has the pride of calling it their birthplace.
From entrepreneurs such as John Cadbury (no prizes for guessing what he was the founder off), Poets and Authors such as Benjamin Zephaniah and Barbara Cartland, Musicians such as Ozzy Osboune, and Comedians such as Jasper Carrot and Joe Lycett who all call the second city home.
However, there is one noticeable category missing off that list that deserves to possibly stand above all the rest: Sport – and there is one man in particular who has a claim to be greatest Brummie of them for all with what he achieved in his chosen discipline.
That man is Nigel Mansell.
‘Our Nige’ as he is affectionately known, took on the likes of Formula One heavyweights Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, and Nelson Piquet, and in 1992, beat the lot of them to the World Championship.
12 months later, and Mansell claimed the American IndyCar/CART title and to this day remains the only man to hold both the Formula One and IndyCar titles at the same time.
Some achievement from the man who grew up in the South East Birmingham area of Green Hall, and with so many stories and remarkable drives in his career, we look at three of his very best.
1989 Hungarian Grand Prix
In 1989, McLaren and Williams were king whilst Nigel Mansell’s Ferrari team were left as the best of the rest.
This didn’t stop Mansell from recording two wins in the season for the Scuderia though with a remarkable victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Despite only qualifying 12th in his ill handling Ferrari, Mansell soon set about working his way through the pack lapping at 2 seconds a lap faster than the rest of the field.
Up to second, it was a straight shootout between Mansell and Ayrton Senna. A sweeping move saw the Englishman through, and he didn’t look back winning by 25 seconds.
1992 British Grand Prix
1992 saw Mansell dominate F1 in his famous ‘Red 5’ Williams Renault.
The British Grand Prix was a particular highlight and sent home fans crazy with excitement especially after Mansell stuck his Williams a full 1.9 seconds ahead of second place.
A poor getaway saw team mate Riccardo Patrese pass him into the first corner, but the Birmingham star was soon back through and would go on to win by 39 seconds to emotional scenes.
A month later he would go on to be crowned Formula One World champion.
1993 New Hampshire Indy 225
In his first-year racing in the American Open Wheel Championship (IndyCar/CART before the split), Mansell won the title.
Even more impressive was that of his five wins, four were on oval circuits – a far cry from Formula One.
Mansell showed his natural driving ability and at the New Hampshire Indy 225, won his most impressive race Stateside.
Mansell spent the entire race in a battle with Penske drivers Emerson Fittipaldi and Paul Tracy and came out on top in a race long 200-mile-an-hour dual.
Even after the race Mansell claimed that was one of his top three drives in his career and we agree.
