Nigel Mansell got back in a V12 Ferrari Formula 1 car for an emotional and spectacular FOS demonstration yesterday at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The 1992 World Champion spent some of his favourite racing days driving Ferrari’s 640 series of Formula 1 cars with their revolutionary paddle-shift transmissions. Off the start line on the Goodwood Hill, it was like Brazil 1989 all over again, as our Nige held nothing back. It was a spectacular run as he fully exercised the V12 and put the 639 prototype through its paces up the Hill.
At the end of the day, Nigel Mansell described what it was like to be reunited with some of his former Ferrari cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. To mark the 30th anniversary of his 1992 World Championship win, the 68-year-old headed to Goodwood this weekend to get back in the cockpit of some of the most iconic cars of his Formula 1 career, including a Lotus 91, two Ferrari cars and the Williams FW14B that he drove in his title-winning F1 championship.
Yesterday, Nigel Mansell enjoyed a ride behind the wheel of the Ferrari 640 which was the car he first drove when he joined the famous Maranello team, as he British driver finished fourth in the Drivers’ standings that season, but secured a victory in the first event of the championship.
Nigel Mansell admitted the experience of getting back in the car was “incredible.”
“I mean sitting in the car this morning,” Nigel Mansell said. “The memories that come flooding back is astonishing and very special time with Ferrari and the 640. Here is an iconic car, winning first time out in Rio. That fantastic race in Hungary from 12th on the grid to win the race and passing Ayrton [Senna] in the way that we did in the race was just marvellous memories.” – he added.
British former racing driver stayed two seasons alongside the Maranello team and them before moving back to his former team Williams but admitted his time with Ferrari and the support he received from the Ferrari fans has always been “very special.”
“The Italian fans, the fans worldwide are just incredible, but when you drive for Ferrari it’s something very special. If you’re two years of age in Italy or 92 years of age, everybody knows who drives for Ferrari and if you win a race it’s not like winning a race in any other country in the world because all the bells throughout the country, ring in all the churches and everything else. I mean, how many teams get a visit from the Pope? It’s an institution, Ferrari’s an institution.” – Nigel Mansell said.
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Tomorrow, Nigel Mansell will continue his demo runs at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed with Williams and explained it is going to be an experience he is indeed looking forward to if one he was also a bit apprehensive about.
“It was wonderful [driving the Ferrari]. Last night, we were reacquainted after a long, long time and we had a little practice go up the hill. The car obviously is a little bit delicate. But first and second gear it’s okay to give it the berries a little bit but, this car, it jumps gear, so you have to be very protective because we want the cars to run every day. But the Williams especially we have to be very careful but looking forward to driving it on Sunday. It’s an amazing car and the mechanics did a fantastic job to get it running yesterday. So it’s just a joy to be here, to drive it.” – the former Formula One racing driver concluded.
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