He is a legend by definition, a man with a never-say-die attitude and a career that was fearless from the start.
That start began back when Nigel Mansell was just six years old, living in Hall Green in Birmingham.
Before 1959, Nigel had a little bike, and he was trying to be an engineer and saw someone with handlebars that were the wrong way and he used a spanner to turn them the other way.
As he rode it away, at his first turn the handlebars turned the other way but the wheel didn’t, so he fell off in front of a bus.
A police officer spotted him and walked him home – that is when he thought he needed to learn more about engineering.
But, it was his father, Eric, who inspired Nigel to get behind the wheel. He worked for Lucas Aerospace and bought him a one-wheel kart and Nigel never looked back.
Nigel karted all the way up to the age of 20, then he moved onto single-seaters and Formula Ford. In 1976, he had his first Formula Ford race.
Nigel Mansell in the Lotus 91. Credit: PA images
Fast forward and Nigel was making his debut in Formula 1, but it was a painful one as he was getting burnt while sitting in the car on the grid because the fuel tank was leaking into the cockpit at the 1980 Austrian Grand Prix.
But after that, he never looked back. One of the best ways to describe Nigel is humble.
He was teammates with some of the best drivers to grace the sport, with his favourites being Riccardo Patrese and Keke Rosberg, and his not-so-favourites being Alain Prost, Mario Andretti and Nelson Piquet.
In his own words, he didn’t know he “could beat his teammate”.
But he was extremely determined, sometimes aggressive, but always daring, which made him one of the exciting drivers.
Someone who saw that talent within Nigel was the great Colin Chapman. He gave Nigel the chance to try out with Lotus.
When he spoke about Colin, you could instantly tell how much he meant to Nigel. He was like a father figure to him.
Lotus boss Colin Chapman launches the new Lotus 87 at Brands Hatch with drivers Elio de Angelis (left) and Nigel Mansell (right). Credit: PA images
Giving him some of the best advice of his career and life. It wasn’t just the advice he gave to Nigel, but his actions too.
Nigel said he remembers when he qualified third with Lotus, and Colin asked him why he wasn’t happy. Nigel replied that he was, but it would’ve been more lovely if his wife, Roseanne, were with him.
Colin asked why she wasn’t there, and Nigel said that he couldn’t afford for her to be there.
He was paid £25,000 for his contract, but had to pay for his own hotels, airfares and car hire, and his wife was working to subsidise him. So, Colin decided to double his wage that week, so Roseanne could retire and be with him at certain races.
A year later, Nigel didn’t qualify for the British Grand Prix as the car was banned; he was crestfallen. Nigel said they were going through a tough time in his personal life.
They were renting a semi-detached place, and people kept knocking on the door asking for autographs because they lived close to the street.
Nigel felt they were getting harassed, and they couldn’t get a mortgage because he didn’t earn enough. So, Colin gave him a cheque worth £70,000, so he could move.
Nigel said that when Colin passed away so early in their relationship in 1982, “it was like the arms had just been chopped off your body.”
Lotus boss Colin Chapman with driver Nigel Mansell in 1981. Credit: PA images
Two-years-later he moved onto Williams and started to upset the applecart by winning races, but he was getting an unwanted record.
The former Formula 1 driver Stirling Moss told Nigel that he was the driver with most wins to never win the championship. So, Nigel decided to give it back to him.
In 1992, Nigel managed to fulfil the dream of a boy from Birmingham by winning the Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship.
But, he felt like he’d become the people’s champion years before. Oh, and he also managed to give that unwanted record back to Stirling Moss.
His driving career was littered with records and triumphs including becoming the last driver to be personally selected by the great Enzo Ferrari to represent The Prancing Horse.
Something which he is immensely proud of, and he knows what it means to make the Tifosi proud. They even called him their moustachioed British hero ‘Il Leone’ (The Lion).
He believes the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will do as well. His message to Lewis is to hang on in there, and he will get it.
One of the most iconic moments from Nigel’s career was when he gave a lift to the Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna.
Senna’s car had broken down, so Nigel decided to pick him up. Despite the efforts of a steward, they both drove off.
Ayrton Senna rides on Nigel Mansell’s Williams Renualt after he ran out of fuel on the last lap of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Credit: PA images
Mansell also went off to IndyCar racing in America, where he immediately dominated, even on the unfamiliar high-speed ovals, and became the 1993 IndyCar champion.
In 1995, Nigel hung up his helmet and left the sport he loved for good.
Now, after gaining so much, he wants to give back. Nigel has done a number of charitable works. Including working with UK Youth.
It’s a charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives.
Nigel’s involvement with the charity dates back to the 1990s, when it ran a programme to teach young people about cars, including safe driving practices.
Since he became president in 1999, he has worked tirelessly to support and promote the charity.
So, what bit of advice does Nigel have for the next generation?
Nigel said: “The advice I would give, regardless of what sort of background you come from, is sometimes you only have one or two opportunities, don’t drop the ball.
“When you get the opportunity…if you prepare yourself, programme your mind and make sure you know what is going to come at you, so whatever comes at you, you’re ready for it…just be prepared, look at every angle, no surprises, you know you can do a good job, do the good job, it will be noticed.”
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