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If F1 had its own Hall of Heroes, Nigel Mansell would be at the top. Broken bones, fireballs, even a brush with cancer – Nigel Mansell has taken the worst the F1 world can throw at him and come back swinging. How? Well, let me tell you.

Unlike many others, Mansell didn't have an easy life. Born on August 8, 1953, in Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, his parents, Eric and Joyce Mansell, ran a tea shop. Mansell had a slow start to his racing career, using his own money to climb the ranks. After finding success in kart racing, he moved to the Formula Ford series, despite his father's disapproval.
In 1976, Mansell won six out of the nine races he entered, including his debut at Mallory Park.
And then struck a tragedy!
In 1977, during a qualifying session at Brands Hatch, Mansell broke his neck. Doctors said he was dangerously close to becoming a quadriplegic, that he’d be bedridden for six months, and that he’d never drive again. Mansell discharged himself from the hospital, went back to racing, and won 33 races, making him the 1977 British Formula Ford champion.

Mansell raced in Formula Three from 1978 to 1980. His first season started strong with a pole position and a second-place finish. The next season, he drove for David Price Racing. After his first win in the series at Silverstone in March, he finished eighth in the championship. He was consistent, but a crash with Andrea de Cesaris led to a massive cartwheeling accident, which he was lucky to survive. Once again, he ended up in the hospital, this time with broken vertebrae.

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