The route to complete success is never easy and Nigel Mansell overcame more hurdles than most; including limited finances and serious injuries. Sheer grit, determination and self belief coupled with his driving skills ensured that his ambition was bound to become reality.

Nigel became a fully fledged F1 driver in 1981 with the Lotus team. He received his first podium after just 5 races - a sign of things to come!

Just 4 years later in 1985, Brands Hatch saw his first win. A year later in Adelaide the tyre of the Williams Honda exploded costing him a race finish - and more importantly the coveted World Championship by a single point.

1989 saw Nigel in the scarlet red car - number 27 FERRARI. He was the last driver to be picked by Enso Ferrari and this proved to be a wise choice for the late team owner. Nigel was nicknamed Il' Leone for his aggressiveness on the race track winning on his first time out for the Italian team in Brazil - A truly memorable race weekend.

Nigel returned to the Williams team in 1991 with the sole goal of winning the World Championship. The 91 season was successful and the following year on the 16th August - his daughter Chloe's birthday - in Hungary he won the long awaited moment: to stand on the podium as the 1992 Formula 1 World Champion.  Has Formula 1 been the same since?