Veteran British Formula One champion Nigel Mansell is making a return to top-flight racing with the announcement that he will be entering September’s 1000km of Silverstone sportscar event.
And “Our Nige,” who has been absent from the cockpit since May 2007 when he drove in the FIA GT championship at Silverstone in a Ferrari GT2, is set to appear alongside his younger son Greg.
Mansell & Son will be racing in-house Ginetta squad Team LNT’s Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 prototype, along with team boss Lawrence Tomlinson, in the Le Mans Series season finale on September 11-13. Tomlinson recently drove for the team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
And the pairing gains a little extra spice from the fact that elder son Leo, pursuing a sportscar career of his own in the Le Mans Series, will not be working for the family firm but driving for his regular Ferrari GT team.
Mansell père said: “It’s going to be very special for me to be racing again at Silverstone where I’ve some of my most memorable wins. I’m delighted that Lawrence has given us the opportunity to compete in the Ginetta-Zytek.”
Rumours that he was contemplating a return to sportscar racing, and even a possible 24 Hours of Le Mans entry, were kicked off over the winter after the pair tested a Ginetta at Estoril. They are also reported to have tested the current car at Snetterton this week.
Greg Mansell recently parted company with his Ultimate Motorsport team with two dates remaining in the World Series Formula Renault 3.5 after an extremely subdued season left him without a single top-eight finish.
Find out more about the 1000km of Silverstone at the circuit’s website here >>