Mansell-Ferrari partnership appears promising

Press, 22 July 1988, Page 32

Mansell-Ferrari partnership appears promising

The excitement on the track at the recent British Grand Prix meeting at Silverstone was almost overshadowed by the announcement that the local hero, Nigel Mansell, had put his signature to a multi-million-dollar Ferrari contract for next year.

His name will be added to an elite list of Englishmen including Mike Hawthorn, Peter Collins, John Surtees, Mike Parkes, Jonothan Williams and Derek Bell who have driven for the famous Italian marque.

Mansell’s decision also brings to an end a chequered four-year association with the Williams team that almost netted the popular 33-year-old Briton two world drivers’ championships. Mansell

will replace the Italian, Michele Alboreto, who had intended moving to supposedly greener pastures at the end of this season.

These pastures could be provided by Ken Tyr-

rell, the man who gave the Italian, aged 32, his break into Formula One in 1981. At the moment it is understood that these men are close to an agreement. Alboreto’s negotiations with his former employer may have been influenced by the decision of the long-time Ferrari designer, Harvey Postlethwaite, to sever his Italian connections in favour of returning to England and the Surreybased Tyrrell organisation.

It has been announced that Mansell’s place at Williams will be taken by Thierry Boutsen, once the Belgian’s contract with Benetton expires at the end of the year. On paper, Mansell’s partnership with Ferrari looks promising, especi-

ally when one considers that next year’s car will be the entire brainchild of the former McLaren designer, John Barnard, and will feature the allnew, eagerly awaited Ferrari VI2 engine. On the other side of the coin though, Mansell could find his efforts hampered somewhat by the seemingly eternal bickering that plagues what is arguably the most revered name in grand prix racing.

Should Ferrari launch a united assault on the world championship next year Mansell could quite easily emulate the deeds of his compatriots, Hawthorn and Surtees, and win that elusive world title in a scarlet car, bred from the stable of the legendary prancing horse.