Mansell Hunts Down Senna | 1992 Monaco Grand Prix

A late pit stop for leader Nigel Mansell dropped him behind Ayrton Senna in Monte Carlo back in 1992. On fresher rubber, watch as the British driver ruthlessly hounds the Brazilian for the final five laps of the race.

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[Music] [Music] and center into his 73rd lap and he’s leading Nigel Manel by 5 seconds with Manel having to leave the pit lane and speed up. Now, Nigel Manel, of course, he wants to win this race, but in fact, if he finished second, he would still be commandingly in the World Championship lead, but he’s certainly not giving in there, taking Eric Kass lap 73. After this, we’ve got laps 74, 5, 6, 7, and 8 with the possibility of Senna winning a Grand Prix for the first time since Australia 1991 having been beaten of course on the first five in South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and San Marino by the man who is second to him now. Bitter bitter luck for Nigel Manel. There he is in second place. Now let’s see as Senna goes through at the end of this lap whether Manel has lapped faster on the first flying lap that he’s had since he left the pit lane. I just get through the pits now because center will be coming past our position shortly. He has just done so and center has gone through. Nigel Manel is exiting the ras up towards the start and finish line into lap 74. And so it’s down to 4.3 seconds, but but I can’t see Manel catching him. Well, he’s going to catch him. New lap record tonight for Manel. He’s got fresh tires on obviously. Tremendous grip advantage and he uh he really put his life in or his his race in Eric Com’s hands when he went through at the Mirabo. Then he came from a long way back. So he’s in real racing charging mood. That’s all. And there is the new lap record captured up. And that’s knocked a whole second off or just more than a second than Dansel’s previous fastest lap. Remember, he’s got fresh tires on. Maybe an absolutely crucial advantage in the battle to get past center. But center can and will, I’m sure, make his McLaren grow immensely in width when Bansel catches him. Manel will catch him by the end of the next lap. I would have thought absolutely flying about halfway around the next lap of this race. This is really exciting stuff. This is coming up towards the end of lap 74 in this 70 lap race, 78 lap race. And you’re looking at the first and second place man Nidle on fresh tires. He’s got an advantage there. But as James has said, the Brazilian will be able to position his McLaren Honda all the way around the circuit to make it desperately difficult for Nigel Manel to get past. And there’s another new lap record for Manel. 1 minute 21.598, which is nearly 2 seconds faster than the previous lap record and quicker than Brundle. They’re coming down now to Lowe’s again. Getting very close to sort of qualifying between Mantle Center. It would be crucial for Senna to get past him. It’s for Delara and JJ Net. He’s quite experienced, but he’s could be excused for not knowing what’s going on and that we got a major battle for the lead right behind him. center and Manel made it through as well. Edo saw them coming. So that’s one back marker out of the way. Set won’t want back markers in this. He’ll fancy his chances to be able to block Manel. I would have thought without the help of any back markers. And as they come through to complete lap 75 with three laps to go after they have done so has got to keep Manel behind him for three whole laps and Manel will never have been more determined to get past anybody. These two are the impeccable rivals in Formula 1. And you can see for yourselves what the situation is now as Manel swarms around all over the McLaren into Casino Square again. There’s three laps of this. The net and center has got to resist and Nigel Manel knows that the man ahead of him is the man that can deny him his sixth successive Grand Prix victory and his first Monaco Grand Prix [Music] win. And it could be the chicane. Remember that last year the chicane that they approached after they have left the tunnel is where Manel did his stupifying passing maneuver on Alan Cross Ferrari to move up to second place. This is where he did it. The center probably remembers that too. This is lap 76. They’re going to be starting the last lap for one at the end of this one. What a battle for the lead. center closes the door of the swimming [Applause] pool. Now this is Nel’s opportunity as they come up to Sand Devot. He’s tucked right under the rear wing of Senn McLaren. This is the start of lap 77, the last lap of one. Even if Manel doesn’t get past center and he’s going to have a job, this is going to be probably the closest finish we’ve ever had at Monaco. This is really tremendous stuff. Nigel Manel really showing us what he hasn’t had a chance to show us all year. What a racer he is. And this is it. The center all his skills involved. He’s got a much much slower car to see. Quite apart from the different relative performance of the actual cars, his got very flat out tires on his car. Manel’s got fresh rubber on all the grip in the world, but this is narrow. This is Monaco. And uh it will be a major achievement if Mansville can get past right with him. Right with him. Center blocking away and sliding a lot. Z knocking it down and almost going to a dead stop there. [Music] Manel weaving this way and that way but center won’t let him pass. He’s got the racing line. He’s going to keep it. This last lap coming up of course is going to be the crucial [Music] one. See center’s just got to put his car in the right position and there’s no way the man could get through and it won’t be at the rest. It could be at Sanderbot again, but Center demonstrates that Honda have caught up with Renault as terms of engine power. Vansel said he had they had yesterday and Center actually pulls away a little bit last lap. You can see how careful center is as he exits the Rascat. He doesn’t hurry through it. He gets the car pointed and gets on the power very early. That’s protected him each time. and uh center through the casino square down the hill to Mirabbo is an important point but he’s got just enough breathing space there from Nigel Manel and it’s going to be from the chicane onwards no passing here around the forier and not into the tunnel center early on the power I’m sure now through the bend in the tunnel it’s got to be That brilliantly courageous move by Nigel Manel if he’s going to win the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time because Senna knows that he’s got considerably less than half a lap between himself and his first victory of 1992. This is the swimming pool. It’s only the left here, the right, the right again, the left and into the rasc. But I do not see how Manel, even Nigel Manel on fresh tires, is going to be able to get by. He can’t. And center has won the Monaco Grand Prix almost certainly as he exits the rest. Manel closes, but it’s too late and center wins at Monaco for the fifth time in six years. An incredible achievement. And I think he’s blown his engine as he does so.