Scott Mansell Donington summary

Zwart takes win, Mansell proves he's a true racer

August 29th, Donington Park, UK - Scott Mansell and Klaas Zwart had the crowd at Donington Park on their feet watching round six of the EuroBOSS championship racing very recent formula one cars on Sunday.

Eighteen year old Mansell the current lap record holder, who has won 4 times this year and holds 4 outright circuit records, qualified the Zig-Zag Benetton on pole but was beaten into the first corner by a brilliant move from Klaas Zwart in his much improved Ascari Judd.

Scott Mansell
"Qualifying went well, I believe it was one of the best laps I have put together around Donington even though the lap time was slower due to a slippery track. We qualified in pole position eight tenths in front of the greatly improved Ascari car, which had been to Spain for a weeks testing before the Donington race. I was pleased with the result as we still have the edge against the competition."

The crowd were then treated to fifteen laps of wheel to wheel racing as Mansell tried everything to get back past his championship rival who was strongly defending the lead. Then on lap sixteen in a breath taking manoeuvre, running side by side down the craner curves, Mansell outbraked Zwart into the old hairpin and the lead was his.

Scott Mansell
"After following him for 12 or so laps I realised I could only overtake in one place. It is one of the hardest places to overtake, coming down theCraner Curves, a series of high-G 180 mph corners.

Two laps before the end I got a good run coming out of Redgate and lined him up. I darted to the right just before the old hairpin, having to take a small amount of grass on the inside and only just about slipped through. It was probably the best manoeuvre I have ever pulled off."

Later in the lap, Zwart having greater traction from coppice onto the back straight managed to get along side the teenager before goddards, forcing Mansell wide onto the marbles and into a half spin onto the grass. Unperturbed, the teenager cleverly kept his engine running, rejoined the race and still managed to finish second behind the much improved Zwart. Patrick D'aubreby finished third on the podium in his Benetton B192.

Scott Mansell
"So with one and a half laps to go we were leading and looking good to stay there. However coming on to the back straight Zwarts car had much more traction than mine, and as we entered the following chicane he came up the inside of me, forcing me on the grit and old rubber at the side of the circuit. Having less grip now, the car over steered and I could not keep hold of it. I spun but I managed to carry on and finish second in the race. "

With two rounds remaining at Brands Hatch and Le Mans, Scott Mansell the teenager from Tamworth leads the EuroBOSS championship from Klaas Zwart by seventeen points.

-rb-