Mike Thackwell
Michael Thackwell (born 30 March 1961 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a former racing driver, who participated in a number of prominent racing categories, including Formula One. The second youngest driver ever to qualify for a Grand Prix, he participated in five of them, making his first start on 28 September 1980 at the Canadian Grand Prix. He scored no championship points. He had previously attempted unsuccessfully to qualify for the Dutch Grand Prix which was held on 31 August 1980.
Thackwell has been described as a "teenage sensation", a "maverick" and as "something of a cult hero". Outside Formula One, he competed successfully in Formula Three, Formula Two, Formula 3000 and sports cars, amongst other categories.
In 1984, Thackwell won the European Formula Two Championship. He was runner up in that championship in 1983, and in its successor, the International Formula 3000 Championship, in 1985. In each case, he was driving a works Ralt. In 1984 and 1986, he won the Pau Grand Prix, also in a works Ralt. In the latter year, he combined with co-driver Henri Pescarolo to win the 1000km Nürburgring sports car race, in a Sauber C8.
Read more about Mike Thackwell: Early Life, Starter Formulae, Formula One Debut, Later Career
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