In what might be the promotional coup of the year, Ford Brasil have not only managed to put fierce rivals Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet in a room together, they’ve given them another crack at each other on track as well.
Promoting the new Ford Fusion, they appear here in the first two of four videos. They’re beautifully shot and feature plenty of nice touches that should whet your appetite (well done to those who picked up Mansell slapping the #6 sign). The first videos don’t show any on-track action, but leaked photos from the shoot show a disgruntled Nige and two very poorly looking Fusions.
We’ll be posting the next two videos as well, so check back soon.
very nice. Can’t wait for the next videos. I was at silverstone in 1987. Brings back great memories of two legends.
Mr. Harmer
There was a special interview in “Linha de Chegada” (Finish Line) at SporTV, a cable TV channel from Globo TV Network, last thursday with both, in english (courtesy for the foreign guest). There you can spot the diference between the two characters and spirits.
Sorry, last tuesday… It will surely be on Youtube soon.
Thanks Ricardo,
If you find it before we do, don’t hesitate to post it here. I’m very curious to see how they are around each other after all these years.
Nigel has said it was a shame that Nelson resorted to name-calling in the press because he liked him otherwise and respected him as a driver. Maybe time does heal all wounds.
ACH
Great idea from Ford, I could almost see the electric arcs jumping between them when they approach!
I bet those old hands can teach one thing or two about drivers rivalry to today’s F1 boys, and although I don’t know how those videos follow, I would add a referee between them: Alain Prost
There they are…
sportv.globo.com/site/programas/linha-de-chegada/
or…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA8SzBXLEyo
Perhaps the video is aimed to a senior audience, youngsters might no have a clue about who they are and why is that happening there.
And there I was thinking I was still a youngster. You’ve aged me Ivan!
ACH
“We’re not too old for this s…”
Nelson is still like a 20 year old when he speaks, mansell more like the old calm ex world champ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNZxeWJVJr4
Mansell looks a lot younger than Piquet, surely by lacking grey hair and his moustache (which gave him a dramatic air in Regazzoni’s style). And the difference in height between them seems to have dissapeared.
“Nelson is still like a 20 year old when he speaks, mansell more like the old calm ex world champ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNZxeWJVJr4 ”
Jesus, that’s a cheap shot even by Nelsons standards…..
Nelson, still as immature as a 20 year old and still as innately insecure as he ever was.
I bet Nelson has a spare Fusion with active suspension!
‘Our Nige goes for a Brasilian’?
Hmmm….it looks tough for Nelson. The Fusion wheelbase is not to easy to shorten at the start line as the Williams’ and that is not the Hungaroring. And Mansell’s experience at the BTCC can’t be understated.
I liked those first two, especially the first. Kind of had a good “Western” feel to it.
It’s interesting to speculate what was the reason by which Ford choose Mansell and Piquet when their rivalry is so identified with Honda. Stewart and Fittipaldi would have been more adequate in my opinion, although these gentlemen drivers respected (and still do) each other so much in and out of the track as to take out all tension to the videos.
I reckon NM and NP battled so hard for the title two years in a row and through the press as MS and D. Hill for example, but in the end such rivalries were not so deep for me. I consider the most dramatic one between a pair still alive is Jones-Reutemann because an abyss separated them in every order (and I think even today), and Patrick Head is still being asked about it thirty years later. Aaah!, what a video would be one featuring them!
Funniest thing about these interviews they’ve been giving was when they asked Piquet what was the best moment of the season in which he won his 3rd championship. And Piquet said “Nigel’s crash”…
This is very strange. Never thought I’d see it.
Mansell v Piquet is Senna v Prost Lite.
LOL!, …as a Honda B team, Paul!!
Ivan, I think they’ve been chosen due to the New Fusion beeing turbocharged. You can see on video 3 (it has already been released!!!!!) that Piquet’s been asked about the engine’s response while driving practice laps.
Those two are the only “rival duo” complete nowadays. Sad Ayrton is no longer here, because Honda could take him and Mr. Prost for the launch of some “New Civic Turbo-Sedan”, or something like that…
I meant “Turbo Rival Duo”…
I understand your point, Ricardo, although it still leaves Ford short as its turbo engine was not a winner in Mansell and Piquet era. Perhaps a wishful thinking from them for the future?
When are the next episodes available !?!!!