Mike Thackwell
New Zealand racing driver (born 1961) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Michael Christopher Thackwell (born 30 March 1961)[1] is a former racing driver from New Zealand, who participated in a number of prominent racing categories, including Formula 1. The sixth 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.
Born | (1961-03-30) 30 March 1961 (age 63) Papakura, Auckland, New Zealand |
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Formula One World Championship career | |
Nationality | New Zealander |
Active years | 1980, 1984 |
Teams | Arrows, Tyrrell, RAM |
Entries | 5 (2 starts) |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 0 |
Podiums | 0 |
Career points | 0 |
Pole positions | 0 |
Fastest laps | 0 |
First entry | 1980 Dutch Grand Prix |
Last entry | 1984 German Grand Prix |
Thackwell has been described as a "teenage sensation",[2] a "maverick"[3] and as "something of a cult hero".[3] 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. Also in 1986, he won the Pau Grand Prix, again in a works Ralt. Later in the year, he combined with Henri Pescarolo to win the 1000km Nürburgring sports car race, in a Sauber C8.