The First Spanish GP at the Circuit De Catalunya Was An Epic Event

The first GRAN PREMIO DE ESPANA at the Circuit De Catalunya took place on 29 September, 1991. Here's an eyewitness account...

Nigel Mansell won the race in his patented style: barging past rivals who dared to get in his way (Berger and Senna), shaking his fist at stupid backmarkers who wouldn't move over (Brundle), thrilling the fans with his teetering-on-the-brink style, and scaring his boss Frank Williams who called the Mansell vs Senna wheel-to-wheel duel “one of the great battles between two absolute warriors." 

"One of the great battles between two absolute warriors" (Frank Williams)
Here's a F1.com video from youtube>>>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa5gP-xscpY

Mansell's prolonged out-braving move on Senna at the end of the straight saw their wheels approximately 10 centimeters apart for what seemed like a very long time. His jumping of Berger on the inside of a corner "was tougher because we both dived in very deep, then lost traction. We were very close!"

Sure, his second place was OK, but it didn't seem to change Alain Prost's mind about Ferrari. "If I wasn't with Ferrari I would have started on slicks (everybody else was on wets) and maybe won this race. But I couldn't because we're under too much fucking pressure on this team!"

This was at the post-race press conference, where Prost was then asked about his future. Mansell grabbed the microphone and said: "He doesn't wish to comment. Thank you. Next question?"

Mansell was happy for anyone who finished ahead of his title rival Senna, who could only manage fifth, after a spin, because of blistering tires. Patrese helped reduce the gap (Senna is now 16 points ahead of Mansell) by coming third (after he "stood still too long at the start" with wheelspin), and Alesi scored a Ferrari fourth (despite a 10 second penalty for "incorrect behaviour" (nearly nerfing his team mate Prost) at the start. A rambunctious Michael Schumacher (who slugged it out ferociously with all the frontrunners, then spun) was sixth.

EXHAUST NOTES...

* Ole and Caramba! - The brand new $70 million Circuit de Catalunya was a winner with both drivers and spectators. It's 4.747 kilometer length features several steep hills, 15 corners and a long straight and requires about 28 shifts per lap. During Thursday's 2 hour familiarization session I stood beside a burly Spanish crane operator who had tears streaming down his face, deeply moved by the shrieking spectacle of 33 flame-spitting F1 cars attacking the virgin ashpalt. This was better than a bull fight!

* Mansell Socks It To Them - The annual football match between the journalists (who also had Mansell and Blundell) and photographers (including Patrese, De Cesaris, Barbazza and Tarquini) ended in a draw, with Mansell scoring both goals for the scribes. Mansell was the star of the game, playing the way he drives: flat out. He flattened several opponents, including a British lensman who woke up the next morning spitting, and passing, blood from a badly bruised kidney. Mansell finally hobbled off the field after spraining his ankle in a head-on collision with the goalie.   

* Ferrari Fuss - Ferrari's internal political strife is running at record levels with faceless Fiat bureaucrats fighting with prancing horse racers and Prost fighting with them all. The team seemed to be virtually ignoring poor Prost and surely he will go to Ligier as driver/team manager, though his contract stipulates that he can't drive for anyone but Ferrari in '92. Alesi is out of favour too and speculation about replacements include such names as: Capelli (with Leyton House in danger of disappearing), Piquet (having been giving his walking papers by Benetton), Patrese (though he has just re-signed with Williams), Modena (uncertain future with Tyrrell) and...Michael Andretti.

* Grinning Gerhard - Gerhard Berger retired in Spain with engine problems, but he is the world champion F1 joker. A couple of days after McLaren announced he and Senna had re-signed for next season Berger left an urgent message on Senna's answering machine in Monaco: "Please call Mr. Frank Williams immediately." During the Italian Grand Prix the McLaren team mates were staying in the same hotel in Milan. Berger sneaked into Senna's suite, tiptoed unnoticed past Senna and his masseur and hid in the bathroom. Moments later, motivated by the shrieks of his  girlfriend, Senna came running (naked) to her aid, only to find his grinning team mate sitting on the toilet.

* Max On The March? - Max Mosley, President of the FISA Manufacturer's Commision, is challenging Jean-Marie Balestre for the Presidency of FISA in an election to be held on 9 October. Mosley is seeking the support of voting delegates via a strongly worded letter, which your correspondent has seen. The letter says that the current situation, wherein Balestre is President of the FIA, the French Federation, and FISA, represents 'an overwhelming conflict of interest' and has led to 'indecision, mistakes, proprosals which are countermanded, unecessary controversey, confusion, etc.' In a section called 'Why I am the right person for the job' Mosley (who was born in London and educated in England, France and Germany and speaks those languages) writes that he has a physics degree, practised law for 5 years, raced in F2 (against Clark, Stewart, Hill and Rindt), founded the March team (he was the 'M' in the name), helped found FOCA and has worked in FISA for five years. Mosley doesn't mention that his best friend is one Bernard Charles Ecclestone, which may or may not help his cause. 

FINISH