best drive from a long way back

[Yoong Montoya]

I just watched a tape of the 1995 European GP at the Nurburgring, and as well as being an exciting race, it also showed what Michael Schumacher can do when he's really fired up in front of his home crowd. With 15 laps to go, he was in 2nd place behind Alesi, but 22 seconds behind. Hill had crashed out earlier, and Schumacher already led the WDC by 17 points. But he still drove like a man possessed, setting fastest lap after fastest lap to reel in Alesi and pass him with that brilliant move at the chicane with 3 laps to go. That's my favourite drive from a long way back, but what's yours, and it doesn't have to be for a win either. I got the idea for this thread from Sato san's 'most dominant drive' thread by the way.

[BootsOntheSide]

The way Michael won at Spa from 16th on the grid that year was also impreesive. Mansell and Prost ahveboth won from outside the top 10 as well, but for sheer opportunistic bruilliance I have to say Barrcihello at Hockenheim 2000. He qualified 18th in a topsy-turvy wet-dry session (the type where he seems to usually do well), went up to 10th on lap 1, when won by staying on slick tyres on a largely-wet track

[Damon]

Mansell, Hungary '89. 12th to 1st at the Hungaroring for crying out loud! That shouldn't be possible. Also, try John Watson at Detroit '82 (I think?) last row of the grid to first at another tight circuit. Classic stuff!

[Guy Goddard2]

Nigel Mansell in 87 (i think) at Silverstone where he broke the lap record 11 times and took a second a lap from Piquet in an identical car, then passed him for the lead... ran out of fuel on slowing down lap and cooked the Honda engine..oh how F1 racing was.





Guy

[Damon]

Wasn't sure if this counted because he was in 2nd, but has to be one of the greatest race finishes ever. Mansell at his very best.

[Lee Janotta]

Originally posted by Yoong Montoya
I just watched a tape of the 1995 European GP at the Nurburgring, and as well as being an exciting race, it also showed what Michael Schumacher can do when he's really fired up in front of his home crowd. With 15 laps to go, he was in 2nd place behind Alesi, but 22 seconds behind. Hill had crashed out earlier, and Schumacher already led the WDC by 17 points. But he still drove like a man possessed, setting fastest lap after fastest lap to reel in Alesi and pass him with that brilliant move at the chicane with 3 laps to go. That's my favourite drive from a long way back, but what's yours, and it doesn't have to be for a win either. I got the idea for this thread from Sato san's 'most dominant drive' thread by the way.

Alesi was on slicks in the wet at that point, BTW.

[Yoong Montoya]

Originally posted by Damon
Wasn't sure if this counted because he was in 2nd, but has to be one of the greatest race finishes ever. Mansell at his very best.

Which one is that Damon? Jerez '86? And you can include non-winning drives as well.

[Yoong Montoya]

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
Alesi was on slicks in the wet at that point, BTW.

Alesi and Schumacher were both on slicks in the closing stages Lee Janotta.

[Damon]

Sorry no, I was refering to Guy's Silverstone '87 reference. Wasn't sure if it counted because he 'only' caught Piquet from second, not with standing that it was one of the greatest come back drives in history.

[Yoong Montoya]

Originally posted by Damon
Sorry no, I was refering to Guy's Silverstone '87 reference. Wasn't sure if it counted because he 'only' caught Piquet from second, not with standing that it was one of the greatest come back drives in history.

Yeah, but when you said 'because he was in 2nd' I thought you were talking about the time Mansell caught Senna on the last lap from 20 seconds behind in Jerez '86, but finished in 2nd 0.010(?)seconds behind the winner Senna at the finish. Apparently the finish line was misplaced on that occasion, and that error may have ultimately cost Mansell the 1986 championship.

[Damon]

Got yer, another great F1 battle that one. The likes of which we'll never see again. Incidently, what's the betting that if Schu had been where Senna was he'd have squeezed Mansell into the wall?

[f1manoz]

Nigel Mansell, Silverstone 1987. In an identical car, caught and passed team-mate Nelson Piquet having caught up after a pitstop, leaving him to catch Nelson in 22 laps but having to make up 25 seconds. One of the most brilliant drives ever seen. Crowd power at it's most astonishing!

Nigel Mansell, Hungary 1989. It once was possible to win a race from further back that 6th, and Mansell did it at Hungary from 12TH on the grid!! Fantastic start, and smooth driving the entire way earned Mansell a well deserved victory.

[NiceGuyEddie]

Rubinho took no prisoners at Hockenheim 2000 and Silverstone 2002.

[Lee Janotta]

Hmm, you're right... Oh well, it was an amazing drive by Alesi to even get the Ferrari into second.

Oliver Panis, Monaco 1996 is my choice. Won from 14th in a Ligier-Mugen. Coultard, Herber and Frentzen were the only others left on the track at the end!

M$ nearly got himself and Berger killed the day before when he drove around the track waving the fans while qualifying was still open, and the Austrian was making a last-ditch qualifying run, and had to spin to avoid a collision.

[golem]

What's the bet if Schuey tried to shove Nigel over, Schu would have found a driver that'd not budge?

[TheGreatJuan]

Ayrton Senna. Suzuka 88.

[Mr V]

JPM and TGF at Maylasia this year,

Eddie after being knocked off the track at Canada by DC in 1999.

[Kex]

Jim Clark, Monza '67. Losing a lap in the pits, made up that lap to take the lead only to run out of fuel on the last lap coming in third.

[Adam43]

I've got a couple of Prosty ones. (They are quite old - mid '80s )

Suzuka 1987. And all for the sake of it, for it didn't even net him a point. 7th.

Prost Spa 1986. This time it did net a point. After some first lap argy bargy, which he tried to avoid and a very slow, long lap at Spa. He was miles behind. But he set fastest lap on the way to 6th. Oh and his whole chassis was bent like a banana!

[Adam43]

Kex, that is a good one. Monza was a relatively simple circuit where only power and slipstreaming counted. This made Clark's driver even more remarkable. Where could he find the time (over similar machinery) on that circuit, but he did. A shame he was robbed at the end.

[Mr V]

What about Fangio at Nurburgring, although i wasn't around to see it at the time

[Adam43]

Fangio, who's he?

He was a long way back in terms of time, but not positions. However it makes a lot of the drives mention pale into insignificance!

[racer69]

Watson and Lauda at Long Beach in 1983, they started 22nd and 23rd on the grid and wound up 1-2.

Mansell at Silverstone in 1987 as mentioed above was a great drive.

As also mentioned Irvine's drive to third in the 1999 Canadian GP.

[Nicke]

Barrichello's win at Hockenheim 00 was pretty impressing too. Starting from i think 18 place. But if the Mercedes worker never had run out on the track the the McLarens would have won easily.

[Wrex]

Originally posted by Damon
what's the betting that if Schu had been where Senna was he'd have squeezed Mansell into the wall?

This comment is not just childish, pathetic and speculative rubbish, but also beneath you Damon. This is something I expect to read from a newbie, not a good member like yourself.

A good thread like this does'nt need to be hijacked. Lets keep this garbage in one of the many 'I hate Schumacher' threads.

Back on topic, I would love to have seen a some of these races mentioned. In recent memory, Rubins at Hochenhiem was very special, being his first win to boot.

Mika at Austria 99 (after being spun by DC I think) was a good fight back also.