P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ayrton Senna and Tommy Byrne: two significant names on the 1980s motorsport scene. Few ran either closer than Enrique Mansilla. A metaphorical feud with one of them, and two actual wars, are just part of Mansilla’s story – one he recalls to Sam Smith
Enrique Mansilla, an up-and-coming junior single-seater driver in the 1980s, was unfortunate to experience two separate international crises that defined his professional life. The first was the Falklands conflict in 1982, which affected him as an Argentinian national racing in the UK in Formula 3. The second was a terrifying civil war in Liberia, just as he was attempting to move away from motorsport and make money for another shot at a racing career. Despite his talent and close finishes against legendary drivers such as Ayrton Senna and Tommy Byrne, Mansilla is perhaps the unluckiest driver of the decade. Born in Buenos Aires in 1958, he didn’t start racing until he was 19, but quickly demonstrated natural skill. He won a scholarship to travel to the UK and impressed those at the Jim Russell Racing School. In 1980, Mansilla had a consistent top-six performance in his first Formula Ford season, finishing ninth in the standings. He sold his pets to fund his racing career and by 1981, he was ready to compete for the title with the factory Van Diemen team.
