1. Michael Christopher Thackwell was born on 30 March 1961 and is a former racing driver from New Zealand, who participated in a number of prominent racing categories, including Formula 1.
26 Facts About Mike Thackwell
1. 2.
Mike Thackwell had previously attempted unsuccessfully to qualify for the Dutch Grand Prix which was held on 31 August 1980.
3.
Mike Thackwell was runner up in that championship in 1983, and in its successor, the International Formula 3000 Championship, in 1985.
4.
When Mike Thackwell was six years old, his family emigrated from New Zealand to Perth, Western Australia, where he spent his formative years, and began racing.
5.
Between 1972 and 1976, Mike Thackwell attended Christ Church Grammar School, in Claremont, a suburb of Perth.
6.
For three years from the age of nine, Mike Thackwell competed in motocross events on motorcycles supplied by his father, an importer of high performance racing and sports cars.
7.
Mike Thackwell then switched to karts, winning the Western Australian championship at the age of 14.
8.
In early 1978, Mike Thackwell began his European career, in the Dunlop Star of Tomorrow Formula Ford championship, held in the United Kingdom.
9.
Mike Thackwell campaigned with a Van Diemen-Scholar RF78, entered by the Rushen Green team.
10.
Mike Thackwell achieved a win and a fastest lap, at Monza in the Gran Premio della Lotteria.
11.
For 1980, Mike Thackwell decided to follow Serra and de Cesaris into Formula Two.
12.
In 1980, having tested for both Ensign and Tyrrell, Mike Thackwell had been signed by Ken Tyrrell to be a test driver for the Tyrrell F1 team, alongside his F2 campaign.
13.
Mike Thackwell was invited to the Dutch Grand Prix by Tyrrell as a spectator, both to learn about the track and the Tyrrell 010 when Arrows team boss Jackie Oliver approached him after the first unofficial practice session to ask if he'd like to drive the Arrows A3.
14.
Mike Thackwell made his official debut a few weeks later, when Tyrrell made the third car available for him at the Canadian Grand Prix.
15.
Mike Thackwell had another opportunity at the next race with Tyrrell, the United States Grand Prix.
16.
Mike Thackwell was still considered to be one of stars of the future and was signed by Ralt to partner Geoff Lees.
17.
Mike Thackwell rejoined the works Ralt team for 1983, coming second in that year's F2 championship to Jonathan Palmer, after a win at Jarama with another eight visits to the podium.
18.
Suddenly in the middle of his season of dominance, Mike Thackwell was back in demand again.
19.
Mike Thackwell's race lasted until lap 30, when a broken turbo wastegate forced him into retirement.
20.
Once again Mike Thackwell failed to qualify for the German Grand Prix by just 0.055secs.
21.
Mike Thackwell drove in two World Endurance Championship races, coming 21st at the Nurburgring 1000km for Obermaier Racing in their Porsche 956 and finishing 5th in the 956 of Kremer Racing at the Fuji 1000km.
22.
Mike Thackwell finished the 1984 season in CART for Penske Racing, in their Pennzoil March 84C, after foot injuries at Sanair during practice for the Molson 300 sidelined Penske ace Rick Mears.
23.
Mike Thackwell won the first round at Silverstone and in the process, won his third International Trophy race.
24.
Mike Thackwell added two victories before finishing runner-up to Christian Danner.
25.
Mike Thackwell won the first three rounds of the MANZ Formula Pacific International Championship, going on to take the title.
26.
Mike Thackwell concentrated on sports car racing with the Kouros Racing Team in their Sauber C9 in 1987, putting the car on pole position at Spa only to receive yet more disappointment during the race when his seat mountings broke when leading the race.