Nigel Stepney worked for several teams in Formula One before being appointed chief mechanic at Ferrari.
14 Facts About Nigel Stepney
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Nigel Stepney became a central figure in the 2007 Formula One espionage controversy.
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Nigel Stepney started in Formula One as a mechanic at Shadow in 1977, then followed Elio de Angelis to Lotus before moving to Benetton for the late 1980s and early 1990s and then to Scuderia Ferrari with Michael Schumacher, Rory Byrne, and Ross Brawn.
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Nigel Stepney was chief mechanic at Ferrari and later became race and test technical manager.
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At the 2000 Spanish Grand Prix, Nigel Stepney was injured during a pit stop for Schumacher's car.
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On 1 February 2007, it was reported on the Internet that Nigel Stepney was unhappy with Ferrari's technical restructuring and that he wanted to leave the team, seeking a new challenge.
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On 23 February 2007, Nigel Stepney was promoted to head of the performance development, meaning that he would no longer have to attend races.
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On 21 June 2007, it was reported that Nigel Stepney was the subject of a criminal inquiry by the Modena district attorney, initiated after Ferrari reportedly made a formal complaint.
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Nigel Stepney denied the accusations and claimed to be the victim of a "dirty tricks campaign".
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On 22 January 2008, it was announced that Nigel Stepney had been recruited by Gigawave, a manufacturer of on-board racing car camera systems who are fielding a team in the 2008 FIA GT Championship, as Director of Race Technologies.
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On 7 March 2008, the FIA issued a statement urging teams and those holding FIA issued licences not to hire Nigel Stepney without "conducting appropriate due diligence regarding his suitability for involvement in international motor sport".
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Mr Nigel Stepney has admitted this allegation and apologised to the FIA, though he disputes the seriousness and extent of his involvement.
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On 27 August 2010, Nigel Stepney was appointed team manager of the Sumo Power team competing in the FIA GT1 World Championship.
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Nigel Stepney was killed on 2 May 2014 in a road traffic incident on the M20 motorway at Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom.