Michael Christopher Thackwell (born 30 March 1961) is a former racing driver from New Zealand, who participated in a number of prominent racing categories, including Formula 1. The seventh youngest driver ever to qualify for a Grand Prix, he participated in five of them, making his first start on 28 September 1980 at the Canadian Grand Prix. He scored no championship points. He had previously attempted unsuccessfully to qualify for the Dutch Grand Prix which was held on 31 August 1980.
Thackwell has been described as a "teenage sensation",
Thackwell made his official debut a few weeks later, when Tyrrell made the third car available for him at the Canadian Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver to start a Formula One race. On the first lap of the race, Alan Jones and Nelson Piquet collided at the first turn and were subsequently hit by a number of other cars, including Jean-Pierre Jarier and Derek Daly, both driving Tyrrells. Thackwell negotiated his way through the carnage and returned to the start/finish line undamaged by which time, the race had been red flagged. As both Jarier's and Daly's cars were too badly damaged to repair quickly, Thackwell was instructed by Ken Tyrrell to give up his car for Jarier. While Thackwell actually never completed a lap and was not part of the second start, Formula One credits him with a race start. Therefore, he surpassed Ricardo Rodríguez as the youngest race starter, a feat that remained until Jaime Alguersuari broke the record at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix; a record that was subsequently broken by Max Verstappen in 2015.
Thackwell had another opportunity at the next race with Tyrrell, the United States Grand Prix. After he suffered a fractured brake disc during qualifying, he was unable to qualify to race at Watkins Glen.
Between Formula One
Thackwell's debut in a Tyrrell was unsuccessful; he returned to Formula Two in 1981. He was still considered to be one of stars of the future and was signed by Ralt to partner Geoff Lees. After winning the International Trophy at Silverstone, and a third place at Hockenheim, he suffered a massive testing accident driving the works Ralt-Honda at Thruxton that left him with a shattered heel and head injuries. According to Autosport he hit a bank head on and stopped from 140 mph to 0 mph in under 2 feet. Within weeks, although still on crutches, he completed the rest of the season and finished 6th in the Championship.
As of 2020, Thackwell lives in a small caravan (still on the South Coast), having voluntarily given up most of his material possessions; he spends most of his time taking care of his mentally handicapped son, and makes minimum wage.
Racing record
Career highlights
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Season
! Series
! Position
! Car
! Team
|-
! 1978
| Dunlop Star of Tomorrow Championship
|align="center" style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3rd
| Van Diemen-Scholar RF78
| Rushen Green Racing
|-
!rowspan=2| 1979
| Vandervell British Formula 3 Championship
|align="center" style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3rd
| March-Toyota 793
| March Racing Ltd.
|-
| FIA European Formula 3 Championship
|align="center" | 8th
| March-BMW 802
| ICI Racing Team
|-
| Japanese Formula Two Championship
|align="center" | 15th
| March-Ford 792
| March Cars – Marlboro
|-
|rowspan=2| World Championship of Drivers
|align="center" rowspan=2| NC
| Arrows-Cosworth A3
| Warsteiner Arrows Racing Team
|-
| Tyrrell-Cosworth 010
| Candy Tyrrell Team
|-
!rowspan=3| 1981
| European Formula Two Championship
|align="center" | 6th
| Ralt-Honda RH6/81
| Ralt Racing Team
|-
|rowspan=2| Japanese Formula Two Championship
|align="center" rowspan=2| 11th
| March-BMW 822
| Horag Racing Team
|-
| Maurer-BMW M82
| Bertram Schäfer Racing
|-
|rowspan=2| Japanese Formula Two Championship
|align="center" style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd
| Ralt-Honda RH6/83H
| Ralt Racing Ltd
|-
| Japanese Formula Two Championship
|align="center" style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1st
| Ralt-Honda RH6
| Ralt Racing Ltd
|-
| Japanese Formula Two Championship
|align="center" | 28th
| Porsche 956
| Porsche Kremer Racing
|-
|rowspan=2| FIA World Endurance Championship
|align="center" |
| BMW 635CSi
| CC Motorsport
|-
|rowspan=2| World Championship of Drivers
|align="center" | NC
| March-Cosworth 84C
| Penske Racing
|-
!rowspan=4| 1985
| International Formula 3000 Championship
|align="center" style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1st
| Ralt-Ford RT4
| Ralt Australia
|-
| All Japan Sports Prototype Car Endurance Championship
|}
References
External links
- Grandprix.com profile
- Mike Thackwell full biography – with images of Thackwell in F1, F2 and sports cars.
- Motorsport Flashback – Mike Thackwell: Teenage Sensation – New Zealand Classic Car Magazine retrospective profile, published 21 April 2011.