Nigel Mansell Aims Le Mans Programme in 2010

What was only a rumor in the middle stages of the 2009 season is now set to become reality, as Nigel Mansell is only one step away from returning to competitive motor racing through a part-time Le Mans Series programme in 2010. The 1992 F1 champion bought into the Beechdean Motorsport team, as confirmed this week, and will try to run a factory-backed Ginetta-Zytek Z09R in the LMP1 class of the Le Mans Series.

“I'm very happy to announce this partnership between myself and Beechdean. The team comes fresh to the LMS with an impeccable pedigree and full support from Zytek,” said Mansell, according to a report from the Autosport magazine.

“I'm very excited about 2010 and the prospect of racing with both by sons for the first time. I can confirm that I will be racing with Leo and Greg during the season and, if we receive an entry, we will also be racing at Le Mans,” added the Brit, who last year competed on a Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 with his son Greg during the Le Mans Series round at Silverstone.

If Beechdean Mansell Motorsport will indeed be granted an entry to this year's LMP1 class of both Le Mans Series and the 24 hours of Le Mans Race, the Ginetta-Zytek Z09R will not be the only car fielded by the team through their 2010 campaign. Following the team's partnership with Aston Martin Racing a couple of years ago, Beechdean will likely field two Vantage models in the FIA GT2 championship.

Mansell might therefore join his former Formula One colleague Jean Alesi on the starting grid of the Le Mans 24 Hours Race in 2010, as the Frenchman is also set to run in the GT2 class of the aforementioned race on a Ferrari 430. His registration to the event is pending the approval of the Le Mans organizers.