Ex-Formula 1 and IndyCar racer Mark Blundell has announced that he has called time on his racing career, which spanned over 30 years across several different disciplines.
Blundell rose through the junior single-seater ranks in the late 1980s, winning the FF2000 title in 1986, eventually moving to Formula 3000 the following season.
After three seasons in F3000, he moved into the World Sportscar Championship in 1989, racing for the factory Nissan outfit.
He subsequently claimed victory for Peugeot in the 1992 running of the Le Mans 24 Hours, which came in-between stints in Formula 1.
During his time in F1, he competed for the Brabham-Yamaha team in 1991, Ligier in 1993 and Tyrrell in 1994, scoring three podium finishes.
He also participated in most of the 1995 season for McLaren after original signing Nigel Mansell quit the team just two events into his delayed comeback.
The British driver moved across to the USA to participate in CART with PacWest Racing, where a violent crash in Rio due to a brake failure meant he missed three races. In the same year, he finished fifth at the Indianapolis 500, which proved to be his only entry in the event.
Blundell’s most successful campaign in North America came in 1997, when he won three races to finish sixth overall, and thereafter he failed to achieve another podium finish.
Having left CART after the 2000 season he remained active in motorsport, making occasional starts in sportscars, including the runner-up spot at the 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours.
During that period Blundell also formed a driver management company and made regular appearances as a pundit for ITV’s Formula 1 coverage in the United Kingdom.
Blundell returned to regular racing in 2019 in the British Touring Car Championship but has opted not to continue into 2020.
In a post on Instagram, Blundell said: “Time to let the cat out of the bag and sign off from my racing career. For thirty years I’ve given it my all behind the wheel, met the most amazing people and enjoyed moments I’ll never forget.
Last year’s BTCC adventure was exactly that and I loved the challenge of getting back behind the wheel…can’t be too many grandads who have competed in the BTCC!
“2020 is a huge year ahead for all the drivers at MB Partners along with the next stage in the growth of the agency. And who knows…I might still be found in the BTCC paddock this year one way or another.
“Too many people to thank along the way, but to my family and friends and partners/sponsors a massive thank you! Also a big thank you must go to all the fans whose support helped me keep my foot in when the going got tough!”
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