Former Formula 1 ace Mark Blundell has been slapped with a six-month driving ban after admitting to speeding in Northamptonshire. The 59-year-old was also hit with a £1,042 fine, including costs and victim surcharge, and had five points added to his licence.
Blundell, who did not appear at Northampton Magistrates Court, was represented by his barrister who pleaded guilty on his behalf. The court was told that Blundell was clocked driving a Land Rover 26mph over the legal speed limit of 70 on the A14, near the Junction 1 Overbridge in the county.
During his illustrious career, Blundell racked up some impressive feats including clinching victory in the prestigious Le Mans 24 hour race with Peugeot in 1992. From 1991 to 1995, he graced the Formula 1 circuit, spending his rookie year with Brabham Yamaha.
However, he was not retained and found himself without a seat the following year. Upon his return to the grid in 1993, he secured podium finishes in South Africa and Germany with Ligier before joining Tyrrell in 1994.
Blundell’s final year in Formula 1 saw him fill the shoes of Nigel Mansell at McLaren, who had retired from the sport. His stint in Formula 1 came to an end in 1995 when McLaren ushered David Coulthard into their ranks.
From 1996 to 2000, Blundell took to the track in Indycar, where he celebrated three victories in this branch of the sport. Reflecting on his motorsport journey in a conversation with Old Racing Cars, Blundell looked back at what he’d accomplished with pride, saying: “I’d have to say just making it to Formula 1 is a massive success.
“In 1984, I started racing, by 1989 I was a Formula 1 test driver and by 1991, I was a Formula 1 racing driver. Today, that doesn’t seem so amazing, but back then, you know, it was meteoric.
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“Other than that, the F1 podiums, because did I have the right car at the right time? Probably not, so that made it sweeter.
“The Le Mans win has to be up there and the Indycar wins, especially winning the 500-miler. No regrets, lots of fond memories.”
Blundell brought his Formula 1 ambitions to a close by 2002, transitioning into a punditry position with ITV as an analyst for that year’s F1 campaign.
He remained in this capacity until 2008 when the BBC secured broadcasting rights from ITV. As previously noted, Blundell’s greatest triumphs came in long-distance racing.
He secured second place at Le Mans in 2003 and claimed third at the 12 hours of Sebring, both times sharing driving duties with Johnny Herbert and David Brabham for Bentley.
