Schumacher stuck in fifth gear and Mansell v Senna: Seven memorable Spanish Grand Prix moments

Since the race moved to Barcelona in 1991 the event has often been processional and dull, but these were rare bright sparks

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Lat Photographic/REX/Shutterstock (3643467a)
1991 Spanish Grand Prix. Barcelona, Spain. 27-29 September 1991. Nigel Mansell (Williams FW14 Renault) overtook Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/6 Honda) into turn 1, after battling wheel to wheel with him down almost the full length of the start/finish straight and here he continues to hold him off through turn 2. They finished in 1st and 5th positions respectively. Ref-91 ESP 08.
Motor Racing

1991. The first race at Barcelona was a cracker, at least the opening laps were. Conditions were damp and the McLarens of Gerhard Berger and Ayrton Senna fought to keep Nigel Mansell's Williams behind. Senna and Mansell came within inches of each other as they tussled wheel-to-wheel down the main straight at one stage. Mansell would go on to prevail, as the track dried out, to become the first winner at the Circuit de Catalunya. LAT Photographic

Graham Caygill

May 08, 2019

The European section of the Formula One season starts on Sunday at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

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The race has been based at the Circuit de Catalunya since 1991 with Jerez, Jarama, Montjuic and Pedralbes all previously playing host.

The event in Catalonia is currently one of the most established grands prix on the calender, with only Monaco, Britain, Hungary and Italy having longer streaks.

Yet the race is not exactly loved. The layout of the 4.5km circuit is not usually conducive to close racing, plus the teams test heavily there in the winter so car set-up is rarely a problem.

Only six times has the driver who started on pole position not won the race and the event has usually often been a procession.

But the Spanish Grand Prix has still had some fun moments, so ahead of the 2019 race, we decided to take a look at the highlights from Barcelona.

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