Enrique Mansilla


Enrique "Quique" Mansilla is an Argentine former racing driver and motorsport executive. Widely known for his rivalry with Ayrton Senna, Mansilla competed in the IndyCar World Series at three races in 1985.
Born in Buenos Aires, Mansilla enrolled at a local racing school after completing his mandatory military service. He moved to England in 1980 to compete in Formula Ford, where he formed a fractious rivalry with Van Diemen teammate Ayrton Senna. The pair were involved in several incidents across the 1981 season, during which Mansilla won the P&O Ferries Championship. He competed in the 1982 British Formula Three Championship for West Surrey Racing, finishing runner-up to Tommy Byrne after a close title battle, amid a loss of funding following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands and subsequent Falklands War. In 1983, Mansilla competed in European Formula Two, scoring two points finishes at Jarama and Zolder. The following year, he contested several Canadian-American Challenge Cup events in March and Toleman machinery. In 1985, Mansilla entered three CART IndyCar World Series races for Hemelgarn, with a best finish of ninth on debut at Road America.
Upon his retirement from motor racing, Mansilla became a gold and diamond hunter in Liberia, where he was kidnapped for six months during the First Liberian Civil War by the Independent National Patriotic Front in 1990, and held captive as ransom. After his release, Mansilla continued to work in the gold and diamond industries in Monrovia, before returning to Argentina. He later became a driver and team consultant, as well as the founder of the PMO Racing team in touring car racing, and head of the Argentinian Porsche GT4 Championship.

Racing record

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789101112Pts
Gresham RacingMarchBMWSIL
Ret
THR
7
HOCNÜR
DNS
VAL
Ret
PAUJAR
6
DON
10
MIS
Ret
PER
Ret
ZOL
6
MUG
Ret
19th2

PPG Indycar Series

YearTeamChassisEngine123456789101112131415RankPointsRef
1985Hemelgarn RacingLola T900Cosworth DFX V8tLBHINDYMILPORMEACLEMCHROA
9
POCMDO
10
31st8
1985Hemelgarn RacingMarch 85CCosworth DFX V8tSAN
12
MCHLAGPHXMIA31st8