Ex-Formula 1 star and TV pundit slapped with driving ban and four-figure fine

Mark Blundell competed in Formula 1 for four years and even won the iconic Le Mans 24 hour race in 1992 with Peugeot before turning his hand to a career in TV punditry

Former Formula 1 star Mark Blundell has been handed a six-month driving ban after pleading guilty to speeding in Northamptonshire. Blundell was also handed a £1,042 fine, which included costs and victim surcharge, and given five points on his licence.

The 59-year-old did not attend Northampton Magistrates Court but his barrister, acting on his behalf, pleaded guilty to the incident. The court heard that Blundell was 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 career, Blundell enjoyed some impressive achievements including winning the iconic Le Mans 24 hour race with Peugeot in 1992. Between 1991 and 1995, he competed in Formula 1 spending his first year with Brabham Yamaha.

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However, he was not retained and was left without a seat that following year. When he returned to the grid in 1993, he reached the podium in South Africa and Germany with Ligier before starting in 1994 with Tyrrell.

Blundell spent his last year in Formula 1 with McLaren as he replaced Nigel Mansell, who had retired from the sport. His time in Formula 1 would end in 1995 after McLaren brought David Coulthard into their set-up.

Between 1996 and 2000, Blundell competed in Indycar. He would pick up three wins in that discipline of the sport.

Looking back on his driving career in an interview with Old Racing Cars, Blundell reflected on his achievements, stating: “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. 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.”

By 2002, Blundell had ended his quest to compete in Formula 1 and instead took up a role with ITV as an analysis for the 2002 F1 season. He lasted in this role until 2008 when ITV lost the rights to broadcast the sport to the BBC.

As mentioned, Blundell’s most notable racing achievements came in the endurance disciplines. He would finish second alongside at Le Mans in 2003 and third in the 12 hours of Sebring event, both occasions driving in a team with Johnny Herbert and David Brabham for Bentley.

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