A ton of fun

More than 100 races in a year, in cars both old and new? Nigel Greensall just can't get enough of his life's chosen vocation

- Damien Smith

The numbers for one calendar year tell the story: a remarkable tally of 102 races and three rallies; 34 cars raced, both historic and modern, with 21 co-drivers; races on 23 circuits in nine countries; 30 wins (including class as well as overall), 63 podiums, 33 pole positions and 47 fastest laps. You have to wonder, is Nigel Greensall the most prolific racing driver in the world today? He must have a claim.

“It’s all about racing, in anything,” says the beanpole 6ft 1in racer when Motor Sport catches up with him, by happy accident, in a GT4 winter series paddock in Valencia. He’s turned up at the Spanish track for a one-off in a series run by German promoter Gedlich Racing to gain extra mileage for one of ‘his’ drivers, Harry Barton, and their Toyota Supra GT4. A professional racing driver for 30 years, Greensall’s speciality is mentoring and coaching, and Barton, 21, is the latest to tap into his vast experience to turn what started out as a historic racing hobby into a profession.

Barton is by no means the only promising driver to hire Greensall for his services, hence the astonishing 100-plus strike rate in 2023 and a sumptuous list of ‘weapons’: TVR Griffith (x2, with both Barton and John Spiers), McLaren M1B, Lister Knobbly and Costin, Chevron B19 and B26, Corvette C6R GT2, a tryst of BMW saloons, Lola-Mazda LMP1, Morgan Plus 4… and on it goes. Take the Silverstone Festival last August. “Ten cars in nine races,” he confirms. “Everything from Lister Costin and Knobbly from the 1950s to the Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo which is from 2016. Sixty years’ difference from the oldest to newest car, and I just jumped from one to another.”