San Marino Grand Prix : Mansell Drives to Easy Win; Engine Failure Stops Prost

Britain’s Nigel Mansell drove his Williams-Honda to a commanding victory in Sunday’s San Marino Grand Prix, renewing an effort to gain his first world Formula One championship after losing last year’s title to Alain Prost of France.

The 32-year-old British driver exploited the superior speed and stability of his car, powered by a Japanese-made Honda engine, to lead for most of the 59 laps. He finished 27.5 seconds ahead of runner-up Ayrton Senna of Brazil.

The winner covered the 183 miles in 1 hour 31 minutes 24.076 seconds for an average speed of 120.5 m.p.h.

Italy’s Michele Alboreto, who brought the home team Ferrari car to third place, finished third, 39.1 seconds behind.

Fourth place went to Swede Stefan Johansson, the last of the drivers who completed the distance. He finished a minute behind the winner.

A crowd of 110,000 watched the race at Imola’s Dino Ferrarri autodrome.

Mansell, scoring his eighth Grand Prix victory, took a one-point lead in the world championship standings over Prost, who won the opening event of the season in Brazil. The Briton has 10 points and the Frenchman nine.

Prost, who had been seeking a record-equaling 27th Grand Prix win here, stopped during the 15th lap and blamed engine and alternator troubles in his McLaren-TAG for the failure. He was in second place, 2.1 seconds behind Mansell, when he was forced to stop along the track.

“I am unhappy, of course,” Prost said. “Not for the missed record, but for missing championship points.”

The all-time record of 27 victories is held by retired Scottish driver Jackie Stewart.

Mansell said Sunday’s victory boosted his morale “which was a bit shaken following Adelaide last year and the far from satisfactory showing in Brazil this season.”

Mansell lost the 1986 title to Prost when he blew up a tire during the last championship race, the Australian Grand Prix last Nov. 26. He finished sixth in Brazil on April 12 this year.

“I am sorry for Prost’s withdrawal. I would have liked to have defeated the world champion,” Mansell said.