[Photos/Art] Nelson Piquet's 200th Grand Prix Start

[Andrew Kitson]

The Benetton motorhome at Monza in 1991 was a pretty hectic place! Flavio and Tom Walkinshaw had 'stolen' Michael Schumacher from Jordan only a couple of days before. The press went mad! There were reporters and snappers constantly waiting for a photo or a word with the Benetton team chiefs along with new boy Michael.
On the Saturday night, the team held a party to celebrate the fact that this was going to be Nelson's 200th GP start.
The mechanics all wore cardboard masks printed with a cartoon image of Piquet's face and everyone wore specially made 'Piquet 200 GP' caps.
At the end, he was presented with this painting that Camel Benetton Ford commissioned me to do for him. Flavio Briatore and Duncan Lee from Camel presented it and Nelson told me he was going to hang it on his boat. No ordinary boat mind you...5 full time staff and a helicopter on the back!
Tony Jardine ( can be seen in the blue shirt in the middle behind Flavio) was the PR guy for Camel who organised the party. Mansell, Alesi, Patrese, Schumacher and many others turned up along with Frank Williams, Charlie Whiting and other F1 personalities. Duncan Lee is on the left of the pic and I am in the white shirt to the right of the photo which was taken by Jeff Bloxham.
The talk of the party though was the way that Benetton had seemingly 'poached' Schumi. Not the PR I think Camel would have liked!

[alesi95]

wow that was you Andrew!

I first saw that about 7 years ago on my FIA 1991 review video and thinking that it was pretty swish.

Nice one.

[Andrew Kitson]

Yeah it was me. Thanks. The moustache went west a long time ago thankfully!

[Sato san]

i remember that being shown on BBC 2 for the gp.