Motor Racing

Nigel Mansell won his sixth straight pole position Saturday during a record-breaking qualifying run for today’s Monaco Grand Prix.

The British driver raced his Williams-Renault around the Monaco Grand Prix course in 1 minute 19.495 seconds to break the qualifying mark of 1:20.344 set last year by Ayrton Senna.

Mansell averaged 93.648 m.p.h. (150.711 kilometers). It was the first time anyone averaged more than 150 k.p.h. on the twisting circuit since it was changed in 1986.

Mansell has won five consecutive Formula One races, but has never won at Monaco.

“Most drivers have a love-hate relationship with Monaco,” Mansell said. “It is a race you look forward to with great trepidation because anything can happen.”

Mansell’s best result in 11 tries at Monaco was a second-place finish last year. He has failed to finish seven times here, including 1983 when he crashed on his first lap.