Nigel Gearsley is a character featured in the 2011 Disney/Pixar animated film Cars 2. He is voiced by Greg Ellis in the video game adaptation of the film.
Background[]
Nigel is a British race car who competes in the World Grand Prix, a series of three international races organized by Sir Miles Axlerod to promote his new alternative fuel, Allinol. He is based on the Aston Martin DBR9, a sports car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2007 and 2008. He is painted in British racing green, with the number 9 and the Union Jack flag on his sides. He also has the Allinol logo on his hood and fenders.
Official Description[]
"Nigel Gearsley from Warwickshire, England, is an Aston Martin DBR9 racer bearing #9. He got his start racing the Speed Hill Climb—a unique, completely uphill race through the Aston Hill Mountain Area that his family has run for generations. Nigel’s racing career has been anything but an uphill challenge, as he’s won nearly every start in the past few years on the Grand Touring Sports Car circuit, including a string of podiums at Nurburgring and Le Mans. His cool British refinement makes him an imposing presence on the World Grand Prix courses."
Physical appearence[]
Nigel, according to Meet the Cars, is a 2008 Aston Martin DBR9 representing the GTS1 (GT1) class along with Lewis Hamilton. He is a reference to the Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 that won at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans. With Jeff Gorvette, Nigel is the only WGP racer to be a precise model of one particular car, and therefore, to not be a Pixar in-house design. Indeed, while some other racers, like Lewis Hamilton, Shu Todoroki, and Raoul ÇaRoule have a clear main inspiration, they aren't exact copies of the car, which is why their vehicle types aren't named after the same car although the year they were built alludes to their real cars.
He is powered by a 6.0 liter V-12 with 600 HP. He can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 mph.
Personality[]
Nigel is portrayed as a refined and polite car, who respects his fellow racers and his family's racing tradition. He is also loyal to his country and his team, as he wears a poppy on his hood to commemorate Remembrance Day and has Austin Littleton as his pit crew chief and Prince Wheeliam as one of his personal fans. He is friends with Lewis Hamilton, another British racer who invites him and McQueen to a party in London.
Specifications[]
- Top Speed: 180 mph
- Zero – 60 mph: 3.4 seconds
- Engine Type: 6.0-liter V-12
- Horsepower: 600
- Hometown: Warwickshire, England
- Vehicle Type: 2008 Aston Martin DBR9 Racer
Role in the film[]
In the film, Nigel first appears at the Tokyo welcome party, where he is shocked with other WGP racers to see Mater, Lightning McQueen's best friend, drinking from a fountain after eating wasabi. He then participates in the Tokyo race, where he performs well on the dirt section and finishes in fifth place. In the Porto Corsa race, he is following Carla Veloso in third position, but his engine is blown up by an electromagnetic pulse generator used by a group of lemon cars who are trying to sabotage the World Grand Prix and discredit Allinol. He is the second car to be hit by the device, after Miguel Camino. He is later repaired and able to race in the London race, where he is between sixth and eighth position. His pit was in between those of Lightning McQueen and Francesco Bernoulli.
Video games[]
Cars 2: The Video Game[]
He is a playable character in Cars 2: The Video Game, where he has a high speed and acceleration, but a low handling and stability.
Others[]
He is also featured in Cars: Fast as Lightning, a mobile game where he has his own track called Nigel's British Raceway. He is also part of the Cars Daredevil Garage app, where he can perform stunts and tricks.
Trivia[]
- Nigel, according to Meet the Cars, is a 2008 Aston Martin DBR9 Racer which is an allusion to the winning Aston Martin GT1 (chassis #DBR9/8) from the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans. With Jeff Gorvette, Nigel is the only WGP racer to be a faithful representation of one particular car, and therefore, to not be a Pixar in-house design. Indeed, while some other racers, like Lewis Hamilton or Raoul ÇaRoule, have a clear main inspiration, they aren't exact copies of the car in question.
- Nigel's pit crew chief is Austin Littleton.
- One of Nigel's personal fans is Prince Wheeliam.
- Nigel is named after British steam locomotive designer Sir Nigel Gresley.
- Although Nigel didn't speak in Cars 2, he has a speaking role in Cars 2: The Video Game, where he is voiced by Greg Ellis.
- He has been released as a die-cast toy by Mattel, in various scales and versions. He is also included in the LEGO Duplo set 5829: The Pit Stop, along with McQueen and Guido.
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