Michael Christopher Thackwell is a former racing driver from New Zealand, who participated in a number of prominent racing categories, including Formula 1. The fifth youngest driver ever to qualify for a Grand Prix, he participated in five of them, making his first start on 28 September 1980 at the Canadian Grand Prix. He scored no championship points. He had previously attempted unsuccessfully to qualify for the Dutch Grand Prix which was held on 31 August 1980.
Ralt was a manufacturer of single-seater racing cars, founded by ex-Jack Brabham associate Ron Tauranac after he sold out his interest in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. Ron and his brother had built some specials in Australia in the 1950s under the Ralt name. Tauranac won the 1954 NSW Hillclimb Championship in the Ralt 500.
The 18th Gran Premio del Mediterraneo, was the Round Ten of the 1979 European Championship for F2 Drivers. This was held on the Isle of Sicily, at the Autodromo di Pergusa, Enna, on 29 July.
The 23rd Gran Premio di Roma, was Round Five of the 1981 European Championship for F2 Drivers. This was held at the Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi, to the north of Rome, on 10 May.
The 21st Gran Premio Lotteria di Monza, made up the 8th round of the 1979 FIA European Championship, saw the series move to Autodromo Nazionale Monza, on June 24, 1979. This race was also round 8 of the Campionato Italian.
The 33rd BRDC International Trophy was a Formula Two motor race held at Silverstone on 29 March 1981. It was the opening race of the 1981 European Formula Two Championship.
The fifth Gran Premio de Madrid, was the seventh round of the 1983 European Championship for F2 Drivers. This was held at Circuito Permanente del Jarama, north of the Spanish capital, Madrid, on 12 June. This was first time the race was held since 1971.
The 1984 BRDC International Trophy was a Formula Two motor race held at Silverstone on 1 April 1984. It was the 36th running of the International Trophy, and the seventh and last under Formula Two regulations. It was also the opening race of the 1984 European Formula Two Championship.
The 28th B.A.R.C. "200" meeting, saw the 13th running of the P&O Ferries sponsored Jochen Rindt Memorial Trophy. This was the third round of the 1984 European Championship for F2 Drivers, and held at Thruxton Circuit, in Hampshire, on 23 April.
The 28th Gran Premio del Mugello, was the fifth round of the 1984 European Championship for F2 Drivers, with the winner receiving the Trofeo Banca Toscana. This was held at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, in the Tuscany Region of Italy, on 19 May.
The 44th Grand Prix Automobile de Pau, was the sixth round of the 1984 European Championship for F2 Drivers. This race was held around the streets of the city of Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, south-western France, on 11 June.
The 1984 Gran Premio dell'Adriatico took place on July 22, and was the eighth round of the 1984 European Championship for F2 Drivers. It was held at the Circuito Internazionale Santamonica, near the town of Misano Adriatico in the frazione of Santamonica, Italy.
The 23rd Gran Premio del Mediterraneo, was the ninth round of the 1984 European Championship for F2 Drivers. This was held on the Isle of Sicily, at the Autodromo di Pergusa, Enna, on 29 July.
The 37th BRDC International Trophy, was the opening round of the 1985 International Formula 3000. The inaugural was held at Silverstone, on 24 March.
The inaugural Grand Prix F3000 de Belgique, was the sixth round of the 1985 International Formula 3000. This was held at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, on 2 June.
The 24th Gran Premio del Mediterraneo, was the eighth round of the 1985 International Formula 3000. This was held on the Isle of Sicily, at the Autodromo di Pergusa, Enna, on 28 July.
The 46th Grand Prix Automobile de Pau, was the third round of the 1986 International Formula 3000. This race was held around the streets of the city of Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, south-western France, on 19 May.
The 13th round of the 1988 B.A.R.C./B.R.D.C. Lucas Formula Three British Championship, saw the series visit Oulton Park for the 23rd International Gold Cup, on 21 August.
The Ralt RH6 is an open-wheel formula racing car chassis, designed, developed and built by Australian constructor and manufacturer Ralt, for Formula Two racing categories, in 1980. It saw continued use in motor racing through 1984.
The Honda RA260E is a four-stroke, naturally-aspirated, 2.0-liter, V6 racing engine, designed for Formula 2, which was built and developed by Honda Motor Co., Ltd, for Formula 2 racing, in 1980.
Mike Thackwell 
