Nigel Mansell's World Championship Racing is a Formula 1 racing game where you can take on the role of Nigel Mansell as he competes for the championship. The game's story mode follows Nigel's journey as he seeks to become the world champion, and features a mix of realistic simulation and action elements.
The gameplay involves customizing your car's performance before each race, choosing from options such as wing downforce, gear ratio, tyre selection, and fuel load. Pitstops are also a feature in longer races, adding an extra layer of strategy to the game. The 16-bit versions include a unique mode called "Improve With Mansell" where Nigel's digitized head appears on screen, offering tips and encouragement.