Shave lap times or find a faster line through your favorite set of S-curves with professional race driver Ross Bentley as he shows you the quickest line from apex to apex! With tips and commentary from current race drivers, Bentley covers the vital techniques of speed, from visualizing lines to interpreting tire temps to put you in front of the pack. Includes discussion of practice techniques, chassis set-up, and working with your pit chief.

This was a very important period in the Le Mans story. Ferrari and Jaguar raced to stake claims as the foremost manufacturers of high-performance cars. Mercedes-Benz came back from war-ravaged Germany and again set the standards in race-car engineering. Aston Martin finally won at its 20th attempt. Enormous crowds - approaching half a million people - saw the first rear-engined saloons to compete at Le Mans, and the first mid-engined sports-racing cars, and the first diesels. As the victorious manufacturers actively promoted their successes, their commercial rivals also set out to win. As many as 15 brought 'works' teams every June, with purpose-built cars. On-track performance soared. In 1949 the fastest car hit 135mph (217kph) on the unique Mulsanne straight. Before the end of the 1950s, top speeds exceeded 180mph (290kph). This fascinating book tells the stories of these increasingly potent racing cars and conveys the punishing nature of an incomparable event - the ultimate test of the mental and physical abilities of the fragile individuals who make up racing teams, be they drivers, engineers, strategists or mechanics.The thorough statistics in the book result from fresh research, and there are more than 400 evocative photographs, many of them - including very rare colour images - never published before.

The history of the Mercedes provides the thread for this book that narrates the early history of automobile racing from the beginnings in 1895 until the First World War in 1915 when racing temporarily ceased. The book focuses on the races themselves, the drivers and mechanics, the engineers in the background and the technical progress of the cars. Automobile racing had its origins in Paris, and French marques and the Automobile Club de France were dominating the scene. But in 1901 a foreign troublemaker emerged, the Mercedes. This German machine was to play a leading role, its career and evolution becoming an image of the whole period. The individuals who built and drove these early racers laid the foundation of a new industry, conceived the modern, high-performance engine, and gave magic to a series of races, which drew ever more spectators and thrilled entire nations. This richly illustrated history answers many questions from this time in automotive history. Early chapters discuss the marketing of the original Daimler engine in France, the position and influence of Emil Jellinek and Wilhelm Maybach, and the great town-to-town and Gordon Bennett races. Later chapters focus on the French Grand Prix, the great crisis of 1909, the voiturette movement, the Mercedes and Benz successes in America, including the record attempts of the Blitzen Benz, and the role of Ernest Henry in the development of the revolutionary Peugeot. Final chapters describe the career of the 4.5-litre Mercedes and its impact on future designs.

For the fourth consecutive year, Sebastian Vettel has won the Formula 1 World Championship for drivers. He did so with 13 victories out of the season's 19 races, from the Grand Prix of Belgium to the Brazilian GP. Only Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were able to get the better of the great German champion with their sporadic wins. And Vettel's string of successes also enabled Red Bull to confirm once again it is still the top constructor. On the technical front, the 2013 world championship acquired a certain stability, even if there was no lack of new elements, like the abolition of the cars' nose step, the elimination of the double DRS and Ferrari's adoption of faired half-axels by. All aspects carefully explained by Giorgio Piola in his latest book in the "Technical Analysis" series, which is now a must-have for all enthusiasts. This edition also includes over 300 colour illustrations, which unveil all the secrets of the cars that battled for the 2013 world title; and then there is an early look ahead to the principal changes of 2014, when the cars go back to being powered by a turbocharged engines of 6-cylinders and 1600 cc. instead of the classic normally aspirated V8.

A great little sports car race took place on an island in Lake Erie, offshore of Sandusky, Ohio. The drivers came on ferry boats to compete for silver cups in an age when there were no sponsors and no prize money. The drivers were car salesmen, stock brokers, engineers, printers, etc. Often, the cars they raced were those they drove as daily transportation: MGs, Porsches, Triumphs, Alfas and others. In this well illustrated history, drivers, officials, mechanics and spectators share their stories. The text paints a vivid picture of the sports car racing scene in post-war America.

The 24th and final edition of the Mille Miglia, held on the 11th and 12th of May 1957, has passed into history above all due to the tragic circumstances of the accident involving de Portago and Nelson's Ferrari 335S, which crashed in the latter stages of the race near Mantua. It was however, also a race characterised by a bitter struggle amongst the Maranello marque's drivers, a duel that never happened with Moss and Jenkinson's Maserati 450S and the last career win for Piero Taruffi. Behind all this, there was also another story, one equally as fascinating and rich in incident, that of the crews racing in the minor classes: from the Tuned Touring and the 750 classes to the Gran Turismo and Sport 750 and 1000 categories. This previously neglected story of "little" cars and almost unknown drivers is recounted by Carlo Dolcini, a painstaking and accurate historian, who has reconstructed in engrossing detail the "minor" episodes of those days, drawing on a wealth of photographic documentation.

On a bright October morning in 1904, thousands of people flocked to Nassau County on rural Long Island to witness the first international motor sports competition in America: the newly created Vanderbilt Cup. By 1906, the number of spectators multiplied to a quarter million and America's place in motor racing history was assured. In 1908, the Vanderbilt Cup was joined by a second international competition, the International Grand Prize, the first grand prix held outside France. By 1913, the Indianapolis 500 would supplant the Vanderbilt Cup and Grand Prize as America's preeminent race, forever turning mainstream America's attention away from road racing and toward the oval tracks then proliferating around the country. Concentrating on the years between 1904 and 1916 and featuring a wealth of photographs, this book examines the early and relatively unknown history of American motor racing. Beginning with an overview of motor racing history, it covers the French origins of the sport and the first international competitions such as the annual Gordon Bennett Cup and the ill-fated Paris to Madrid race. The primary focus is on America's first three races of international stature: the Vanderbilt Cup, the International Grand Prize and the Indianapolis 500. Compiled in great part from contemporary sources such as newspaper accounts and automotive journals, the book covers not only these races, but also the ways in which each spurred development of the American automobile industry, making it at last a true competitor for that of Europe.

For more than 50 years the Formula Ford Festival has been the proving ground for ambitious racing drivers looking to make their mark. The Brands Hatch meeting was where the likes of Johnny Herbert, Damon Hill and Jenson Button first made their names, while both Michael Schumacher and Nigel Mansell never made it out of their heats. Now a club meeting, in its heyday the Festival was one of the UK's biggest motor sport events, drawing tens of thousands of spectators, and enjoying more than a decade of prime coverage on the BBC's Grandstand. From humble beginnings at a cold Snetterton, the move to Brands Hatch, the peak of the 1980s followed by a gentle decline, this book tells the story of the Festival. Drawing on exclusive contributions from some of the event's legends and prestigious alumni, it covers all the on-track action together with off-track intrigue and controversies.

An in-depth look at Fiat's historical and prestigious involvement in all forms of motorsport. The achievements of the cars and drivers are described in detail, along with many original photographs, sourced from the official Fiat archives. In the early days, before the First World War, Fiat was a major contender in Grand Prix racing, and employed many of the leading drivers of the era. Although it withdrew from Grand Prix racing in 1927, Fiat cars were still to be seen participating in high-profile races, such as the Mille Miglia. In these events most Fiat models were sports editions of the highly successful 'Balilla' range. In 1952 the introduction of the sensational 8V coupe resulted in many racing successes in private owners' hands, while the late 1950s saw the introduction of 'Formula Junior' class of racing and Fiat-engined cars were very successful in the early years. In the 1970s, Abarth, then owned by Fiat, successfully ran the rally team, which resulted in three World Championships. Speed record attempts over the years are also detailed in this fascinating history of Fiat's sporting achievements.

'Adrian has a unique gift for understanding drivers and racing cars. He is ultra competitive but never forgets to have fun. An immensely likeable man.' Damon Hill The world's foremost designer in Formula One, Adrian Newey OBE is arguably one of Britain's greatest engineers and this is his fascinating, powerful memoir. How to Build a Car explores the story of Adrian's unrivalled 35-year career in Formula One through the prism of the cars he has designed, the drivers he has worked alongside and the races in which he's been involved. A true engineering genius, even in adolescence Adrian's thoughts naturally emerged in shape and form - he began sketching his own car designs at the age of 12 and took a welding course in his school summer holidays. From his early career in IndyCar racing and on to his unparalleled success in Formula One, we learn in comprehensive, engaging and highly entertaining detail how a car actually works. Adrian has designed for the likes of Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, always with a shark-like purity of purpose: to make the car go faster. And while his career has been marked by unbelievable triumphs, there have also been deep tragedies; most notably Ayrton Senna's death during his time at Williams in 1994. Beautifully illustrated with never-before-seen drawings, How to Build a Car encapsulates, through Adrian's remarkable life story, precisely what makes Formula One so thrilling - its potential for the total synchronicity of man and machine, the perfect combination of style, efficiency and speed.

As soon as there were automobiles, there was racing. The first recorded race, an over road event from Paris to Rouen, France, was organized by the French newspaper Le Petit Journal in 1894. Seeing an opportunity for a similar event, Hermann H. Kohlsaat?publisher of the Chicago Times-Herald?sponsored what was hailed as the ?Race of the Century, ? a 54-mile race from Chicago's Jackson Park to Evanston, Illinois, and back. Frank Duryea won in a time of 10 hours and 23 minutes, of which 7 hours and 53 minutes were actually spent on the road. Race cars and competition have progressed continuously since that time, and today's 200 mph races bear little resemblance to the event Duryea won. This work traces American auto racing through the 20th century, covering its significant milestones, developments and personalities. Subjects included are: Bill Elliott, dirt track racing, board track racing, Henry Ford, Grand Prix races, Dale Earnhardt, the Vanderbilt Cup, Bill France, Gordon Bennett, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Mercer, the Stutz, Duesenberg, Frank Lockhart, drag racing, the Trans Am, Paul Newman, vintage racing, land speed records, Al Unser, Wilbur Shaw, the Corvette, the Cobra, Richard Petty, NASCAR, Can Am, Mickey Thompson, Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, and Formula One. Through interviews with participants and track records, this text shows where, when and how racing changed. It describes the growth of each different form of auto racing as well as the people and technologies that made it ever faster.

Explore more than 25 legendary F1 race tracks in high-definition satellite photography. From the glamour of Monaco and Yas Marina, to the heritage of Silverstone, Monza and Spa-Francorchamps, Formula One Circuits from Above showcases more than 25 legendary F1 race tracks as you've never seen them before. Powered by unique Google (TM) Earth photography, this stunning illustrated book highlights the signature properties of iconic circuits including Monza, Interlagos and the Nurburgring in incredible detail, providing an unparalleled insight into the unique strengths and challenges of each. This insightful commentary is accompanied by fascinating details on the history of each circuit, as well as the outstanding drivers and unforgettable moments that have defined them: the rivalries, the controversies and the spectacular feats of driving skill. Whether you're a seasoned F1 fan or a newcomer to the sport, Formula One Circuits from Above captures the colour, drama, history and excitement of Formula One.

Niki Lauda drove a car for sport, but crossed the line between life and death and fought back to even greater glory. Even people who know nothing of Formula One have heard of his crash at Nurburgring in 1976, when we was dragged from the inferno of his Ferrari so badly injured he was given the last rites. Within 33 days, he was racing again at Monza. His wounds bled, he had no eyelids. He was terrified. A year later, he reclaimed his World Championship title.

In To Hell and Back he reveals how he battled fear to stage a comeback that seemed beyond human endurance. Then it’s Lauda vs Hunt, an epic rivalry later dramatized in 2013’s Hollywood blockbuster Rush, and he looks back on the strict childhood and parental disapproval that he believes gave him an ‘addiction to excellence’. There’ll never be another like him.

The ideal gift for Grand Prix fans this Christmas Explore the unique stories behind every Grand Prix track in this fully updated second edition. Written by award-winning journalist Maurice Hamilton and complete with bespoke digital maps of each course, this is the ultimate guide to the circuits of Formula One. Each venue is listed in chronological order from the first time it hosted a Grand Prix, starting with Monza, then taking in renowned locations such as Spa, Nurburgring, Monaco and Silverstone, all the way up to F1's latest destination: Miami. Uncover little-known facts about famous circuits and discover the story behind some of the sport's lesser-known venues. This fully updated second edition includes: * All 77 Formula 1 circuits, featuring six additional venues from the previous edition * Bespoke digital maps of every racetrack * Statistics including circuit lengths, lap records, and names of corners and straights * Alphabetical and 'by country' indices for ease of reference

Meet Marc 'Elvis' Priestley: the former number-one McLaren mechanic, and the brains behind some of Formula One's greatest ever drivers. Revealing the most outrageous secrets and fiercest rivalries, The Mechanic follows Priestley as he travels the world working in the high-octane atmosphere of the F1 pit lane. While the spotlight is most often on the superstar drivers, the mechanics are the guys who make every World Champion, and any mistakes can have critical consequences. However, these highly skilled engineers don't just fine-tune machinery and crunch data through high-spec computers. These boys can seriously let their hair down. Whether it's partying on luxury yachts or photo opportunites aboard gravity-defying aeroplanes, this is a world which thrills on and off the track. This is Formula One, but not like you've seen it before.

"In many respects it is a book unlike many others. It is an individual, as all good books should be. It is quirky, eclectic, eccentric even, but in a world intent on reproducing that which has already been regurgitated I personally felt the need for something a bit more idiosyncratic, I can only hope that you agree!" - Simon Owen A well known artist specialising in racing car subjects, the late Simon Owen's detailed, expertly executed work conveys the life, the vibrancy, the essence and passion of motorsports and racing cars, like no other. Simon's work is a visual feast for lovers of automotive art and motorsport. Over the last few years, Simon had worked on developing a series of stunningly detailed computer-generated digital images, focussing on individual racing cars and their liveries. Seventy-seven of these images have been compiled to create this extraordinary book, and each is presented with a relevant quote from a legend of the motor racing world. Along with these beautiful and unique artworks, this book represents a chance to gain a rare peek into the artist's working methods, revealing some of his developmental work and showing how the digital images were constructed.

AUTHOR OF SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, LIFE TO THE LIMIT In his 17 years as a Formula 1 driver, Jenson Button has picked up a thing or two about how to do the job properly. Sure, you need to be able to drive a car fast, but you also need to know the real rules for making it to the top. Like, how to tell a multiple F1 champion they need to check their blind-spot. What the difference is between a helmet and a hat, and indeed a 'helmet-hat'. And how to face down your team when you've just stacked their multi-million-pound car into a wall during practice. How To Be An F1 Driver lifts the lid on the people, the places, the weird rituals, the media, the cars, the perks and the disasters. Join Jenson as he reveals how not to race a stupid big truck, why driving Le Mans is like having five shots of tequila before lunch, and what to do when you finally hang up your helmet-hat.

The first book to feature complete all-time results for over 1,000 Grand Prix from 1950 to the present day, plus season-by-season driver and constructor championship tables.Includes all-time results for drivers, teams and circuits covering more than 70 years of racing.

More than 1,100 pages of in-depth data from the industry-leading provider Motorsport Stats.

A strikingly designed, definitive package that deserves a place on every F1 fan's shelf.

Author Bruce Jones is one of the world's most highly respected Formula One journalists and commentators.

What happened when America's richest car company, producing many thousands of cars per year, went head to head with Ferrari of Italy in the mid `60s? This is the story of an immovable force coming up against the stubbornness of an unmovable object - that is, Ford against Ferrari. Enzo Ferrari, whose company produced less than four hundred cars per year in 1963, wasn't going to bow to Ford after he had turned down its offer to buy his company. The only place left to duke it out was on the racetracks of the world ... and one in particular: Le Mans.

A new edition of the universally acclaimed out-of-print 1997 book is lightly edited & completely redesigned in colour throughout. This classic of motor racing celebrates the life and achievements of Jim Clark (1936-1968), World Champion 1963 and 1965. A royalty on every copy sold in Britain (price GBP22.50) will be donated to the Jim Clark Trust. Patrons Sir Jackie Stewart, David Coulthard, Dario Franchitti and Allan McNish celebrate the new edition, Sir Jackie describing Clark as "...the best racing driver I ever raced with and against". Three times Le Mans winner Allan McNish: "A modern driver winning the British Grand Prix, racing in Formula 2, then at Indianapolis would be unthinkable." David Coulthard: "There is no question that Jim's achievements and Jackie Stewart's input were fundamental to me becoming a professional racing driver." Eric Dymock details Clark's place in motor racing history and total command of Formula 1, portraying him as an individual, nail-biting and insecure, yet the greatest driver in any sort of motor sport.Celebrating the life and achievements of Jim Clark (1936-1968), Formula 1 World Champion 1963 and 1965, this book details his place in motor racing history and his total command at the wheel. From a Scottish farming family, Clark rewrote the annals of American racing at Indianapolis, second at his first attempt in 1963, winning in 1965. Seemingly equal to the odds of the most dangerous eight years at the top of motor racing, Clark died in an unlikely accident in a minor race at Hockenheim on April 7 1968. Genius at the wheel was not enough. Rivals' campaigns for safety thereafter saved countless lives on and off the track.

• Formula 1 of the 1950s and '60s: images from a legendary era of motorsport
• Driver portraits, racing action and historic Formula 1 cars from Ferrari, Porsche, Alfa Romeo and Jaguar
• Over 270 photographs from Edward Quinn's archive, some of which have never been published before
• Insights into post-war Monaco: lifestyle, glamour and celebrities
• Text in English and German

The fifth volume in the Car Racing series charts 1969, the year of avoiding unnecessary risk. Le Mans circuit, 14 June 1969. Silence reigns. In a matter of seconds, the din will rise from the engines of 45 cars roaring to life. Into this sonic gap, a man strides towards his destiny. Unlike his neighbours, he does not run. He walks to forestall superfluous danger. At the risk of ruining the race for his crew - and for Ford. Jacky Ickx has just said no to unnecessary risk, no to herringbone starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with drivers leaping into their cars without taking the time to properly strap themselves in before launching full throttle into the race. Three years earlier, stuck upside down with a back injury and trapped in the cockpit of his BRM he had just spun around on the first lap of the Belgian Grand Prix, Jackie Stewart felt gasoline gushing over him. A mere spark would have spelled tragedy. From this nightmare moment onwards, the Scottish driver campaigned against dangerous circuits and imposed the first safety standards. In 1969, Jacky Ickx - the 'GT40 walker' - won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, even as Jacky Stewart was crowned victor of the Formula 1 World Championship in his Matra MS80. Text in English and French. Also available: Car Racing 1965, 9782702210963 Car Racing 1966, 9782702211014 Car Racing 1967, 9782702211113 Car Racing 1968, 9782702211236

The Official Formula 1 Season Review 2014 catalogues all the twists and turns of the most exciting Grand Prix season for years and gives fans a unique, access-all-areas pass behind the scenes of the 2014 F1 season. Throwing new light on the headlines and key incidents, this official Formula One Management (FOM) review features full race reports from all 19 races and the crowning of Lewis Hamilton as world champion. Illustrated with amazing photography from LAT and exclusive insight from the drivers, this book also contains all the official statistics from an action-packed year of F1 racing. Officially licensed by FOM, including a foreword by Bernie Ecclestone, The Official Formula 1 Season Review 2014 is the most authoritative and fascinating record of the F1 season you can buy.

Who are today's hot rodders? Where do they come from, what do they value, and why? Do gearheads and old metal have any place in tomorrow's transportation landscape? What will be left behind? What will be carried forward? Over an eight year period, gearhead/geographer David Miller crisscrossed America in his home-built 1958 Chevy Apache custom truck interviewing hot rodders who are thoughtful and passionate about what they do, willing to speculate about why they do it and about what lies ahead. This book is a collection of their stories and a celebration of how they roll. It is a testament to what will be lost unless rodders can defy the trend towards mechanical cluelessness, anonymous vehicle styling, driverless vehicles, and a "get back in line and wait to be served" mentality that increasingly permeates our transportation landscape.