When Fiat entered rallying in 1970, its ultimate aim was to become World Rally Champion - and the 131 Abarth of 1976-1980 provided the machinery to make that possible. Within the Fiat-Lancia empire, the 131 Abarth not only replaced the 124 Abarth Spider sports car, but was also favoured ahead of the charismatic Lancia Stratos. By 1970s standards, the 131 Abarth was the most extreme, and effective, of all homologation specials. Compared with the 131 family car on which it was originally based, it had different engine, transmission and suspension layouts, was backed by big budgets and by a team of superstar drivers, and was meant to win all round the world.Not only did it start winning World rallies within months of being launched, but in 1977, 1978 and 1980 the 'works' team also won the World Championship for Makes, and set every standard by which Rally Giants were to be judged. The 131 Abarth was backed by a peerless team of engineers, so was there ever any doubt that successors like the Lancia Rally 037 and the Delta Integrale would eventually come from the same stable?

The first edition of this book was groundbreaking: an entire book dedicated to F1 records and trivia, which proved hugely popular with F1 enthusiasts and fans of racing statistics. This new second edition is fully updated, with up-to-date stats, and an extended narrative including many amusing, and some serious, stories from the history of F1. There are performance records of every driver, every car constructor, and every engine make to have taken part, a detailed insight into the variety of qualifying procedures throughout the years, a summary of regulation changes since 1950 and a quick reference guide to every grand prix result. Performances are analysed by nationality, youngest/oldest, fastest/slowest, consecutive wins, poles, most wins at different circuits, and lots more. It's not just focused on drivers and cars, but circuits, engines and tyres too. A comprehensive photographic section depicts the changing scene of Formula 1 since its inception in 1950. This book will be an invaluable reference book, that will both entertain and provide definitive data at your fingertips.

Four-time Formula One Drivers' Champion Alain Prost is one of the best racing drivers of all time. Having discovered karting at the age of 14 during a family holiday, Prost progressed through motorsport's junior ranks, winning the French and European Formula Three championships, before joining the McLaren Formula One team in 1980 at the age of 24. In his six seasons with McLaren, Alain Prost won 30 races and three driving titles and in 1985 he became the first French World Champion. In 1986 he became the first back-to-back champion since Jack Brabham 26 years earlier. In 1987, his 28th Grand Prix victory beat Jackie Stewart's 14-year-old record. However, in 1988 his brilliant new team mate Ayrton Senna won eight races and the driving title. Thus began the sensational rivalry that conspired to push two of the sport's greatest drivers to unprecedented heights of success and controversy, and the most bitter feud in Formula One history.

The racing E-type Jaguar emerged from the ambition of both the racing fraternity and Jaguar enthusiasts who wanted to take this iconic British sports car onto the track to see what it would do. With official (and sometimes unofficial) help from the factory, the E-type was continually developed and modified from almost the first week that the first production car left the factory. Recognised the world over, this beautiful aerodynamic car remains as popular today as it was in the 1960s. This fascinating book features period photographs and stories from the E-type's early racing days, describes how the cars evolved, and gives details of the lightweights, semi-lightweights and factory specials, the Le Mans cars, the Modsports era, and the replica lightweight racing phenomena. The detailed appendices include lists of cars and drivers, book and magazine references. As the only book in its field to cover every aspect of the E-type's competitive history from 1961 until the present day, the author redresses the balance to detail the 95% of cars usually overlooked. The reader will find hundreds of previously unseen photographs and new information, providing an invaluable source of material for anyone interested in this incredible sports car.

Great photographer Manrico Martella covers in this book the entire history of world rallying through his lens, from the early `70s to today. "What are rallies to me? They are over 40 years of life throughout the world, 40 years of joy, pain, emotions, human contact, but above all they comprise a long period of time of constant research for the right shot, one where newspapers had to make them the lead story or illustrate a centre page double spread. That picture has always touched on the difficult task of catapulting the reader right into the heart of Kenya and its sand and unlimited sky: in the midst of Sweden's ice or through the damp British forests. This has always been the main objective of my search, to live the atmosphere of a location, the pathos of a moment and the excitement of being there, all encapsulated in one shot. It is also for that reason that rally cars are never the key protagonists of my images, but rather one of the various elements that compose those rallying panoramas comprising people, villages, woods, mountains or the sea - whatever - all indisputable protagonists equal to the cars and their drivers". Those are the words of of this extraordinary photographic artist: the most fabulous and victorious cars and the greatest drivers never got away from his eye. The text is by Emanuele Sanfront, sports journalist, `60s and `70s driver and navigator.

Cars are one of the most significant human creations. They changed our cities. They changed our lives. They changed everything. But in the next thirty years, this technology will itself change enormously. If Google get their way, are we all going to be ferried around in tiny electric bubble-cars? Or will we watch robots race a bionic Lewis Hamilton? And what about the future of classic cars? In Autopia, presenter of The Gadget Show and former executive producer of Top Gear Jon Bentley celebrates motoring's rich heritage and meets the engineers (and coders) who are transforming cars forever. From mobile hotel rooms to electric battery technology; from hydrogen-powered cars to jetpacks, Autopia is the essential guide to the future of our greatest invention. Fully designed with illustrations and photographs, this will be the perfect Christmas gift for car and technology enthusiasts everywhere.

When world rallying introduced a new formula for "World Rally Cars," Ford seized the opportunity. Malcolm Wilson's M-Sport organization was contracted to do the job, completed the design in less than a year, and spent the next 12 years campaigning this turbocharged, four-wheel-drive car all round the world.Working from state-of-the-art facilities, M-Sport built 97 Focus WRCs, all of which proved to be worthy of World level action when they won 44 World Championship events.Stellar drivers like Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz, Markko Martin, Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen all added to the mystique of an ultra-professional organization, along with substantial support and sponsorship from the likes of Martini, BP, and the state of Abu Dhabi.By building its in-house technical expertise, M-Sport not only engineered and developed the entire car on behalf of Ford, but gradually took over development of the 300bhp, 2.0-litre, turbocharged engine, and led the design of the complex four-wheel-drive transmissions provided by Xtrac.M-Sport's reputation exploded to the point that when regulations changed, the company immediately produced a new-generation Fiesta WRC, and kept the winning days rolling.

Ninety years ago the first Mille Miglia was held on 26-27 March 1927, so here is a new book that enables the reader to pin down a story which is not exactly secret, but has remained unknown until now. After exhaustive research of the Mille Miglia Archives, previously unpublished yet invaluable documentation came to light with the historic information they provide. This book tells of the first Mille Miglia's regulations, the analytical description of 1,618 kilometres of the route - a rare description of the Italian roads in 1927 - specifications of the 101 cars entered for the event with photographs of the drivers, the results list and times at which each entrant reached the various controls at Parma, Bologna, Florence, Poggibonsi, San Quirico d'Orcia, Viterbo, Rome, Terni, Spoleto, Ancona, Rimini, Bologna and Treviso. From this journey into the recorded history of the first Mille Miglia, out came the story of just what the event really was like: a giant utopian undertaking, from which the book now attempts to separate legend from reality. By studying documents most of which were previously unknown, a different story emerges of the 1927 Mille Miglia's various stages, what the drivers looked like and all presented as real people. And the illustrative material is partially unpublished.

To mark the 70th anniversary of Ferrari, this book does not wish to be a new story about the prestigious marque, but a tribute to the Prancing Horse and its golden years, when it was led by just one man: Enzo Ferrari. From the opportunity of publishing absolutely new photographic material recently acquired by Giorgio Nada Editore, comes "Ferrari The Golden Years". It is a book illustrated by the pictures taken by one of the most observant photographers of Ferrari, Franco Villani. With powerful and evocative photographs, the work covers the era of the man and his unrepeatable creation, from the end of the '40s - when the 125 first rolled into the factory's courtyard - to the '80s, when the Commendatore died on a midsummer's morning.

This book about the Porsche 917, one of the most successful and iconic racing cars of all time, presents a detailed chassis-by-chassis and race-by-race history of the cars entered by the John Wyer/Gulf team. It includes the history leading to the 917 and the partnership between Porsche, Gulf and JW Automotive Engineering. These cars were instrumental in Porsche's taking of the 1970 and 1971 World Sportscar Championship titles when they won 11 of the 17 championship races entered. The exploits of driving legends Jo Siffert, Pedro Rodriguez and teammates Brian Redman, Leo Kinnunen, Derek Bell and Jackie Oliver are listed as they raced the Gulf 917s on the fast tracks of an evocative motorsport era. Written with assistance from JWAE Chief Engineer, John Horsman, the book includes scans of his original race data sheets, along with numerous rarely-seen photographs - many from Porsche's archive. Detailed post-Gulf histories are presented for each car.

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.

Nobody built sports cars like British manufacturers in the 1950s and 1960s. There was something very special about the combination of low-slung open two-seater bodywork with a spartan interior, a slick sporting gearchange and a rorty exhaust note. This was wind-in-the-hair motoring, and it was affordable by the average young man - at least, until he got married and had a family. The names of MG and Triumph stood proudly out from the rest, but there were many others as well. Austin-Healeys and Jaguars were grander and faster, but they still embodied that almost indefinable fun factor. Then there were the bit-part players, who did their best to secure a place in the affections of the sports car buying public. British sports cars were hugely popular overseas, especially in the USA. And tellingly, when Japanese manufacturer Mazda wanted to make a sports car in 1989, it sought inspiration from these very classics of the 1950s and 1960s. Today, the Mazda MX-5 is the world's best-selling sports car.

The vision of one man, Captain Sherman 'Red' Crise, resulted in the Bahamas Speed Weeks, a series of motor races held on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. They started in the mid-1950s and continued for thirteen years, before ending due to a mix of political decisions, ill fortune and a shift in the direction motor racing had taken. These years have been described by many commentators as the golden age of motor racing, where internationally-acclaimed drivers attended the Speed Weeks to mix with the many amateur racers from America who came to enjoy the scenario of sun, parties and racing. For many drivers the social scene was as important as the racing, and in latter years prize money was an extra incentive to turn up. This well-researched account tracks the history of the Speed Weeks with its roller-coaster ride throughout its initial thirteen years' existence. This revised edition includes 300 additional photos, greatly expanded indices, updated information and new chapters highlighting the 2011 and 2012 Revival Meetings.

"Tales from the Toolbox" is a unique collection of behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes as told, in their own words, by former Grand Prix mechanics who have worked at the top level of the sport during the past 50 years. On the front line of the sport, mixing with drivers and team bosses, they saw a side of it that nobody else got to see and rarely gets to hear about - and this book tells their story. Chapters are themed around a particular aspect of a mechanic's life, ranging from what they consider the highs and lows of their career, to their opinions of drivers and team bosses, the all-nighters, letting off steam, the 'Mechanic's Gallon', nightmare journeys and customs capers. It also reveals a tale of camaraderie between teams and individual mechanics which is hard to imagine in today's highly competitive Formula One environment. The stories are supplemented by photographs from the archives and photo albums of the mechanics themselves, many of which are previously unseen.

The Isle of Man TT - the world's most dangerous race - as seen through the eyes of Cummins, Martin, McGuinness and Dunlop. THAT NEAR DEATH THING is a life-affirming journey to the heart of the world's most dangerous race. The Isle of Man TT is a throwback to a maverick era that existed before PR platitudes and PC attitudes. WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR-shortlisted author Rick Broadbent gets inside the helmets of four leading motorcycle racers as they battle fear, fire and family tragedy for a gritty sort of glory. Guy Martin is a tea-drinking truck mechanic and TV eccentric who 'sucks the rabbits out of hedges', but must now deal with the flipside of fame; Conor Cummins is the local hero facing a race against time as he battles depression and a broken body after falling down the mountain; John McGuinness is the living legend fending off the ravages of middle-age for one last hurrah; Michael Dunlop is the wild child living with one of the most remarkable legacies in sport. They tell their astonishing stories in a book that provides the most rounded, intimate, behind-the-scenes account yet of the last great race. Rick Broadbent has delivered the final word on the Isle of Man TT, one that really gets to grips with an event that continually pulls unsung riders and fans back year after year to witness That Near Death Thing.

On his deathbed, Alex Roy's father dropped tantalizing hints about the notorious Cannonball Run of the 1970s, the utterly illegal high-speed non-stop races from New York to LA. Inspired by his father's dying words, and against the advice of his friends, Roy enters this mysterious world - trying both to find himself, and to locate 'The Driver' - the anonymous organizer of the world's ultimate car race. In this riveting memoir, Roy straps you into his highly modified BMW M5, takes you on a terrifying 120 mph lap of Manhattan, then tackles the Gumball 3000 and the Bullrun - the two most infamous road rallies in the world. His bogus Polizei Autobahn Interceptor sticks out among the Lamborghinis and Ferraris driven by millionaire playboys, software moguls, Arab princes, movie stars, leggy Czech supermodels, gearheads, and tech whizzes. Armed with myriad radar detectors, laser jammers and police scanners, and his trunk crammed with a variety of fake uniforms, the obsessively prepared Roy evades arrest at almost every turn, wreaking havoc on his fiercest rivals and gaining the admiration of police forces around the globe. Filled with insane driving and Roy's quixotic quest to win both for his late father and himself, The Driver is the tale of one man's insatiable drive beyond life in the fast lane.

This is the second volume in a series of three exploring the history of sports car racing in the Southern United States. With the exception of the Sebring 12 Hours, the meets were largely ignored by the national press, and no comprehensive research material is available for the numerous events organized between Texas and Florida, when amateur competition surged in the late 1950s. Yet, the South offers a rich road racing history, often fueled by wealthy oilmen from Texas and Oklahoma. Many of the events were hosted on airport courses and featured the top echelon of European sports cars. Late-model Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars, Listers, Porsches, OSCAs and Climax-engined cars such as Lotus, Cooper and Elva did battle with American V8-powered vehicles, both Corvettes and homebuilt Specials. This book offers a race-by-race account of all 1959 and 1960 Southern events, from Novice Races to the weekend-ending Features competition. The author has scoured local newspapers of the period for race reports and results and interviewed many of the drivers, mechanics and owners that were involved in the competitions. He provides an exhaustive report of the time, vividly illustrated by period photographs, many from the archives of Bob Jackson, the acclaimed press photographer.

This is the remarkable story of Barry Sheene, the cheeky cockney boy who grew up to become a sporting legend. He won the British motorcycling 125cc championship aged just twenty and twice became World Champion in the 500cc class, despite two life-threatening crashes. In an era when sport and its personalities rarely made it off the back pages, Barry Sheene crossed the bridge between sport and celebrity in a style that only George Best had achieved previously. Barry is an intimate and revealing account told by three people who knew him better than most. Steve Parrish, fellow bike racer and now BBC commentator, Nick Harris, who wrote and broadcast on all Barry's major successes, and Barry's widow, Stephanie. Frank and fascinating, Barry is an exclusive look into the extraordinary life of a charming and complex man.

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With the exception of the Sebring 12 Hours, the meets were largely ignored by the national press, and no comprehensive research material is available for the numerous events organized between Texas and Florida, when amateur competition surged in the late 1950s. Yet, the South offers a rich road racing history, often fueled by wealthy oilmen from Texas and Oklahoma. Many of the events were hosted on airport courses where late-model Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars, Porsches, OSCAs and Climax-engined cars such as Lotus, Cooper and Elva did battle with American V8-powered vehicles, both Corvettes and homebuilt Specials. This book, the first of a series of three, offers a race-by-race account of all 1957 and 1958 Southern events, from Novice Races to the weekend-ending Features competition. The author has scoured local newspapers of the period for race reports and results and interviewed many of the drivers, mechanics and owners that were involved in the competitions. He provides an exhaustive report of the time, vividly illustrated by period photographs, many from the archives of Bob Jackson, the acclaimed press photographer.

This is the authorised biography of one of the best-liked bad boys in British motorsport. John Chatham, driver, racer, repairer, rebuilder, tuner, trader and lover of Austin-Healeys, was, according to Geoffrey Healey, "uncontrollable" in his youth, and has only mildly mellowed with age. Burly and genial, but formidably competitive, and not above bending the rules when he thought he could get away with it, to many he is the archetypal club racer. John is so synonymous with Austin-Healeys that the most famous racing Healey in the world, DD300, is so well-known mainly because John campaigned it for decades, notching up tens of thousands of racing miles. But his career embraces far more than one car, and until this biography no-one had attempted to fill in the gaps. The book is not a dry description of one club race after another. It does include a list of John's principal sporting achievements, but no complete record exists of the hundreds of events which made up his competitive career, so the writer has not attempted to compile one. Instead Norman Burr, who was himself acquainted with John in his youth, has created a more rounded and personal account, full of motoring and sporting anecdotes, but also telling the story of John's family, his work, his business, his three wives and his lovers. John has a comprehensive photo library from which the book is generously illustrated, with cartoons added to illustrate some of the moments that a camera was not around to record. Thoroughly politically incorrect even by the standards of the 1960s, it's an account which will strike a chord not only with admirers of Big Healeys, but also with anyone who believes that independent thinking, and the courage to apply and enjoy it, is the greatest virtue of all. This book is now available in paperback format, due to popular demand.

Published to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the Superbike World Championship, The World According to Foggy will delight the legions of motor sport fans in the UK and beyond, and will be lapped by those who have enjoyed books by Valentino Rossi, Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson and Freddie Spencer. Foggy's scintillating new book takes his fans into the memory banks of this most charismatic and straight-talking of sporting icons, transporting them into the weird and wonderful world of this endearingly quirky hero of the track. The World According to Foggy contains lashings of adrenaline-fuelled bikes and electrifying bike racing, thrills and spills galore, but it will also reveal the man behind the helmet, his passions and frustrations, what makes him still leap out of bed in the morning and seize the day - ultimately, what makes this great man tick and explains his enduring popularity.