Rating: WORTHY!
This is from an advance review copy for which I thank the publisher.
This was a fun book, especially for me who isn't really into motor sports. I have been to one or two races myself and I'm always interested in potential topics for novels, so this felt like a good book to review and I guessed right!
The book is quite short, but full-color illustrations of tracks, cars, and drivers, and a wealth of facts on cars, circuits, and interesting events make it seem a lot bigger than it is. It covers circuits and featured cars as follows:
- Nürburgring - Porsche 911 GT2 RS
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - McClaren MP4/4 Honda
- Suzuka - Honda NSX
- Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans - Ford GT40 Mk 2
- Albert Park Lake - Maserati 250F
- Circuit de Monaco - BRM P57
- Monza - Ferrari F1-2000
- Goodwood - Jaguar E-Type 4.2
- Daytona - 1970 Plymouth Superbird
- Bahrain International - Red Bull RB8
- Dakar Rally - Mitsubishi Pajero 2005
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Lotus 38
- Pikes Peak - Drive eO PP03
- Silverstone - Aston Martin DB5
- Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg - Williams FW23
- Shanghai International Circuit - Holden Commodore VZ
- Laguna Seca - Dodge Viper ACR
- Mount Panorama - Holden Torana A9X
There's a short glossary and a longer index at the end, and rest assured it's not just about cars and tracks, the book also has assorted drivers of note and yesteryear highlighted on each page (such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Jutta Kleinschmidt, Michael Schumacher, Jackie Stewart, Alex Zanardi, and a score of others) including career masterpieces, amazing wins, tragic deaths, come-from-behind wins, fistfights, track and racing records, and amazing escapes from accidents.
I found this book fascinating and educational, and I commend it as a worthy read.
