Art of the Formula One Race Car [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

There's an intrinsic beauty to most objects conceived with a fixed purpose and GP cars are automotive engineering in its purest form. That's why an F1 Ferrari hangs in New York's Museum of Modern Art, and why C&S photographer Mann has long wanted to produce a book on the greatest racers. That ambition ahs finally been achieved this year, with his studio images presented with black backgrounds in distinctive, detached style that enhances shape and detail. Narrowing the list of subjects to just 18 was a challenge that resulted in much debate. 'As well as beauty, we also had to consider innovative engineering and Championship success', says Mann.'I wanted to include the Eagle Westlake, but had to concede.' mann did, however, get to shoot his all-time favourite, the Lotus 72:'We sourced three cars but they all fell through. In the end Clive Chapman sorted the ex-Ronnie Petersen 72/9. it's a great shape to photograph - there isen't a bad angle on it.' The high point of the project was a trip to stuttgart to capture the stunning Mercedes W196 streamliner.' The factory couldn't have been more helpful and it was a dream to shoot'. Mann's role went beyond pressing the shutter. he found most of the cars, plus arranged transport and studios. When mcLaren stated it's museum cars couldn't be moved, Mann and his assistant had to build a studio at the Woking factory. 'Once we ahd to shoot three cars in a day. with fil it would be impossible, but digital has made things so much slicker'. The alst recare to be shot was also the oldest, the Alfa Romeo Tipo 158:'There's only one in private hands, which was with a specialist Jim Stokes for a rebuild. it was a close call, but we had to have the first Champioship winner.' Mann's interest in cars started with his father, who drove a Riley Nine:'He used to take me to race meetings at Crystal palace. I've been photographing cars ever since and this is my 47th book. Owners seem to appreciate my enthusiasm and are very helpful.'....Classic & Sports car, March, 2010...There's been a glut of arty studio photography car books recently but as yet no-one has focused on Grand Prix machiners C&S's James mann is a respected specialist at this style and this book is very much his baby. The handsome, beautifully printed poublication features 18 iconic post-1950 racers, rnaging from the gorgeous Alfa-Romeo Tipo 158 'Alfeta' to the ensational McLaren MP44-23 - all shot against black backgrounds to dramatic effect. Stuart codling's words complement the seductive imagery with the bonus of Gordon Murray's commentory throughout....Classic & sports car, April, 2010...The man behind ther McLaren F1, co-author Gordon Murray, provides excellent commentory in this 200-page book. However, it focuses more on pictures, with some simply stunning photographs from James Mann. Stuart Codling serves up the historical and technical details in the shape of some fascinating anecdotes - but this hardback is one to look at rather than read!... --Auto Express, March, 2010;I think there is little doubt that any F1 fan or any motorsport fan, for that matter, and perhaps a wider swath than that will enjoy this book. It s more than worth checking out...Formula One blog, March, 2010...This book is a treasure trove, not only in terms of the pretty pictures but also in some nice reporting as text. The photography throughout this book is dramatic and detailed, and includes plan (overhead) views that are so important to car designers but rarely seen by the res of us. This book would be a jewel just for the photography, but there are gems within the text as well...I zoom dot com, March, 2010...April 12, 2010 will see another coffee table book on Formula One. This desirable new entry from Motorbooks International, Art of the Formula 1 Race Car, features studio photographs of some of the most significant cars of the post wa --Guild of Motoring Writers, April, 2001

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year I got talking to James Mann, a photographer who told me he d been doing studio shots of classic F1 cars for an upcoming book. 'Art of the Formula 1 Race Car' is the product of that work, a study of 18 of the most important, interesting and, often, beautiful F1 cars ever to be raced. Publisher Motorbooks put out a similar title only last year 'Legendary Race Cars', reviewed here in December. But 'Art of the Formula 1 Race Car' is a much more successful (and F1-centric) execution of the concept. The 18 cars have been chosen with a degree of imagination. As well the usual suspects Maserati 250F, McLaren MP4/4, Williams FW14 there are some more unusual and curious additions. Jack Brabham s BT20, for instance, and Adrian Newey s Leyton House-Judd CG901. That turquoise car may never have won a race though it certainly came close but the detailed study of this 20 year-old car tells you a lot about why the Red Bull RB6 is the car to beat this year. From the faintly prehistoric front-engined machines of the 1950s, through the ground effect and turbo eras, right up to F1 a aerodynamic pinnacle in 2008, 'Art of the Formula 1 Race Car' takes in the full breadth of F1 car design through the decades. F1 journalist Stuart Codling gives an expert view on both the historical and technical stories behind each car, often with fascinating details on how design decisions about the cars were made. The 'commentary by Gordon Murray' advertised on the cover starts off well but by the later pages it s clear at what point he lost interest in F1 car design. The later cars get just a couple of sentences each. A pity, as I d like to have heard more of his trenchant views on the 'dead end' of active suspension and traction control, and the 'ugly'generation of F1 cars in the 2000s. But it s the sumptuous photography that really makes the book. Each car is brought to life in page after after page of close-up pictures exposing their intricacies fabulous detail. If F1 car technology is your thing, you simply have to buy this book. --F1 fanatic dot co dot uk, April, 2010

Photographer Jammes Mann's new book The Art of the Formula One Race Car features 18 of the most legendary and successful Formula One cars from teh past 60 years of teh sport, photographed exclusively in the studio. Guild member james told Update:'The concept is not anew one, taking ther cars from their usual enviroment and making you look at them in a different light. but to my knowledge it's never been done with F1 cars. Choosing teh subjects was one of the hardest jobs with a fine line drawn between design, engineering, and cahmpionship sucess, with teh emphasis on showing how excellence in these disciplines can be beautiful.' Guild President Nick Mason loaned his fantastic 1978 ex-Villeneuve Ferrari 312T3 for inclusion. The book, described as a homage to the ultimate breed of race car, contains historical and technological profiles by noted F1 journalist Stuart sodling and commontory from championship-winning car designer Gorden Murray. The first car in the book, the 1950 championship-winning Alfa Romeo, was the machine that won the inaugral British GP at Silverstone in teh ahnds of Nino Ferina. 'I had to use studios all over the country to be close to where the acrs were based', James said. 'The Donnington Collection was most helpful allowing access to a number of cars, including the fantastic recreation of the Lancia D50 and Jackie Stewart's fabulous 003 Tyrrell.' Some cars presented more of a challenge. When McLaren told James that their cars could not be moved from the company's Technical Centre, the project was nearly compromised. However, James was able to set up in the McLaren conforence facility with successful results. --Guild of Motoring Writers, April, 2001

Stuart Codling is one of Formula 1's pre-eminent photojournalists. His twelve-year career in motorsport has taken him from riding pillion with World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson to snowboarding with FIA President Max Mosley--and being shouted at by Eddie Irvine. He has worked in Formula 1 since 2001, writing for the world-leading magazines "Autosport" and "F1 Racing." This is his first book. James Mann is one of the world's leading car and motorcycle photographers, with more than twenty years of experience shooting for car and bike publications, the motor industry, and businesses all over the world. His work has appeared within and on the covers of more than forty books and has provided stunning visuals for numerous magazines, including "Classic and Sportscar," "CAR "magazine, "Automobile Quarterly, Autocar, Motorsport, Automobile" magazine, and many others. His advertising clients include Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, BMW, and Toyota, amongst others. James is the author of the Motorbooks title "How to Photograph Cars." Visit his website at: www.mannphoto.co.uk.