Formula 2

This sumptuous book, a feast of nostalgia, celebrates the wonderful era of the European Formula 2 Championship, which began in 1967 and concluded in 1984. F2 pitted emerging heroes against the greats of the day and in its earlier years virtually all the top F1 drivers — names like Jackie Stewart, Jack Brabham, Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt and Bruce McLaren — battled with young chargers in races that thrilled huge crowds at the best European circuits, from Thruxton to the Nürburgring, Enna-Pergusa to Pau, Rouen-Les-Essarts to Mugello. The first season, 1967, when Jacky Ickx became the first champion, driving a Tyrrell-entered Matra. French Matra cars propelled the next two champions, Jean-Pierre Beltoise (1968) and Johnny Servoz-Gavin (1969), both Frenchmen. Of all the manufacturers of F2 cars, March achieved the most success, Ronnie Peterson (1971) becoming the first of six champions to win in these British-built cars. A fine all-British year, 1972, saw ex-motorcycle ‘great’ Mike Hailwood win the championship in a Surtees car. French champions in five consecutive years: Jean-Pierre Jarier (1973), Patrick Depailler (1974), Jacques Laffite (1975), Jean-Pierre Jabouille (1976) and René Arnoux (1977) dominated their era and all but Jarier went on to become Grand Prix winners. Toleman and Ralt cars — also made in Britain — emerged in the final years of the championship, which saw three more British champions: Brian Henton (1980), Geoff Lees (1981) and Jonathan Palmer (1983). The other champions were Clay Regazzoni (1970), Bruno Giacomelli (1978), Marc Surer (1979), Corrado Fabi (1982) and Mike Thackwell (1984). Nearly 900 photographs, the great majority taken by Jutta Fausel, bring the glory days of F2 back to life in this book, along with expert commentary and detailed statistics, complete with a Foreword by Jacky Ickx and an Afterword by Chris Witty.