Ferrari The Passion and the Pain

Ferrari is the most glamorous and secretive name in Formula One. It was in the 1940s that Enzo Ferrari conceived the racing team, and during that period there has been almost no access to outsiders. Now, for the first time, Ferrari have allowed sports journalist Jane Nottage behind the scenes in this authorised tribute to mark fifty years in the life of the most famous motor racing team in the world. Unlike previous books based on the fortunes of the prancing horse, Ferrari: The Passion and the Pain will tell the story from the inside, through the eyes of the team. The complex internal maneuvering, the hopes and expectations, and the pressure to perform and produce a world beating car - these are just some of the issues covered in fascinating detail that help explain the enigma of Ferrari. Beginning with the start of the 1996 season and the signing of Michael Schumacher from Benetton, the book traces the team's initial problems with the car and the frustration of a string of early retirements that put paid to any hopes of championship glory that season. Then, following a series of consistent performances in 1997 which included memorable wins for Schumacher in Monaco, Magny-Cours and Spa, it focuses on a new era for the team that sees Ferrari back once again at the pinnacle of Formula One. Featuring a foreword by Niki Lauda, interviews with Ferrari drivers past and present like Jody Scheckter, Nigel Mansell, Eddie Irvine and Michael Schumacher, key team members including Jean Todt, Nigel Stepney, Ross Brawn, and other parties privy to the inner secrets of Ferrari — and with exclusive photographs taken both on and off the track, this book will make enthralling reading for all Ferrari enthusiasts and Formula One fans.