Derek Bell My Racing Life

Derek Bell's twenty-year professional motor racing career has embraced a wider spectrum than any other British driver. Starting out with his sights firmly set on Formula 1, he quickly climbed the racing ladder from Formula 3, through Formula 2 and into Grand Prix racing as a member of the Ferrari team. But it is in the complex, demanding and specialised world of endurance sports car racing that Bell has carved his world-famous reputation. He has not only won the classic Le Mans 24-hour marathon an incredible five times, and the 24-hour race at Daytona twice, but also took the 1985 World Endurance Championship and the 1986 World Sports Car Championship titles. In 1986 he was awarded an MBE for services to motor sport. Equally well-known in the USA and Europe, Bell has firm opinions on many aspects of this colourful and challenging sport. In his book you can read what he thinks about motor racing politics, Porsche, the tantalising challenge of Le Mans and the abilities, both physical and mental, essential to a top-line racing driver in this high technology age. Here also is the story of a career rich in variety and achievement with an international racing record from 1965 to 1988, which puts a highly personal perspective on the gruelling world of long distance motor racing in general and the Le Mans classic in particular. Alan Henry has known Derek Bell since 1970 when he first reported his European Formula 2 challenge. Grand Prix correspondent of Motoring News since 1973, and motor racing correspondent of The Guardian, Alan is now a highly respected authority on international motor racing.