Motorsport Biography and Autobiography Reviews and Suggestions

If you want more information on any of these books or wish to purchase them just click the book cover/icon to the left and it will take you to the appropriate page at Amazon.co.uk And don't forget to look out for the spinning star - my 'must read' recommendation!

'Life at the Limit: Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One' by Professor Sid Watkins. If you only ever buy one F1 related book I suggest this one. Even if you don't like Formula One it is a cracking good read and can have you laughing one moment, crying the next. Prof. Watkins is the medical chief of Formula One and his autobiography charts the development of safety in F1 from the 1970s when he was approached by Bernie Ecclestone to help organize safety and medical treatment at races. What follows is an intriguing story of courage, stubbornness and faith. When writing Watkins does have a tendency to jump around time-wise but his informal style makes this very easy to read and hard to put down. He is brutally honest about his relationships in F1, a great friend of Ayrton Senna's, his account of Senna's fatal accident is particularly emotive. There is plenty of humour too and he recalls many a paddock high jinx! A MUST READ

'Gerhard Berger: The Human Face of Formula One' by Christopher Hilton is an entertaining read thanks to the antics of its subject. Former Austrian F1 driver (now working as BMW's sporting director) Gerhard Berger has a reputation paddock jester and his story is littered with tales of practical jokes he's played on seemingly every team-mate he's had! Whilst the book charts his driving career, which was possibly less spectacular than it could have been, the book brings his character to the forefront. Having survived a fiery accident at Imola in 1989, the book opens with an account of this dramatic escape. There is also an account of how he broke his neck in a road car accident and how, miraculously, the first on the scene were two of Austria's top surgeons returning from a medical conference - someone, somewhere is looking out for Berger it would seem!

'Johnny Herbert' by Christopher Hilton. Hilton has written a number of shorter biographies, that don't do his writing justice. Other titles available from Amazon.co.uk include Jacques Villeneuve:In His Own Right and Jean Alesi:Beating the Odds. These are biographies in a hurry and mainly chart the career developments of the drivers and never really get to the heart of the man. They are very bright and breezy books with many photographs. They do make for an easy read and make a nice set but may not be 'meaty' enough for the avid biography reader.

'Gilles Villeneuve' by Gerald Donaldson is a meaty read. A biography of Canadian F1 driverGilles Villeneuve, it covers his career and life until he was tragically killed in 1982 at the young age of 32. Despite being in F1 for a relatively short time he caught the imagination of the spectators and remains a hero to many. This book provides an all round account of this fascinating character who's son Jacques has gone on to win the F1 World Championship. The chapters at the end of the book about his death and the aftermath are very emotional and sum up the great affection he was afforded by so many.

'Ayrton Senna' by Christopher Hilton charts Senna's rise to F1 stardom to his untimely death and the aftermath of his fatal crash. Senna was a shy character with a huge talent and Hilton brings this across very well. This book brings across the true pressures and highs of being one of the worlds most successful sportsmen and idol. There is obviously a great deal of affection for Senna on Hiltons part. Sometimes the book focuses too heavily on the statistics of his career but overall it is a good read.

'Racers' by Richard Williams is a departure from the usual biography styles. In Racers, Williams tries to get into the mind of racers, focusing on the personalities of Michael Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill. Trying to uncover what motivates a driver is an interesting concept and whether you think he has achieved this is a personal opinion probably more inline with your own ideas and perceptions of what makes a racing driving tick.

'The Death of Ayrton Senna' by Richard Williams is once again a departure from the usual styles used to write about motorsports and sports people. Williams's book examines the aftermath of Senna's death on the world of Formula One, drivers, spectators and the effect on his homeland of Brazil were he was revered. As with 'Racer', Williams once more seems interested in bringing out the character of Senna and what motivated him. An unusual approach to a subject which spawned many a memoir and testimonial, it certainly challenges the usual template used for mainstream biography writing

Beverley Turner's behind the scenes look at Formula One recounting her experiences as an ITV reporter. Beverley Turner draws on original interviews throughout the Formula 1 fraternity – from top drivers to mechanics and team bosses – and her own experiences as a broadcast journalist to produce a sensational exposé of the world’s most high-profile capitalist jamboree. After reading this no-holds-barred description of life in the pits, elite motor racing will never seem the same again