I first caught sight of the Ferrari 333 SP at Kyalami in Johannesburg, South Africa, in December 1998. It was hot, as Johannesburg is at that time of the year, but the track action was even hotter with no less than four Ferrari 333 SPs in action. It was the final round of the ’98 International Sports Racing Series (ISRS), and the media briefing room was packed, as the local … [Read more...]
25 Years of GT Racing: Stéphane Ratel and SRO Motorsports
On the world stage, GT racing has enjoyed as many ups as it has had downs over the years, but this class of racing arguably forms the core of what motor racing encompasses, that is, to take a recognisable Grand Touring car and to go racing with it. I acknowledge that this is an extremely simplistic view to take, and there will be those who point to their favourite form of the … [Read more...]
Sports Car Racing in the South: Texas to Florida 1957-1958
Motor racing in America in the late 1950s was beginning to show a much more organised front across the nation. However, race tracks were spread far and wide, and understandably, the media attention would focus on the main events which were concentrated in the bigger centres, where national and international events were run. This left large areas of the country where … [Read more...]
Le Mans: The Official History 1960–69
This edition of Quentin Spurring’s fabulous series covering the Le Mans 24 Hours decade-by-decade, concerns the 1960s. Many will agree that the decade, 1960 to 1969, saw some of the most innovative race cars, and with relatively free technical regulations, the motorsport world witnessed the birth of some of the most iconic race car designs of all time. It is with this … [Read more...]
2020 Roar Before the Rolex 24
The Roar at Daytona was completed on Sunday 6 January. This has become a standard three-day test put on by IMSA for the Daytona 24 hours, always in the first week of January. It is mandatory for all entrants (of the 24 hour) to attend as IMSA uses it to monitor performance for potential BOP changes. The teams get to test new tyres, new cars and other new components prior to the … [Read more...]
The Ford that beat Ferrari – A Racing History of the GT40
In 1963 Enzo Ferrari made a decision that had far-reaching consequences, when he snubbed an attempt by Ford to buy his company. The effect of this decision was not what he was expecting, but Henry Ford II was not someone who liked to be led down the garden path, and so he and Lee Iacocca set about devising a plan to beat Ferrari at their own game. As anyone who has worked in … [Read more...]
RM Sotheby’s Petersen Museum auction 2018 finale
Christmas shoppers in Los Angeles on December 8 had a special selection at the Petersen Museum as RM Sotheby’s hosted its last auction of 2018. The RM Sotheby’s staff assembled 68 vehicles and 56 items of memorabilia and nostalgia for the auction. The automobiles on offer spanned many marques and vintages. This was not a single marque auction but rather an assortment of … [Read more...]
The Spa 24 Hours – A History
There are a few major endurance races around the world that roll off the tongue quite easily and quickly, such as Le Mans, Daytona, Sebring and of course the Spa 24 Hours. It is perhaps an injustice that the Spa 24 Hours has over the years not received the coverage of the other major endurance races, but I sense that this is an imbalance that will be rectified in the very near … [Read more...]
Sports Car Racing in Camera 1960-69
There will be few who would argue that the decade of the 1960s was one of the most innovative and exciting periods in modern motor racing. It was a time that was both brutal and evocative at the same time, as the top sports car manufacturers wheeled out their finest designs and most powerful creations with regular monotony. In fact, you could argue that we were spoilt for … [Read more...]
Brian Redman – Daring Drivers, Deadly Tracks
Brian Redman is about as down-to-earth as they come, which for a top-flite racing driver, is not an attribute common to all who ply their trade in this field. I have had the pleasure of interviewing Brian on twelve occasions in the last decade, and he has never been anything other than willing, cooperative and a true gentleman. In one of our early conversations, Brian … [Read more...]
