Ferrari: The Passion and the Pain - Tapa dura

The Ferrari name evokes an image of flair, imagination and glamour, not only in Italy but around the world. This work is written by a journalist allowed behind-the-scenes to record the highs and lows of two years in the life of a Grand Prix team. Beginning with the signing of double World Champion Michael Schumacher, the book provides an insight into the various mechanical troubles which plagued the team during 1996, a season which closed on a high note with Ferrari finishing a respectable second in the Constructor's Championship. It then leads onto the launch of the new car and the promise of a championship winning year for Ferrari in 1997. The book features interviews with the drivers and all key team members, along with photographs taken both on and off the track.

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 manoeuvring, 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 Shumacher 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 Shumacher, 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.

'Nicki Lauda', who wrote the foreword for this book, was born in Vienna, Austria in 1949. One of the all-time great Formula One drivers, he won the World Driver's Championship three times, in 1975 and 1977 with Ferrari and in 1984 with McLaren.

"Ferrari has something extra. Every time I walked through the doors of the factory at Maranello or stepped into the car, I felt the added importance of being that unique thing – a Ferrari driver. Getting inside the team and discovering how it operates will make fascinating reading."
NIKI LAUDA (THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION)

"You had the feeling that this was a place where Grand Prix racing wasn't just a business, it was a tradition. Every driver, mechanic and engineer, right down to the guy who swept the floor, regarded it as an immense honour to work for the Ferrari racing team."
NIGEL MANSELL (1992 WORLD CHAMPION

"Ferrari 'is' motor racing. It is the representation of everything motor racing stands for – speed, glamour and excitement. I'm sure the team's patience and hard work will soon be rewarded..."
BERNIE ECCLESTONE (FOCA PRESIDENT)