Grand Prix 2009

Published in paperback by Carlton Books on 5th March 2009, at £12.99
Author: Bruce Jones

Following another succesful TV season covering the F1 circuit, comes this sumptuous overview of the coming season, amd with so many changes to the racing rules it looks as if it could be wide open.

Since Lewis Hamilton’s victory, Formula One racing has again become one of the most spectacular and talked about events in the world.  Now in its 12th year of publication
THE GRAND PRIX GUIDE 2009 is THE bestselling annual guide to the new Formula One season.   
The stunning illustrated guide, containing photographs and illustrations, captures the glamour, drama and excitement of this exhilarating sport.

The author, Bruce Jones, one of the world’s most highly respected motoring journalists, sets the reader up for the season ahead with detailed examinations of the teams and drivers, and the tracks where the races are staged, but also looks back at the most recent season, highlights changes to the rules and regulations.

Complementing the text are photographs, maps diagrams, facts, stats, a comprehensive records section and a fill-in guide for the reader to complete as the season progresses.

The contents include
•    Analysis of the 2009 season
•    Team-by-team preview of the season including driver biographies
•    Talking points including Night Racing and Technical Changes for 2009
•    A comprehensive illustrated guide to the tracks
•    Race by race review of the 2008 season with full results and end of season tables
•    Formula 1 records
•    2009 Fill in chart

With more than 10 million fans attending F1 race weekends each season, this is an unrivalled insight into the on-track action and the behind the scenes details for 2009.

With all those rule changes coming in to make it a level playing field ( a pity it wasn't like that during the Schumacher years) you will need this to ake sense of what is going on off the track, as well as on it. Using a diagram of a car a whole range of nnovations are explained as well as details about what will have to be taken off for this year. It seems as if a lot will ride on how successfully teams integrate the KERS systems into the cars. This is a system that stores heat from braking and then uses it for acceleration. Ironically it was banned when McLaren introduced it over a decade ago (I bet they wouldn't have banned it if it had been Ferrari). Much is also made of the change back to racing slicks, away from grooved tyres.
We particularly enjoyed the race by race breakdown with the detailed maps and stas. Of course one of the delights of these books are the great photographs, and this new annual is no slouch in that department wth some great shots of the night racing in Singapore last year.