The one-season-wonder story of Brawn GP is by now extraordinarily well-trodden. Maybe the one remaining unanswered query is who ought to play Ross Brawn within the inevitable film.
Subsequently I approached David Tremayne’s new “autobiography” of the Brawn BGP 001/02 with a contact of trepidation. I needn’t have anxious, nonetheless: In the event you solely purchase one guide on the Brawn story that is the one to get.
Superbly designed by Porter Press and accessibly, but comprehensively, written, that is the entire story of the Brawn GP journey. From Honda’s shock late 2008 withdrawal we’re taken by way of their gorgeous championship triumph, Jenson Button’s triumph within the drivers’ title and the workforce’s sale to Mercedes – plus their star driver’s acrimonious departure to McLaren.
The guide is impeccably sourced. Tremayne weaves in all of the voices you’d wish to hear from in a rounded narrative that doesn’t duck among the controversies and goes into particulars that former CEO Nick Fry omitted from his 2019 memoir. Tremayne additionally will get the pacing spot-on, with simply the correct quantity of contextualisation.
The passage of time additionally implies that the reflections are open and candid in a manner that usually appears to be lacking from up to date protection. My chief criticism is the guide is lighter on technical element than the title might counsel – there’s a lot there (particularly within the appendices which embody interval PowerPoint slides on among the design options), however a Haynes guide this isn’t. The diagrams which present the analysis behind the conception of the automotive’s notorious ‘double diffuser’ are fascinating, nonetheless.
Additionally newly out from Porter Press, in the identical collection, is Serge Vanbockryck’s autobiography of Porsche 962/88 chassis 962 011. Each sweeping and particular the guide covers each Porsche’s Group C glory days, while going into the element you’d need about 962 011’s later life in Interserie and IMSA racing. In the event you’re the viewers for this sort of factor (and I’m), then I’d actually take a look at transferring this in direction of the highest of the want listing.
“Brawn BGP 001/02: The Autobiography of Jenson Button’s world championship winner”
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Writer: David Tremayne
Writer: Porter Press
Printed: 2025
Pages: 320
Worth: £69
ISBN: 9781913089979
