Formula 2

This sumptuous book, a feast of nostalgia, celebrates the wonderful era of the European Formula 2 Championship, which began in 1967 and concluded in 1984.

F2 pitted emerging heroes against the greats of the day and in its earlier years virtually all the top F1 drivers — names like Jackie Stewart, Jack Brabham, Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt and Bruce McLaren — battled with young chargers in races that thrilled huge crowds at the best European circuits, from Thruxton to the Nürburgring, Enna-Pergusa to Pau, Rouen-Les-Essarts to Mugello.

• The first season, 1967, when Jacky Ickx became the first champion, driving a Tyrrell-entered Matra
• French Matra cars propelled the next two champions, Jean-Pierre Beltoise (1968) and Johnny Servoz-Gavin (1969), both Frenchmen
• Of all the manufacturers of F2 cars, March achieved the most success, Ronnie Peterson (1971) becoming the first of six champions to win in these British-built cars
• A fine all-British year, 1972, saw ex-motorcycle ‘great’ Mike Hailwood win the championship in a Surtees car
• French champions in five consecutive years: Jean-Pierre Jarier (1973), Patrick Depailler (1974), Jacques Laffite (1975), Jean-Pierre Jabouille (1976) and René Arnoux (1977) dominated their era and all but Jarier went on to become Grand Prix winners
• Toleman and Ralt cars — also made in Britain — emerged in the final years of the championship, which saw three more British champions: Brian Henton (1980), Geoff Lees (1981) and Jonathan Palmer (1983).
• The other champions were Clay Regazzoni (1970), Bruno Giacomelli (1978), Marc Surer (1979), Corrado Fabi (1982) and Mike Thackwell (1984)