The racing life of Britain’s double World Champion.

Derek Warwick has been a popular and highly respected figure in motorsport for almost 50 years, known for his tough and determined personality and his talent and courage behind the wheel. In this book, he tells his inspiring story with his trademark honesty and humour.

The foreword also features Ross Brawn, applauding Derek for his driving skills but also for his commitment and character.

Although he never won in Formula 1, due to bad luck and because he was often in the wrong car at the wrong time, he did achieve the results he deserved in sports car racing: he won the 24 hours of Le Mans and the world championship in 1992 and finished second in the series with Jaguar in 1986 and 1991.

In the latter days of his racing career, that world title was a fitting addition to the one he had won almost 20 years earlier as a short-course oval racer.

Derek’s unconventional racing style saw him excel at short-track ovals. At the age of 19, he won the world championship at Wimbledon Stadium in 1973.

Moving up the ladder: winner of 33 Formula Ford races and the European championship in 1976; champion in one of the two great British F3 series in 1978 competing against Nelson Piquet and second in the other; second in the European F2 championship behind Toleman teammate Brian Henton in 1980.

After a disastrous start in 1981-82, he entered F1 with Toleman, where he gradually established himself as the fledgling Turbo team gained momentum. In 1983, he scored points and was wanted by other teams.

After securing a nice seat with Renault in 1984, bad luck prevented him from taking a deserved victory in the opening race, but he did achieve four podium finishes; but in 1985 it all went wrong with the team’s decline and subsequent withdrawal.

As F1 opportunities ceased, Derek moved on to the World Endurance Championship with Jaguar in 1986, where he finished second in the standings; by mid-season he was also back in F1 with Brabham following the sad death of Elio de Angelis.

In three F1 years at Arrows (1987-89), he built on his reputation as a fast and dedicated racer, followed by a difficult season at Lotus (1990) with a huge accident at Monza and an even worse one for teammate Martin Donnelly at Jerez.

Back at Jaguar in a Ross Brawn-designed sports car in 1991, Derek won four races, but a disqualification meant he finished second in the World Sportscar Championship for the second time.

On 21 July 1991, the Warwick family was torn apart when Derek’s younger brother Paul was killed at Oulton Park. Paul had his own racing career and had advanced to the British F3000 championship, which he dominated and won posthumously.

World champion again: Derek was invited to join Peugeot’s sports car team in 1992 and began to rebuild his life with a hugely successful year, winning both Le Mans and the World Sportscar Championship.

You can find out more about the book and order it from Evro Publishing’s website.

Dimensions: 270 x 210mm
432 pages / 300 photos
ISBN: 978-1910505-90-8