Motorsport fans have had to wait a long time for this: a book about the golden years of Formula 2, masterfully captured by German photographer Jutta Fausel.
In the 60s and 70s it was the breeding ground for the stars of Formula 1 of the future: Formula 2. Well, it is today too, as the speed of Mr. Norris, Leclerc, Piastri and Russell have proven in recent years; But for at least three reasons, today’s Formula 2 cannot be compared to the earlier F2 era.
First – today we have different racing teams, but we drive with regular racing cars. Things were different.
Second, the famous Grand Prix stars regularly participated in Formula 2 races to compete with the youngsters. This may (unfortunately) not be discussed again today.
And three – hey, that was the 60s and 70s! Political correctness was unknown, routes were run that would make today’s pilots sweat with fear, many pilots lived a gypsy life, simply, but happily.
The book “Formula 2 – The Glory Years, 1967-84” celebrates the most exciting era of F2 racing, while this beautiful audio proves what the brilliant photographer Jutta Fausel has improved our beloved sport.
The German, who now lives in the United States, followed the Formula 2 caravan from Thruxton to the Nürburgring, from Pau to Enna in Sicily, from Rouen to Mugello. He looked over the shoulders of stars like Stewart, Brabham, Hill, Rindt and McLaren as well as ongoing GP winners like Ickx, Regazzoni, Jabouille and Arnoux.
We get a picture of every Formula 2 champion, as well as an introduction to the most important styles for each year. Of course, detailed statistics should not be missed. Fausel was assisted by veteran writers Bob Constanduros, Peter Higham, Mark Hughes, Ian Phillips and Chris Witty on the script.
It is easy to get lost in this book for hours because there is so much to rediscover: from the first champion Jacky Ickx (who contributes the foreword) in the Matra used by Ken Tyrrell to the French champions Beltoise and Servoz-Gavin the exceptional artists Regazzoni. , Peterson and Hailwood, before the second French era began – with the names of Jariere, Depailler, Laffite, Jabouille and Arnoux. This was followed by the success of the British racing car manufacturers and successive victories for the drivers of Toleman, Ralt and March.
In all the hair-raising stories from the wild years of racing, the photos of Jutta Fausel always remain at the center. He says: “Some of my fondest memories are of the European Formula 2 Championship, which I covered as a professional photographer during its heyday from 1967 to 1984.”
“I spent the first years of my life in East Germany, near Berlin, but my parents really wanted us to run to the West. When I was eleven, my mother and I, having, let’s say, borrowed West German passports , we were able to cross the border in a truck with only two suitcases and go to Göppingen near Stuttgart to go to my father, who had left the country earlier to find a job.”
“I became interested in photography at school in Göppingen. I then worked in a local photography shop to learn everything I could about the business and completed a three-year part-time degree in graphics and photography. My uncle Henry, who moved to America but visited us once once, he showed me how to take pictures, and later I learned that my grandfather was a professional photographer.
“Because of my father’s interest, I enjoyed watching motor racing on television and listening to it on the radio. The first race I watched was the Solitude Grand Prix in July 1961, which was held over 7.1 miles on public roads near Stuttgart, not far from our house. The race, run with a mixed field of F1 and F2 cars, was a major event, with Innes Ireland winning in a Lotus and the Porsches of Jo Bonnier and Dan Gurney finishing 2nd and 3rd.
“I sat in the seats and took a few pictures with my friend’s Rolleiflex. The cars were very small in the pictures, but I was impressed. I knew that was what I wanted to do.”
“Wolfgang von Trips was a great German racing hero at the time, also for me. Just two months after the Solitude race, I vividly remember listening to the radio broadcast of the Italian Grand Prix and learning about the tragic accident that killed him.”
“In 1962 I returned to Solitude, this time with a Leica camera and a telephoto lens that I had borrowed from my boss at the camera shop. I snuck into a hidden part of the circuit and hung from the trees to take as many pictures as I could during the day of Saturday, with a better result. On Sunday I managed to get into the paddock where I took pictures of the drivers, the team and the cars up close.”
“As a result, I took photos at mountain races, a kind of motorcycle sport that was very popular in West Germany at the time, and sometimes I participated in my friend’s car. I was able to sell my photos to the participants. First of all, I visited accessible races easily in other parts of Germany and also in Austria. I attended my first German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring in 1963, when John Surtees won at Ferrari, and I returned for many years.”
“When the F2 European Cup started in 1967, I attended the two German races at the Nürburgring and Hockenheim and expanded my network over the following years. I soon became a regular and attended as many races as I could year after year.”
“Formula 2 was always something special to me. It was like a big family where people drove hard but also enjoyed life. We traveled Europe together. Our group of brothers included world champions, other F1 drivers, young talents, individuals passionate, capable chassis and engine builders and many great mechanics.”
“I didn’t make a lot of money out of it, like most of us at the time, but I wouldn’t change a thing. My best memories are of traveling the world without much money in my pocket and sometimes not being sure how I was going to get home. I drove to the European races in my car In an old VW Beetle, I took my pictures, drove home all night, made films and printed them and submitted them to a newspaper in Stuttgart. That’s when I fell asleep.”
“I have dreamed for many years to compile my best work in a book like this, a visual record of the race series year by year and the most important results. I wanted it to have many pictures of the people in the sport and not just the cars. I wanted to present the competition and friendship, of course some sad moments, but above all the pure joy and contentment that we all share with each other.”
This is exactly what we feel when we analyze and read “System 2: The Glory Years” – a great book that we recommend to all readers.
The most important thing in a nutshell
System 2: The Glory Years, 1967–84
With a foreword by Jacky Ickx
From the publisher Evro, UK
ISBN: 978-1-910505-19-9
Text in English
Format 27,2 x 22,3 cm
560 pages
890 Pictures
For around 115 euros in special stores or directly at Evro Publishing
