The World Atlas of Motor Racing
By Joe Saward
Illustrations by Jim Bamber
Published by Guild Publishing, 1989
ISBN: 9 780600 56405 8
Review by Neil Tipton
One of my favourite circuit books, the sadly now out-of print World Atlas is a great starting point for track enthusiasts, mating the eminently readable prose of Joe Saward to the incomparable artwork of Jim Bamber.
The result is a book that is a delight to look at as well as to read and leaves you wishing more could have been incorporated.
It is true to say that the book is not comprehensive by any means, but the major circuits of the day are covered, albeit not all with track diagrams. Circuit histories are covered in some depth, and the major circuits from around the world (at the time of publishing) are all there. A nice feature is that each continent has an overview section which gives details of some of the less prominent circuits.
The atlas certainly lives up to its 'World' title, with coverage from all the continents, including Africa (often overlooked by other publications) and South America - again, a part of the world often overlooked.
Bamber's illustrations back up the excellent writing to great effect, sucking in the reader to the extent that you can almost imagine yourself trackside. The attention to detail is amazing, and with a total of 62 illustrations included, there is plenty to keep you absorbed for hours on end.
Put simply, this World Atlas should grace every track enthusiast's bookshelf.
