Car Racing 1971

With this seventh installment of the Car Racing collection, we continue our deep dive into the photographic archives of the agency, which are rich with tens of thousands of images. We are always delighted to rediscover forgotten beautiful photos, moments that marked the history of this sport, iconic landscapes, or illustrations of technical innovations that would revolutionize the automobile.

We embarked on the creation of an endless collection!

An object of desire and a symbol of freedom, the automobile is at the heart of 1970s imagery. While the public was eager to see, hear, and even smell, for the DPPI photographers, the mission was as simple as it was complex. To convey through images this energy and passion, along with a certain technical creative fervor, was a challenge that our small team was more than excited to tackle by visiting all the locations where this action and imaginative power took shape.

Everything begins in the relative stillness of the car shows where the year 1971 saw the debut of the Alpine A310, the Alfa Romeo Montreal, the Ligier JS2, and the spectacular Lamborghini Countach. But the adventure unfolds in the bustling paddocks of the racetracks. Fans of technology, the photographers thoroughly enjoyed themselves as artisans and manufacturers abounded with ideas to relentlessly increase the speed of their cars. Installing a turbine in a Formula 1 car was not insoluble for Colin Chapman, always on the quest for technological innovations for his Lotus cars. And when you discover the complexity of some systems through images, you better understand not only why records are broken year after year, but also why drivers often have to abandon their cockpits by the roadside or track, their machines faltering...

It is through the archival treasures of the DPPI photographic agency that Car Racing 1971 offers a unique immersion into the motorsport atmosphere of the time. Founded in 1965 by photographers fascinated by the thrill of the circuits and the bravery of the drivers, DPPI has always positioned itself at the heart of the action. And in the 60s and 70s, this was no empty boast!

One of the strengths of this collection from Éditions Cercle d’Art is its unwavering commitment to its original editorial focus, which is primarily photographic: "This is not just another history book about motorsport," insists Fabrice Connen, director of DPPI. "Each time, we prioritize the most striking, unusual photos, or those that best capture the atmosphere of the era, even if taken at minor events."

ISBN: 9782702211434

Categories: Automobiles, Limited Editions, Books

Publication date: February 2025

Number of pages: 336

Format: 28 x 32.8 cm / Printed cloth cover, interior printing in 7 colors

Weight: 3.672 kg