It is through the archival treasures of the DPPI photographic agency that Car Racing 1969, the fifth volume of the collection published by Éditions Cercle d'Art, offers a unique immersion into the atmosphere of the motorsport scene of the time. Founded in 1965 by photographers fascinated by the thrill of the tracks and the bravery of the drivers, DPPI has always positioned itself at the heart of the action. And in the 1960s, this expression was not taken lightly!
Car Racing 1969 unveils a year of sporting and industrial daring, but also of protest. Fierce battles took place, pitting Ferrari against Ford, Matra against Brabham, and Lotus against other competitors such as McLaren, while another formidable rival emerged: Porsche. All these real-life battles delighted the photographers at DPPI, who were entrusted by the national and now international press to capture every moment of these top-level confrontations.
1969 is also the year when a different kind of tension emerged. In the same month of June, two drivers raised the flag on safety issues. "I am paid to win, not to die": Jackie Stewart set the tone during the Belgian Grand Prix, questioning the safety of the circuit for drivers. A week later at Le Mans, Jacky Ickx, highlighting the risks associated with the race start, chose to walk calmly to his car—a decision that did not prevent him from winning the race. These protests had repercussions: the start of the 24 Hours would revert to a traditional format and the Belgian Grand Prix was removed from the calendar.
ISBN: 9782702211298
Number of pages: 300
Format: 28 x 32.8 cm / Printed cloth cover, interior printing in 7 colors
Author(s)
Alain Pernot
Artist(s)
Manou Zurini