Forza Minardi!: The Inside Story of the Little Team Which Took on the Giants of F1 [Hardcover]

Simon Vigar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2008

After 20 years of glorious ‘failure’, the best-loved team in Formula One is consigned to the history books, and it deserves one of its own. Minardi had a successful time in Formula Two until the tiny Italian outfit was ready to hit the big time in 1985. It somehow survived in F1’s shark-infested waters as bigger teams (Lotus, Arrows, Tyrrell) were dragged under. They have a truly international fan-base and are the ‘second team’ of most F1 devotees. Minardi is held in such affection as everyone loves the plucky underdog – Minardi’s annual budget would have lasted one month at the other Italian team up the road. Yet, from its plant in Faenza near Bologna, Minardi has produced cars that qualify, sometimes score points and often lead the way in their technology. Gian Carlo Minardi also developed a reputation as a fabulous talent-spotter – Fisichella, Trulli, Webber and the youngest ever World Champion Alonso all started their F1 careers with Minardi. For the last five years, Minardi was owned by controversial Australian tycoon Paul Stoddart. Cast as David against the Goliath of F1’s governing body, Stoddart constantly hit the headlines as he tried to get a more equal share of the sport’s billions. Ultimately, he failed and Red Bull has now bought the team. Despite a petition of 15,000 names, the Minardi name has vanished from the F1 grid and true motorheads miss it. This is the one and only inside account, with exclusive, comprehensive interviews with bosses, drivers and engineers. 140 unique photos complete this revalationary tale.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... a beautifully illustrated book ..." – The Marshal

Review by Jamie O'Leary for Autosport, 2008
UK magazine

Minardi were universally loved during their 20-year stint in F1 and now Simon Vigar has attempted to gather up the best bits in his new title, 'Forza Minardi!'

Featuring interviews with Bernie Ecclestone, Fernando Alonso and the man himself Giancarlo Minardi, the book is well-researched and insightful - did you know for instance that Ayrton Senna, frustrated with the inter-team politics at McLaren, was weighing up a move to Minardi during the later stages of the 1989 season?

If there is one criticism - and there is one - it's that half the book (65 out of 135 pages) is dedicated to the five years under Paul Stoddart's stewardship, leaving only the same amount of space to cover the 1985-2000 period, including Pierluigi Martini's famous lap in front at Estoril in '89.

If you're one of those closet Minardi-istas, then it is recommended.

Review from Motor Sport, June 2008
UK magazine
Circulation: 28,000

The tale of a Formula 1 team that took 52 races to finish in the points and spent 21 years struggling at the back of the grid sounds as though it could be a depressing read. Indeed, as Vigar says in the first few pages, "Some ask' what went wrong?' The real question is 'what went right?"' A bleak start if ever there was one.

However, this year-by-year account of the Italian team is both interesting and endearing. Vigar, a self-confessed die-hard Minardi fan, charts the team's 21-year history from Formula 2 to its first GP in 1985, its first point in '88, the problems with Flavio Briatore before he took over and its predictable downfall.

This is an extremely well-researched read and if you're wondering why someone would spend so much time on such a book, just have a think about how many people have written literary works on the Scottish rugby team.

Well written and easy on the eye, this first book on the team is a must for Minardi's hardcore fan base. And for others? Well, you might be pleasantly surprised. How many other teams can say that they survived while 24 others failed during their stint in Formula 1?

The story of Glan Carlo Minardi and his F1 team is certainly charming, even if they weren't loved by everyone in the paddock ...

Review from Octane, July 2008
UK magazine
 
Formula One's least successful team - 21 years without a podium finish - gets its own tribute in this affectionate history that proves the truism of every dog having its day. Extensive quotes from the key personnel and drivers involved tell the heart-warming story of a team that raced for the love of it, rather than to sell cars.

Startline magazine, June 2008
UK magazine
Circ: 8500

After 20 years of glorious 'failure', the best-loved team in Formula One is consigned to the history books, and it deserves one of its own. Minardi had a successful time in Formula Two until the tiny Italian outfit was ready to hit the big time in 1985. It somehow survived in R's shark-infested waters as bigger teams (Lotus, Arrows, Tyrrell) were dragged under. They have a truly international fan-base and are the 'second team' of most F1 devotees. Minardi is held in such affection as everyone loves the plucky underdog. Despite a petition of 15,000 names the Minardi name has vanished from the F1 grid and true motorheads miss it. This is the one and only inside account, with exclusive, comprehensive interviews with bosses, drivers and engineers. 140 unique photos complete this revolutionary tale.

AutoRacingHistory.com, August 2008
US website

In the waning laps of the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Takuma Sato, driving the underdog, underpowered, underdeveloped, under funded Super Aguri, passed Fernando Alonso, the two-time World Champion driving the all powerful, obscenely funded McLaren-Mercedes for sixth position. The French Canadian crowd went wild. I, along with many other Formula 1 fans, became hooked on Sato-Mania.  From then on, until the fifth race of the 2008 season, I kept a keen eye on Super Aguri's performance each race weekend, hoping for another 'miracle pass.' I saw in Super Aguri what many fans saw years before in Minardi – a team that reminded us all the reasons we go racing and watch racing.  Simon Vigar, a self professed Minardi fanatic, captures the history of one of the most loved underdog teams in Formula One in 'Forza Minardi! The Inside Story of the Little Team That Took on the Giants of F1.' Vigar provides a year-by-year account of the team's (few) successes and (many) failures. From the start when Gian Carlo Minardi started the journey to the final years of the ever controversial but entertaining Paul Stoddart ownership.  The history of Minardi in many ways encompasses the history of Formula One growing from the last vestiges of a sport into a political quagmire of big business. Sir Stirling Moss said on the demise of Minardi, "It isn't a sport anymore, it's now just big business. Motorsport isn't there, motor business is.  The fact that Minardi lasted so long is a miracle onto itself. Vigar provides us a fascinating inside look to this transformation, and how so many forces for so long wanted to see Minardi disappear from the grid. While at the same time, Stoddart was able to use those same forces to his advantage in keeping Minardi alive well beyond any sane expectations.  The early chapters are a bit short, especially compared to the latter years. This could be due to the difficulty of digging up history the farther back you go in time or the waning years having a lot more to write about thanks to Stoddard. Or, perhaps a bit of both. So, while the early chapters at times left me wanting for more, the latter chapters left me fully satisfied. The inside dealings of Formula One are recalled in fascinating detail during Stoddard's time and will leave any fan, casual or diehard, shaking their heads at a sport that would make Wall Street tycoons wither.  It's not just the backroom politics that Vigar writes about. He recalls the stories of the drivers, crew, cars, testing, development, racing, the perils of being the "other" team in a Ferrari mad country, and of course the fans, who made Minardi Formula One's favorite second team, forming numerous fan clubs.  The team became a virtual Who's Who of Formula 1 drivers. Pierluigi Martini, Andrea de Cesaris, Alessandro Nannini, Roberto Moreno, Christian Fittipaldi, Alex Zanardi, Fabrizio Barbazza, Michele Alboreto, Pedro Lamy, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli, Fernando Alonso, Mark Weber, Anthony Davidson, Justin Wilson, Jos Verstappen, Christijan Albers, and Robert Doornbos all either cut their teeth at Minardi or wrapped up a career. Then, there are the drivers who quite frankly should not have been let near a Formula Ford never mind a Formula 1 machine ...  Minardi holds the record for most Grands Prix contested without a pole at 340 and is second to Arrows (who contested 382) without a victory. Sometimes, it truly is about the journey and not the destination. Minardi showed us the journey can still be fun, and Vigar allows us to relive it once again with 'Forza Minardi!'

Book Description

If you want to know what its like to negotiate with Enzo Ferrari, to chase Ron Dennis with a hammer, to score points when everyone knows you shouldn’t and to bring a Grand Prix promoter to his knees, read this book. In an increasingly grey, corporate paddock, where people are scared of their own shadows, Minardi harked back to a better time. In the words of Sir Stirling Moss, they were about motor sport, not motor business. They took on the big guys, the bullies, and occasionally won. Minardi, Stoddart, Ecclestone, Walker, Martini, Nannini, Campos, Fittipaldi, Mansell, Badoer, Fisichella, Gene, Alonso, Webber, Yoong, Wilson, Bruni and  Albers are among the contributors and that’s before we get to fascinating insights from engineers and mechanics. This is the one and only inside account, with exclusive, comprehensive interviews with bosses, drivers and engineers. 140 unique photos complete this revalationary tale.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Veloce (May 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845841603
• ISBN-13: 978-1845841607
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,598,834 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars For hardcore Minardi F1 fans only..., May 28, 2008

By 

pac (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forza Minardi!: The Inside Story of the Little Team Which Took on the Giants of F1 (Hardcover)

I had high hopes for Simon Vigar's "Forza Minardi," and although extremely well researched it ultimately disappoints.

The interviews are interesting, but at least half the book is devoted to the last five years of the team when it was owned by Paul Stoddart. As a result, that only leaves the other half to cover the 1985 to 2000 period and the early years in Formula Two! Also for a book at this price point I expected higher production values. Produced in India, the book design, layout, and overall printing quality is pretty poor.

Unless you are a really hardcore Minardi fan, I'd suggest passing on Vigar's attempt to sum up the racing team's origins & 20-year constructor history in F1.

5.0 out of 5 stars A different take on F1, a must have, May 27, 2008

By 

Kilpatrick "Mike" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forza Minardi!: The Inside Story of the Little Team Which Took on the Giants of F1 (Hardcover)

If you ever wondered what "Star Wars" would be like through the eyes of the storm trooper who gets shot in one of those epic battle scenes and what "Ben Hur" would have been like if another greased up gladiator had been the main protagonist, then maybe you are the person with enough eye for detail for this book.

Forza Minardi is a meticulously researched history of Formula 1's perennial backmarkers Minardi, a team which kept on challenging the great and mighty at the pinnacle of motor sport for more than 20 years. In all those years, that's 346 Grand Prixs, the team did neither take a single victory nor ever finish on the podium. In short, it is the history of the also-rans, the cars TV commentators would mix up with the leaders rather than really speak about them.

Still, there is a story to tell, a story that some may find much more interesting than the monotonous PR-talk that comes as standard in post race interviews nowadays. There is much to be said about Minardi, but bland they were not.

Simon Vigar's book takes you through 20 years of Formula 1 history, from the turbo days until the days of stand off between the FIA and manufacturers. The book is full with amusing anecdotes such as soft natured team founder Gian Carlo Minardi admitting to "running after Ron Dennis with a hammer".

This book is highly recommended to all of those who had a soft spot for the Minardi Team when it was still in F1, but also to the motor sport fan who would love a different take on motor racing. Your favourite story, told in a different way.