Monocoques and Ground Effects
By János Wimpffen
This latest volume of the author’s continuing history of sports car racing reviews the period between 1982 and 1992, when the design elements noted in the title cast their influence upon the ongoing evolution of the machines involved. Known as the Group C era for the specific FIA regulations that created it, it was a time of welcome renaissance for the sport.
As intended, those rules drew a fresh batch of manufacturers into prototype racing, yet also accommodated specialist constructors and even encouraged a number of independently created specials. The category’s closed-cockpit coupes were styled mainly by the aerodynamicists, a process that generally yielded attractive shapes and added to the allure. Casting a prescient eye toward the future, they included fuel economy requirements as well.
As always, Dr. Wimpffen tells the tale in his exhaustively researched style, delving into every imaginable nook and cranny in search of the definitive answers. His efforts make this book, like its three predecessors, essential for the library of any enthusiast of sports car racing. Available for US$149.95 from Bull Publishing, (602) 852-9500 or online at www.bullpublishing.com
