Alain Pernot – författare

While the demonstrations of Spring 1968 all around the world were not the playing field of DPPI’s (Diffusion Presse Photo International) photographers, the latter happily continued to flourish in the extraordinary world of motor racing, the atmosphere of which they captured to perfection. Their purpose was both to translate into images impressions like the frightening average speed per lap of 243 km/hr of the Belgian Grand Prix on the Spa-Francorchamps track or the clearance, complete with major skidding, of a snow-covered pass during the Monte-Carlo Rally, and to serve as complicit witnesses to the mixture of tension and freedom that inhabits these men and women of the racing world who gathered each weekend to share triumph and tragedy. It comes as no surprise that such a concentration of action and emotion made a strong impression on the public and inspired brands and emerging marketing services seeking new channels of communication.Text in English and French.

The fifth volume in the Car Racing series charts 1969, the year of avoiding unnecessary risk. Le Mans circuit, 14 June 1969. Silence reigns. In a matter of seconds, the din will rise from the engines of 45 cars roaring to life. Into this sonic gap, a man strides towards his destiny. Unlike his neighbours, he does not run. He walks to forestall superfluous danger. At the risk of ruining the race for his crew — and for Ford. Jacky Ickx has just said no to unnecessary risk, no to herringbone starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with drivers leaping into their cars without taking the time to properly strap themselves in before launching full throttle into the race.Three years earlier, stuck upside down with a back injury and trapped in the cockpit of his BRM he had just spun around on the first lap of the Belgian Grand Prix, Jackie Stewart felt gasoline gushing over him. A mere spark would have spelled tragedy. From this nightmare moment onwards, the Scottish driver campaigned against dangerous circuits and imposed the first safety standards. In 1969, Jacky Ickx — the 'GT40 walker' — won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, even as Jacky Stewart was crowned victor of the Formula 1 World Championship in his Matra MS80.Text in English and French.Also available:Car Racing 1965, 9782702210963Car Racing 1966, 9782702211014Car Racing 1967, 9782702211113Car Racing 1968, 9782702211236

This sixth opus in the Car Racing series continues to delve into the archives of the DPPI photographic agency, coming up with an impressive selection of shots, most of them previously unpublished, unusual or particularly striking. Dedicated to the 1970 motorsport season, this volume offers readers total immersion in a bygone era, when photographers were in the thick of things, mere centimetres from the drivers and their cars. In this volume, a sign of the times, an increasing number of the selected pictures are in colour. The 250 photographs and six thrilling stories bring to life the atmosphere of a year that saw many triumphs — and tragedies — including the posthumously awarded title of Jochen Rindt, François Cevert’s Formula 1 debut, Porsche’s first ever victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the onsite shooting of Le Mans with Steve McQueen, and a last tribute to Bruce McLaren.Text in English and French.

Car Racing 1972 brings together previously unpublished archives from the DPPI agency. It features legendary drivers, leading manufacturers, and photos of the most memorable races of 1972 in France and around the world, including Formula 1 (Grand Prix), Endurance racing (Le Mans, Daytona), and rallying (the Monte Carlo Rally). Some of the most famous drivers of the era are presented here: Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Ronnie Petersen, Emerson Fittipaldi, François Cevert, and Jacky Ickx (who graces the cover). Each page is a journey through the history of motorsport, combining rare images and vivid stories. This book will appeal to sports literature enthusiasts and photography lovers alike. Teams include Brabham, Ferrari, March, Tyrrell, Ford, Alpine Renault, Lotus, and McLaren, to name a few. Among the books in the series, it stands out for the richness of its narrative and the precision of its visuals.Text in English and French.

With The Art of Endurance 2025, Éditions Cercle d'Art is publishing a new, exceptional coffee table book dedicated to international motor racing and the FIA World Endurance Championship. This 2025 edition follows on from The Art of Endurance 2024 ISBN 9782702211458 and continues a collection for all enthusiasts of motor sports, competition cars, legendary circuits, and major endurance races.Designed as a total immersion in a complete season, this official WEC book recounts, race by race, the eight major events on the world calendar, from the start to the checkered flag, including the strategies, drivers, cars, teams, and decisions that tip the balance of a championship.Text in English and French.

Car Racing 1971 is every bit a worthy successor in the tradition established by the six previous tomes of the Car Racing series (1965 to 1970). It is still through treasures unearthed from the archives of the DPPI photographic agency that this book offers, for the title year, a unique experience of immersion in the atmosphere of 1970s motorsport. Created in 1965 by a group of photographers fascinated by the fury of the track and the bravura of drivers, DPPI has always gone where the action is. This proximity resulted in incredible action photos, unimaginable today. ‘This is not an umpteenth book on the history of motorsport,’ insists DPPI director Fabrice Connen. ‘In every case, we favoured the strongest, most unusual pictures or those that best recreated the atmosphere of the time, even if they were taken at minor events or depicted less famous competitors.’ Text in English and French