Racing Green: THE RAC MOTORING BOOK OF THE YEAR: How Motorsport Science Can Save the World

Description

Motor racing is the most scientifically demanding sport in the world: a combination of peak physical and mental skill, world-class mechanical nous and technological innovation. Ideas first pioneered during races - from ABS brakes to crash helmets - have been incorporated into car designs around the world to improve racing safety. And cleaner technologies first trialled and improved in modern racing are also informing the designs of everyday vehicles, such as better electric cars and more efficient fuels and tyres. Racing Green is the story of how motorsport science has changed the world, helping it become smarter and more environmentally friendly. From the radical shake-ups of safety in the 1970s through to innovations such as the lithium-ion battery, this book explores the science that has been translated from racing to the road. It looks at the history of motor racing, both its glories and its tragedies, and demonstrates how these moments led to some of the most important modern developments we see in car design today. It explores how motor racing is not only at the cutting edge of modern engineering, but also human psychology and physiology, both of which are integral to creating a winning car and driver. Author Kit Chapman is a lifelong motorsports fan who has previously worked with Virgin Racing's Formula E team to explore the chemistry and material science of their racing cars. With cooperation from his wide range of contacts in the industry, he goes behind the scenes of the current breakthroughs to show where motorsport is likely to take us in the future, picking up extraordinary tales along the way, such as the maverick designer Warren Mosler, who designed a car that was so fast he wasn't allowed to race it. Racing Green is a mix of travelogue and historical retrospective, combining visits to the experts and discussing the science with retellings of real-life incidents that represent milestones in modern car development.

Kit Chapman is an award-winning science journalist and broadcaster. Initially qualifying as a pharmacist, Chapman began his career on medical journal The Practitioner before moving to Chemist+Druggist, the UK's leading magazine for pharmacists. After stints as campaign website manager for the British Medical Association and clinical editor for The Pharmaceutical Journal, Chapman was appointed comment editor for Chemistry World. Chapman also writes for the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, and has appeared as an expert for the BBC and Sky News. His first book Superheavy was listed as one of Publisher's Weekly's top 10 science books for Fall 2019.

Chapman writes engagingly about the benefits motor racing has brought to a climate problem that needs all hands on the wheel. * Financial Times * An entertaining and often insightful read that will be enjoyed by both racing fans and people generally interested in processes of innovation. * Science * A reminder of the crucial role that motorsport plays in the mission to save our planet. * Lucas di Grassi * Chapman expertly places scientific developments in societal and historical contexts while making you feel like he's sharing stories over beer at the local pub ... If you're not a racing fan, you probably know one. Racing Green would be an excellent way to get them interested in the science behind the cars. But I also highly recommend Chapman's book to scientists as a case study in how story can be just as powerful a force for change as fact. -- Diandra Leslie-Pelecky * Physics World * Chapman's clear passion for all things motorsport seeps heavily through the narrative of this book, and he engagingly walks us through the history of motorsport, and the extraordinary engineering that goes into all the materials and parts. * Engineering & Technology *