Autocourse 1996-97: The World's Leading Grand Prix Annual

I have a number of autocourses and I still feel that they are getting better with every passing year. If you have an interest in Formula 1 then you should have this book. It gives an overview of each team in the championship and really gets a great insight as to how their performances stacked up and what their expectations really were or should have been. The race guides are an indespensible piece of information for the serious fan, although they do occasionally miss outstanding performances from the middle or rear of the field, due to the majority of the focus being on the battle at the front, however most details are covered and in very good detail. The summary of the other racing series (F3000, F3, CART, NASCAR, etc) is a very worthwhile addition as it gives a good reference point without having to purchase other literature. Then there is the top 10 driver lists, they may not always be the rankings you expect, or agree with!, but they certainly are a good talking point, and quite well justified in most cases.Overall the most complete annual book about Formula 1 and a complete necessity to any real fan.

Quite simply, Autocourse is the best Formula 1 review there is. I own a complete set of CART Autocourse annuals as well as a nearly complete set of the F1 annuals from 1961 forward. During the race-less down time of the winter, I always look forward to receiving my new copy of Autocourse to review the previous season. These annuals are great for deciding bets among fellow enthusiasts and for filling in gaps in memory from seasons past. No motorsport library is complete without a complete set of these annuals. Period.My only complaint with recent annuals is that there seems to be somewhat less information than in the past-- but, by no means, is the information lacking or incomplete. The pictures, which have taken some of the space of the writing, are as usual fantastic and worth the price of the book by themselves. Note well that this complaint does not have any effect on my rating of a full five stars. If you have any enthusiasm for the sport, you must get a copy of this book!

Autocourse is the ultimate annual of the just completed Formula One season. My first volume covered the 1976 season and I own all but two since then. The only reason I missed those two was because they sold out before I could place my order. Each edition continually improves on the previous years with outstanding statistics for each race including lap charts, the absolute best photographs from the world's best photographers and an always intriguing editor's top ten drivers list. The race reports don't miss a beat from first to last place. The technical breakdown gives every detail of each car down to what brake pads and spark plugs they use. You are not a Formula One fan if you do not own Autocourse.

Autocourse is always one of the highlights of my year! This magnificent book is well worth the money and is simply outstanding in every way. The comentary is concise and yet very detailed...the all color photography is stunning and fully captures the speed and excitement of Formula One racing. The more volumes I've added to my collection over the years, the more I appreciate the excellence of Autocourse!

I buy one of these every year (finances permitting..they aren't cheap!) Beautiful books! Great photos and all the info you could ask for! If you love books and F1 racing, you'll love these!