The Great Challenge-The Senna Years

By Dieter Streve-Mülhens & Rainer Schlegelmilch ISBN 3 00 012 504 3 Published by Schlegelmilch, 255 Euros

This lavish series of mainly photographic books has set a high standard so far, and this fourth volume easily matches it.

Drawing from the German photographer’s huge archives, it covers, broadly speaking, the years in which Ayrton Senna was setting the track alight, but offers sections on several of the era’s top men as well as the Brazilian superstar. Berger, Mansell and Prost also get their own ‘chapters’, with a short but reflective text to accompany the powerful pictures.

As well as strong action shots of cars on track, Schlegelmilch has a knack of catching a revealing close-up of a driver in the pits, whether relaxing or worrying, as well as unusual angles on moments behind the scenes of a grand prix.

A rich picture of the sport. GC