Car Racing 1969

Car Racing 1969 brings to life a year of daring sportsman­ ship and industrial prowess, but also challenges. Fierce struggles pitted Ferrari and Ford, Matra and Brabham, Lotus and others against McLaren, even as a new rival, Porsche, gained strength. These pitched battles were inspirational for the photographers from DPPI, to whom the national – and henceforth international– press entrusted the task of missing not a moment of these monumental confrontations.

1969 was also the year that tensions of a different sort made their appearance. In the month of June, two different drivers took a stand, raising the question of security. With his ‘I’m paid to win, not to die’, Jackie Stewart set the tone at the Belgian Grand Prix, protest­ ing on behalf of driver safety. A week later, at Le Mans, Jacky Ickx highlighted the risks associated with the run­and­jump start by strolling serenely to his car – a choice that did not prevent him from claiming victory. These protests were effective in driving action: the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans subsequently returned to standard and the Belgian Grand Prix was dropped from the racing calendar.

All these extraordinary moments are rendered here in living colour, that gained traction as photographers seized the opportunities with delight.