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8W is forix.autosport.com's motorsport history section and covers the drivers, cars, circuits, eras and technology that shaped the face, sounds and smells of motor racing.

Who?

DRIVER BIOGRAPHIES

What?

CONSTRUCTOR PROFILES

Where?

TRACK RECORDS

When?

SEASONS' PORTRAITS

Why?

TECHNICAL FOCUS

The circuits that sorted the men from the boys

Birmingham Superprix

• Birmingham - Britain's most controversial circuit?, by David Page
  • 1960s: The origin of the Birmingham street race
  • 1970s: The birth of the proposed Birmingham Road Race and the political quagmire
  • 1980s: Progress and green light
  • 1986-1990: The Birmingham Superprix years
  • 1990s: The death knell
  • 2000s: A possible revival?

France's forgotten treasure remembered

• Rouen-les-Essarts - Arguably the greatest French circuit of all, by Gareth Evans
  • Part 1: the 50s
  • Part 2: the 60s
  • Part 3: the 70s
  • Part 4: the 80s
  • Part 5: the 90s
  • Part 6: Rouen today

Historic racing reports

• Barcelona - The Spanish spirit of racing, 2016 Espíritu del Jarama and 2017 Espíritu de Montjuïc report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Barcelona - On a cold April day, 2022 Espíritu de Montjuïc report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Brands Hatch - Brands Heat, 2017 Brands Hatch Masters Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Brands Hatch - Spring surprise, 2018 Brands Hatch Masters Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Brands Hatch & Donington Park - A British doubleheader, 2019 Brands Hatch Masters Historic Festival & Donington Masters Race Weekend report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Brands Hatch - Whitsunshine action, 2023 Brands Hatch Masters Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Brands Hatch - Double winners, 2024 Brands Hatch Masters Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Dijon - Indian summer historics, 2018 Dijon Motors Cup report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Donington Park - Sunny days are here again, 2022 Masters Race Weekend report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Donington Park - Historic Eggstravaganza, 2023 Masters Race Weekend report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Donington Park - Donington flyers, 2024 Masters Race Weekend report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Estoril - Sunset on a season, 2017 Estoril Classic report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - A feast for the automotive senses, 1999 Festival of Speed report, by Mattijs Diepraam/Frank van de Velde
• Goodwood - The Show must go on, 2000 Festival of Speed report, by Mattijs Diepraam/Jeroen Bruintjes
• Goodwood - A delightful antidote, 2001 Circuit Revival Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam/Frank van de Velde
• Goodwood - Fried clutch and cooked pistons, served on a bed of smoked tyres, 2002 Festival of Speed report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Continental Grand Prix team in search for British excellence, a spoof period report on the 2003 Revival Meeting, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Photographic impressions of the 2003 Revival Meeting, Friday's gallery, by Frank van de Velde/Mattijs Diepraam/Jeroen Bruintjes
• Goodwood - Photographic impressions of the 2003 Revival Meeting, Saturday's gallery, by Frank van de Velde/Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Photographic impressions of the 2003 Revival Meeting, Sunday's gallery, by Frank van de Velde/Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Demons and doughnuts, 2004 Festival of Speed report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Yet more variety, 2005 Festival of Speed report, by Mattijs Diepraam/Maarten Hoeben/Peter Tunissen
• Goodwood - Indian summer for historic motor cars, 2005 Circuit Revival Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Thrills and spins in Revival spectacle, 2007 Circuit Revival Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Happy Anniversary, 2008 Circuit Revival Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam/Maarten Hoeben
• Goodwood - The coolest Earl on Earth, 2009 Festival of Speed report, by Jeroen Bruintjes/Maarten Hoeben
• Goodwood - Revival of the fastest, 2009 Circuit Revival Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Row, row, row your boat, 2011 Circuit Revival Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - The roots deliver the goods, 2012 Circuit Revival Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Keeping its core intact, 2013 Circuit Revival Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - No crowding proves a delight for the right crowd, 72nd GRRC Members' Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Being part of it, 2014 Circuit Revival Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Still the right crowd, but slightly more crowding, 73rd GRRC Members' Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - The cars are the stars, with stars in the cars, 2015 Circuit Revival Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Edwardians to the fore in crash-marred event, 74th GRRC Members' Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Don't rain on my parade, 2017 Goodwood Revival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Through the ice and snow, 76th GRRC Members' Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Sunny days are here again, 2018 Goodwood Revival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Spring fever, 77th GRRC Members' Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Hot times, summer on the circuit, 2019 Goodwood Revival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Goodwood - Getting back into the groove, 80th GRRC Members' Meeting report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Hockenheim - Upping the ante, 2023 Bosch Hockenheim Historic report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Imola - Turning up the heat, 2018 Motor Legend Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Jarama - The Spanish spirit of racing, 2016 Espíritu del Jarama and 2017 Espíritu de Montjuïc report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Jérez - Sherry, sun and spectacular racing, 2021 Jerez Historic Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Le Mans - A legendary challenge, 2013 Le Mans Legend report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Le Mans - A bigger-than-life experience, 2014 Le Mans Classic report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Magny-Cours - Braving the conditions, 2017 Grand Prix de France Historique report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Magny-Cours - Magny heat, 2019 Grand Prix de France Historique report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Monaco - The full Monte, 2008 GP Monaco Historique report, by Mattijs Diepraam/Frank van de Velde
• Monaco - In Grand Prix heaven, 2014 GP Monaco Historique report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Monaco - F1 stars celebrate Monaco's F1 history, 2016 GP Monaco Historique report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Monaco - Come rain or shine, 2018 GP Monaco Historique report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Monaco - Sunny, straightforward and chaotic, 2024 GP Monaco Historique report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Montlhéry - Just when you thought you had seen it all, 2015 Montlhéry Vintage Revival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Most - Czech please, 2018 Most Historic Grand Prix report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Mugello - Eat pasta, drive fasta, 2024 Mugello Racing Weekend report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Nürburgring - Smaller can be a good thing too, 2016 Oldtimer Grand Prix report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Nürburgring - Rain masters at the ‘Ring, 2017 Oldtimer Grand Prix report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Nürburgring - Hadfield's double whammy, 2018 Oldtimer Grand Prix report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Nürburgring - Double winners take the spoils, 2019 Oldtimer Grand Prix report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Nürburgring - Some like it hot, 2022 Oldtimer Grand Prix report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Paul Ricard - Spring victors in the Provence, 2019 Le Castellet Motors Cup report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Paul Ricard - Celebrating a glorious French past, 2024 Grand Prix de France Historique report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Portimão - October rain, 2021 Algarve Classic Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Portimão - All is well in Portugal, 2022 Algarve Classic Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Portimão - Crowning the magic, 2023 Algarve Classic Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Silverstone - All that in one single event, 2013 Silverstone Classic report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Silverstone - The many and the famous, 2017 Silverstone Classic report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Silverstone - Sticking with tradition, 2018 Silverstone Classic report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Silverstone - Sportsmanship in the rain, 2019 Silverstone Classic report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Silverstone - Thrills down to the line, 2022 Silverstone Classic report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Silverstone - New name, same old format for success, 2023 Silverstone Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Silverstone - Race of the season, 2024 Silverstone Festival report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - The Transit-and-trailer revival, 2006 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - Inhaling enthusiasm, 2008 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - A different world, 2009 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - Getting into a trance, 2010 Spa 1000kms report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - Rain, beer and champagne, 2010 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam/Frank van de Velde
• Spa - Agreeable circumstances, 2011 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam/Frank van de Velde
• Spa - Frantic action under the sun, 2012 Spa Classic report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - Taking on the GT40s, 2013 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - Tropical Spa… but in the rainy season!, 2014 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - An old-fashioned one, 2015 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - Before the rain, 2016 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - Nightmare morphs into fairytale, 2017 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - That five-and-a-half hour sprint race on a Saturday night…, 2018 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - Slippery when wet, 2019 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - Endurance revival, 2021 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - The Dutch double up, 2022 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa - Nightmares and fairytales, 2023 Spa Six Hours report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - Historic crowd-puller, 2012 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - Treasure in the dunes, 2013 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - Seaside sensations, 2014 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - Lucky stars, 2015 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - Down to the wire, 2016 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - Dune tragedy, 2017 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - Epic sand fights, 2018 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - Miracle in the dunes, 2020 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - The boys were back in town, 2022 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - Sunscreen, umbrellas and heated racing action, 2023 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Zandvoort - Close contests, 2024 Historic GP report, by Mattijs Diepraam

Track visits

• Bois de Boulogne - The cradle of motorsport, by Rémi Paolozzi
• Brooklands - Preserving the past by allowing in the future, by Mattijs Diepraam/Mariëlle Dijkstra
• Cadours - Final Sommersault at Cadours, by Rémi Paolozzi
• Caen - Horsepower on the Prairie, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Chimay - Racing without frontiers, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Deutschlandring - The Ersatz 'Ring that never happened, by Jeroen Bruintjes/Frank van de Velde
• Grenzlandring (6th Gear) - Bordering on disbelief, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Montjuich Park - A street race of famed desire, by Mattijs Diepraam/Ron Verweij
• Reims (6th Gear) - Reims still reigns, by Mattijs Diepraam/Mariëlle Dijkstra
• Rouen (6th Gear) - The remains of Rouen-les-Essarts, by Mattijs Diepraam/Mariëlle Dijkstra
• Roskilde Ring - Tiny Danish delight revisited, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa (6th Gear) - A tour of the old Spa, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Spa (6th Gear) - Snow-covered Spa, by Gareth Evans
• Valentino Park - My racy Valentine, by Mattijs Diepraam

Nations in motor racing

• France - France's final golden age, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Italy - Everything is Ferrari, by Mattijs Diepraam
• The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria & Finland - Does size really matter?, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Europe & North America - A tale of two worlds, by Mattijs Diepraam

Museums

• Brooklands - Preserving the past by allowing in the future, by Mattijs Diepraam/Mariëlle Dijkstra
• The Hague - The Louwman Museum, a true sense of history, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Lohéac - A manor in Brittany, with large in-house garage, by Mattijs Diepraam/Mariëlle Dijkstra
• Modena - Four collections and a museum gone missing, by Mattijs Diepraam/Mariëlle Dijkstra
• Stavelot (6th Gear) - Musée du Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, by Mattijs Diepraam

Feature stories

• AVUS - Faster, higher, stronger, by Leif Snellman
• La Baule - Sandstorm, by Rémi Paolozzi
• Brooklands - World Record track, by Leif Snellman/Josh Lintz
• Cuba, Bahamas, Puerto Rico - Racing Juniors in the tropics, by Lorenzo Baer
• Crystal Palace - The Crystal Palace as a motor racing venue, by Leif Snellman
• Goodwood - Bruce McLaren's mastery of the Sussex track, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Nürburgring - Lords of the 'Ring, by Robert Blinkhorn
• Zandvoort - The quintessential GP track in the dunes, by Mattijs Diepraam

Short articles

• Brands Hatch's Race of Champions - Surprise producer, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Brands Hatch's Bank Holiday race - Open-wheeled variety, by Michael Ferner
• Donington Park - Mercedes and Auto-Union in Britain, by Leif Snellman
• Gavea - Postcards from Gavea, by Mario Cesar de Freitas Levy/Leif Snellman/Antonio Carlos Barque de Lima
• Hermanos Rodriguez - Dangerous curve, by Mattijs Diepraam/Felix Muelas
• Imola - The power track near San Marino, by Mattijs Diepraam/Felix Muelas
• Nidwalden - 'The return of motor racing in Switzerland', by Mattijs Diepraam
• Pedralbes - The other great Barcelona street track, by Felix Muelas
• Silverstone - From airfield to temple of British motorsport, by John Cross
• Silverstone's International Trophy - Britain's Spring traditional, by Mattijs Diepraam
• Madonie - Legendary team leaders in the Targa Florio, by Leif Snellman
• Madonie - Vaccarella and his glorious Targa wins, by John Cross
• Syracuse - Sicilian beauty and tradition, by Mattijs Diepraam/Felix Muelas
• Zeltweg - Not quite the Österreichring but very near, by Mattijs Diepraam/Felix Muelas