World-renowned photographer Jon Nicholson documents the history, drivers and passion of motorsport in a sumptuous numbered limited edition book.

There are films that literally propel you into the atmosphere of motor racing. You feel the roar of engines, the speed of movement, the screeching tires and the unbridled spirit of competition, while admiring the design of the cars, the spectacle of the race and the jubilant crowds. Le Mans (1971), starring Steve McQueen, the "King of cool", comes to mind, as do Rush, Le Mans 66 and Point limite zéro. And then there are the books. And Macchina is at the top of the list of magnificent publications on cars and car racing. This 376-page volume, designed in Florence and in landscape format, is aimed at true motorsports enthusiasts and photographic collectors. Published in May 2024, it was edited by Fyshe, a young English motorsport brand inaugurating its first book, combining British ingenuity and Italian craftsmanship.

THE PLEASURE OF SPEED

The creator of this photographic treasure trove is Jon Nicholson. For the past forty years, this British virtuoso of images has tirelessly transmitted his passion and documented motor sport in its broadest spectrum. He has photographed drivers Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Damon Hill, Eddie Jordan, Jackie and Paul Stewart, as well as the Ferrari, McLaren, Stewart and Williams-Renault teams. His archive also includes shots of the fatal accidents of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, in 1994.

" In the process," he explains, "I've met people whose raw passion for cars and racing is unparalleled: people who travel the world in search of the perfect drive, whether it's in a straight line, around a dirt oval or on a modern Grand Prix circuit. [...] The stories behind their love of racing move me. I admire people who never waver from their goals, and I share their passion and commitment. "

THRILL OF THE MACHINES

Macchina tells the timeless story of the personalities, cars, design, mechanics, fans and events surrounding the sport. What's more, page after page, Jon Nicholson draws us into the raw energy and poetic essence of these ribbons of asphalt.

In this new book, he invites us to road trips on two-lane roads through the deserts of the USA, to banger races, stock car races in Nevada, drag races in Southern California, NASCAR in South Carolina, the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, speed tests on the dry lakes of Utah. And so many other events with historic vehicles around the ramparts of Angoulême, Reims and in the streets of Monaco. Not forgetting Formula 1 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with actor Michael Fassbender in 2022.

Between color and black & white, contact sheets and negatives, assemblages and panoramas, Jon Nicholson's Macchina is a sublime and fascinating atmospheric odyssey on four wheels.

MACCHINA BY JON NICHOLSON PUBLISHED BY FYSHE, MAY 2024
FYSHE.COM
JONNICHOLSON.CO.UK
@JONNICHOLSONPHOTOS