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

There are films that literally transport you into the world of motor racing. You feel the roar of the engines, the speed of the cars, the squeal of the tires, and the frenetic spirit of competition, all while admiring the car designs, the spectacle of the race, and the cheering crowds. We think, of course, of Le Mans (1971), with Steve McQueen, the "King of Cool," but also of Rush, Le Mans '66, and Vanishing Point. And then there are books. And Macchina stands out as a prime example of magnificent publications on cars and car racing. This 376-page volume, designed in Florence and in landscape format, is intended for true motorsport enthusiasts and photography collectors. Released in May 2024, it was published by Fyshe, a young British motorsport brand launching its first book, thus combining British ingenuity and Italian craftsmanship.

THE PLEASURE OF SPEED

The photographer behind this treasure trove is Jon Nicholson. For forty years, this British virtuoso has tirelessly shared his passion and documented motorsport in all its facets. 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 archives also include images of the fatal accidents of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy.

« During this process, he explains, I met people whose raw passion for cars and racing is unparalleled: people who travel the world in search of the perfect drive, whether on a straightaway, 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 thus recounts, in a timeless way, the history of the personalities, the cars, the design, the mechanics, the fans, and the events surrounding this sport. Moreover, page after page, Jon Nicholson immerses us in the raw energy and poetic essence of these ribbons of asphalt.

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

Between color and black and white, contact sheets and negatives, assemblages and panoramas, Jon Nicholson offers with Macchina a sublime and fascinating atmospheric odyssey on four wheels.

MACCHINA BY JON NICHOLSON PUBLISHED BY FYSHE, MAY 2024
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