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How to Build a Car

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How to Build a Car

Written by: Adrian Newey
Narrated by: Richard Trinder
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About this listen

'Adrian has a unique gift for understanding drivers and racing cars. He is ultra competitive but never forgets to have fun. An immensely likeable man.' Damon Hill

The world’s foremost designer in Formula One, Adrian Newey OBE is arguably one of Britain’s greatest engineers and this is his fascinating, powerful memoir.

How to Build a Car explores the story of Adrian’s unrivalled 36-year career in Formula One through the prism of the cars he has designed, the drivers he has worked alongside and the races in which he’s been involved.

A true engineering genius, even in adolescence Adrian’s thoughts naturally emerged in shape and form – he began sketching his own car designs at the age of 12 and took a welding course in his school summer holidays. From his early career in IndyCar racing and on to his unparalleled success in Formula One, we learn in comprehensive, engaging and highly entertaining detail how a car actually works. Adrian has designed for the likes of Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, always with a shark-like purity of purpose: to make the car go faster. And while his career has been marked by unbelievable triumphs, there have also been deep tragedies; most notably Ayrton Senna’s death during his time at Williams in 1994.

Beautifully illustrated with never-before-seen drawings, How to Build a Car encapsulates, through Adrian’s remarkable life story, precisely what makes Formula One so thrilling – its potential for the total synchronicity of man and machine, the perfect combination of style, efficiency and speed.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2017 Adrian Newey (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers
Motor Sports Sports Transportation Inspiring Racing Career Automotive Engineering
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What the critics say

‘Quite superb…This book pulls off the remarkable feat of being a first-class autobiography and textbook all in one. For those studying the evolution of the F1 car between the late ‘80s and now, it decodes all the mysteries previously hidden by competitive secrecy while revealing the man behind most of the greatest cars of that time period.’ Motorsport Online

‘In this gripping memoir, Newey reveals the highs and lows of his race to the top.’ Mail on Sunday Books of the Year

‘The greatest Formula One designer of his – or any other – age.’ Sunday Times

‘Newey has a legitimate claim on the title of "Britain’s greatest living engineer".’ Daily Telegraph

‘Adrian Newey has created more winners than all the super-brain computers in Formula One put together.’ The Times

‘Creative genius… the leading Formula One designer of his generation… refreshingly honest.’ Guardian

‘The most accomplished man in the world’s most glamorous sport… The Michelangelo of motorsport.’ New Yorker

‘If you love finding out how things work, if you’re a car nut, if you’re intrigued by the sport’s politics and even if your interest in Formula 1 is but a passing one, you absolutely must read this book.’ Octane Magazine

‘How to Build a Car encapsulates through Adrian’s remarkable life story, precisely what makes Formula 1 so thrilling.’ Car Mechanic

‘How to Build a Car gives a tremendous insight…fantastically entertaining.’ Daily Express

‘Honest…hilarious…inspirational.’ Motorsport Magazine

‘Illuminating reading.’ F1 Racing Magazine

‘How to Build a Car is an emphatic hit. It’s one of the most enjoyable F1 books I’ve read in quite some time.’ WTF1

‘How to Build a Car is an essential read for all fans of motor racing.’ F1 Fanatic

‘Adrian Newey is one of Formula 1’s finest technical brains… The prose is sharp, punchy… you learn almost without realising.’ Autosport

What listeners say about How to Build a Car

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Amazing insight!

Loved it! Start to finish. Felt like part of the journey. Actually inspired by the deviation and hustle. Now I just need to save up for a Valkyrie 🤣

Wish Adrian would start a Formula 1 companion podcast of some sort.

I highhly recommend this book.

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Excellent

Simply a must read for every motor racing fan, and people who interested in aerodynamics. Very detailed, touching stories, with extreme technical details.

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Excellent

I’m a gear head and although I don’t know much about Formula One I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Newey mixes technical details with anecdotes from the races and personal stories to maintain your interest and he manages to not be a blowhard about his achievements although I wouldn’t call him humble. His stories about his drinking and anecdotes while drunk make me think he’s an alcoholic and needs to get help.
Excellent book, well read. I recommend it!

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Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Superbly written and very interesting from a human point of view too.
Helps understand the high demanding F1 environment and it's evolution over the years. Sheds some light on the Senna accident. Gives a better view on many many things. Including how others see Ferrari and Italy from abroad. And of course offers a detailed overview of all Newey's cars.
Absolutely recommended.

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Should be Mandatory reading for teenage boys

His amazing life, coupled with his ability to provide imagery of Aero and Mechanical details makes listening easy and enjoyable. Inspiring story that a quirky, class clown could become the greatest Race Car designer ever.

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Great technical and historical info!

What a great book for F1 fans! Newey gives a fascinating history of modern-day Formula 1 racing through his biography. Technical and very enjoyable. The narrator is also a joy to listen to.

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History tells the future

Very interesting to get into the head of one of the most winning engineers in formula one history. This book not only is a really interesting telling of f1 history from the 90s to the mid 2010’s, but it can also give you insight of his current move to AM. The reading was also great no special effects or music but a good reading of the story.

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memoirs of the greatest racing car designer

interesting, relatable content, even though it won't turn the reader into a championship-winning designer. the written words were good, but the narrator was clearly not from the racing world, as was made obvious occasionally with some pronunciations.

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For both newbies and die-hards alike

Informative and accessible, Adrian Newey's "How to Build a Car" is a thoughtful, introspective, and well paced dive in to both the professional and personal pressures of being one of the most influential figures in one of the world's most dramatic sports.

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Masterpice

Once again, Adrian strikes with another masterpiece. Only this time, it's not a car or a boat. A real must read if you are interested in the technical side of race cars or just racing in general. A hard five stars.

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