DEREK Warwick’s tell-all autobiography has been shortlisted for Motoring Book of the Year at a set of prestigious awards.
The former Formula One driver, current FIA steward and owner of Derek Warwick Honda will travel to the International Historic Motoring Awards ceremony in London on 22 November to find out if Never Look Back reaches the top step of the podium.
The book was also up for the Royal Automobile Club’s Motoring Book of the Year award last week but ultimately came in second place.
The cover star of the November LifeStyle supplement in today’s paper, Mr Warwick has written an account of his life, in collaboration with motorsports journalist David Tremayne, which was released this autumn.
Never Look Back recounts his humble beginnings welding and spraying trailers for his father’s business, his early triumphs in stock-car racing, his 12 years of racing in Formula One – where he started 147 races and achieved four podium finishes – and winning the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The former FIA president remains an FIA steward and continues to be right at the heart of decision-making in the sport – the latter chapters cover this time in the stewards’ booth issuing penalties that can impact the outcome of the F1 World Championship.
However, the book also conveys the tragedy, particularly family tragedy, that comes with motorsport. He sets aside chapters for his younger brother, Paul Warwick, who died at 22 in a racing accident at Oulton Park during a British F3000 championship race.
“There’s a lot of sadness in the book,” Mr Warwick said. “Something like ten drivers in the premier classes were killed in the 12 years I was in Formula One. At the time, we knew it was a dangerous sport. People were being killed and legs broken and I came through that with not one nail broken. My brother had one big accident, and he was killed.”
Mr Warwick said that, as much as he enjoyed the process, he is “absolutely one million percent not going to write another book”.
He continued: “I wanted to tell a story. I didn’t want to overdo it on the boring stuff. People don’t really want to know whether I finished fifth or sixth, or started fifth or sixth on the grid, but they do want to know whether my Uncle Stan was naughty or how much the family got destroyed by the death of Paul.
“That part was true, and difficult to write.”
His honesty has resonated with readers and the book has had commercial success in the UK as well as awards buzz.
Never Look Back is available from Amazon, Evro Publishing, or from Derek Warwick Honda on Longueville Road.
Read the full interview with Derek Warwick on pages 16 to 19 of the LifeStyle supplement.
