Rainer W. Schlegelmilch – Ferrari Sports Car Racing – Collector’s Edition

Collector’s Edition – each copy numbered and signed by Rainer W. Schlegelmilch.

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Ferrari’s Glorious Days in Motorsports

This large-format volume pays tribute to Ferrari’s golden era in sports car racing (1962–73) and, at the same time, to the outstanding photographic work of Rainer W. Schlegelmilch. His photographs capture more than just speed and beauty; they capture what Enzo Ferrari called the “terrible joys” of this sport – joys experienced by both Scuderia Ferrari and passionate fans around the world.

Experience the glory days of Ferrari, when the company redefined what a team could achieve – and thus became a symbol of daring, beauty, and engineering genius. This large-format tribute traces the defining era of the Scuderia from 1962 to 1973 through the lens of Rainer W. Schlegelmilch.

Schlegelmilch captured sports car racing in its most authentic form. A scarlet flash of bodywork in the sun, the tension on the starting grid, the spellbound faces of the fans, the interactions with teammates and spouses. His famous use of the zoom was both powerful and intimate: he closed the distance to heighten the drama, while simultaneously drawing viewers into the emotional heart of the moment.

This book pays tribute to the cars, the personalities, and the culture that shaped the Ferrari brand during its most legendary era – a time when drivers like Surtees, Bandini, Ickx, and Rodríguez raced across the asphalt in scarlet racing cars of mythical beauty. Image by image, Schlegelmilch takes us to the pit lane and the podium, revealing both the all-too-human emotions and the sheer power of the races.

In the 1970s, a shift began to take shape. The racetracks became safer, but also more isolated. Safety barriers were buillt, pushing photographers and spectators into the background, and full-face helmets replaced open visors, leaving the drivers hidden inside their machines.

This book is more than just a photo collection: it is a time capsule that captures the passion, determination, and genius that defined Ferrari’s most romantic era. An invitation into a bygone world that captivates Tifosi and design enthusiasts alike—experienced through the eyes of its most cinematic chronicler. As Stefano Domenicali of Formula 1 put it: “Rainer is much more than just a photographer—he is a guardian of motorsport’s memories.”

The Photographer

Rainer W. Schlegelmilch is a legend of motorsport photography and one of the most important chroniclers of international racing. He has published around 40 photo books, and his photographs have been featured in international exhibitions. His books The Golden Age of Formula 1, The Roaring 70’s, and Schlegelmilch – 50 Years of Formula 1 Photography have received worldwide acclaim, as have the five volumes of his Limited Editions series The Great Challenge, which chronicle the eras of Formula 1 world champions Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, and Michael Schumacher.