Sakhir, Bahrain: Every story needs to be told and this is precisely what British Formula One journalist Joe Saward has set out to achieve with his new book The Grand Prix Saboteurs published earlier this year.
The book deals with the untold story of how three top Grand Prix drivers in the 1920s and 1930s who went on to become British secret agents during Second World War.
The story is based on extensive research spanning 18 years and features something that may have been hidden from the public forever.
"In this age of corporate Formula One, one can forget that racing drivers are extraordinary people.
"They live on the edge and beneath all the glitter they have to be tough, dedicated and courageous," Saward told Gulf News on the sidelines of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. "My aim in writing this book is to make modern-day drivers understand and learn from these three racing drivers of the 1920s and 30s," Saward said.
The story centres round the top three Grand Prix stars who worked for the super-secret Special Operations Executive (SOE) in occupied France during Second World War.
Name factor
Though known as SOE circles as "Sebastien", "Lionel" and "Gilles", for race fans they were W. Williams (actual name was Willy Grover), Robert Benoist and Jean-Pierre Wimille.
The 364-page book deals with the exploits of these three stars and the impact they made on changing the course of the war against Adolf Hitler.
The Grand Prix Saboteurs by Saward, is published by Morienval Press in paperback at a price of £12.99 (Dh93.5).
