Racing Green is the story of how motorsport science has become smarter and more environmentally
friendly and how these developments on the track are changing the world. Motor racing is the
most scientifically demanding sport in the world: a combination of peak physical and mental
skill world-class mechanical nous and technological innovation. Ideas first pioneered during
races - from ABS brakes to crash helmets - have been incorporated into car designs around the
world to improve racing safety. And cleaner technologies first trialled and improved in modern
racing are also informing the designs of everyday vehicles such as better electric cars and
more efficient fuels and tyres. Racing Green is the story of how motorsport science has changed
the world helping it become smarter and more environmentally friendly. From the radical
shake-ups of safety in the 1970s through to innovations such as the lithium-ion battery this
book explores the science that has been translated from racing to the road. It looks at the
history of motor racing both its glories and its tragedies and demonstrates how these moments
led to some of the most important modern developments we see in car design today. It explores
how motor racing is not only at the cutting edge of modern engineering but also human
psychology and physiology both of which are integral to creating a winning car and driver.
Author Kit Chapman is a lifelong motorsports fan who has previously worked with Virgin Racing's
Formula E team to explore the chemistry and material science of their racing cars. With
cooperation from his wide range of contacts in the industry he goes behind the scenes of the
current breakthroughs to show where motorsport is likely to take us in the future picking up
extraordinary tales along the way such as the maverick designer Warren Mosler who designed a
car that was so fast he wasn't allowed to race it. Racing Green is a mix of travelogue and
historical retrospective combining visits to the experts and discussing the science with
retellings of real-life incidents that represent milestones in modern car development.
