Scuderia Filipinetti

By Ed Heuvink
ISBN 2-84707-016-8
Published by Chronosports, £59.99

Filipinetti – one of those team names you keep seeing without knowing the background. Now there’s no excuse. Heuvink’s hefty book illustrates the world of Georges Filipinetti, wealthy property dealer and Ferrari importer for Switzerland, who spent huge sums to equip his team with the best machinery — GT40s, Alfas, Porsches and above all Ferraris — to promote young Swiss drivers, of whom Jo Siffert was the star. Based in a turreted castle, the team tackled F1 and rallies as well as sportscars, always in some style, employing respected names such as Bonnier, Peterson, Redman, Elford and P Hill. Results — they had a few… but it became a struggle in the Seventies, the closing era of the privateer. A colourful tale, comprehensively told. GC