The Mechanic

The Secret World of the F1 Pitlane

By: Marc 'Elvis' Priestley

Narrated by: Marc 'Elvis' Priestley

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Mechanic, written and read by Marc 'Elvis' Priestley.

In the high octane atmosphere of the Formula One pit lane, the spotlight is most often on the superstar drivers. And yet, without the technical knowledge, competitive determination and outright obsession from his garage of mechanics, no driver could possibly hope to claim a spot on the podium. These are the guys who make every World Champion, and any mistakes can have critical consequences.

That's not to say the F1 crew is just a group of highly skilled technical engineers, tweaking machinery in wind tunnels and crunching data through high spec computers. These boys can seriously let their hair down. Whether it be parties on luxury yachts in Monaco or elaborate photo opportunities in gravity-defying aeroplanes, this is a world which thrills on and off the track.

Join McLaren's former Number One mechanic, Marc 'Elvis' Priestley as he tours the world, revealing some of Formula One's most outrageous secrets and the fiercest rivalries, all fuelled by the determination to win.

This is Formula One as you've never seen it before.

Critic reviews

The principle is sound, as are the author’s credentials… [A] genuine attempt to reflect the day-to-day realities of a relentless life on the road. And it is relayed by someone who doesn’t feel duty-bound to toe the corporate line

Here we are privileged to have Marc’s take on the Formula 1 world from the inside… Marc was lucky enough to work alongside David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, among others, but it is his close relationship with Kimi Raikkonen that we gain most insight into as we read… In short, it is a must read for any F1 fan, and I can highly recommend (Sarah Merritt)

Great book

unique, interesting insight. very well written, well paced read. really enjoyed the parts about Kimi

Excellent

Terrific insight into the world of F1. Expertly narrated. Makes watching the races that much more entertaining.

Incredible Insight into an Incredible Sport

This is the first motorsport audio book I've listened to but I feel I can say it is probably one of the best out there. As an F1 fan this was beyond the level of insight I expected to get from this experience and it felt like exactly that, an experience. Marc really tells the whole story and takes you along on his wonderful journey through F1 and you are left feeling like you were there with him. Top notch work.

Behind the scenes

Truly great look behind the pitwall. A look into driver mechanic relationships, inter team squabbles, and day-to-day life of a F1 Mechanic. Thankfully this book contains brilliant stories and insight without the tabloid esc fodder or attempt to burn former colleagues. I found Marc on youtube prior to finding this book. I have passed this book along to my fellow F1 buddies.

Remarkable inside stories from the paddock!

Wow, what a journey! An absolute pleasure to even the lightest F1 fan! Take a trip through McLaren behind the scenes in its most turbulent era!