BETWEEN THE WHITE LINES

After decades of taking in the thrilling and unforgettable stories that make up motorsport’s rich history, I decided it was time to write my own.

Photo by Massimo Cubello @ Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve

The year is 1978, and young Scottish driver Sam Ferguson is at a pivotal moment in his racing journey. As the son of late Formula One legend Gerald Ferguson, Sam faces immense pressure to live up to his father’s legacy while navigating the challenges and controversies of the world’s fastest sport.

At the end of a tumultuous sophomore season, Sam has joined his third team in three years with the hope of a fresh start. However, an uphill climb looms. His new teammate, the brash and outspoken Tom Evans, despises the young Scot after an incident the year before that cost him the title. To make matters worse, journalists in the press continue to put insurmountable pressure on Sam to fill his father’s shoes. And then there’s Lee Jones, the defending world champion. Marked with charm and confidence, Jones not only sets a high bar for the rest of the field, but does so in brazen and controversial fashion.

A thrilling, petrol-fuelled adventure ensues as Sam races against the ghost of his father while duelling with some of the fastest drivers on the planet. Alliances form, rivalries evolve, and legacies are both forged and shattered. Does Sam Ferguson have what it takes to find his place on the Formula One grid?

—————

I started writing this story in the fall of 2021. What started as an idea that flashed across my mind quickly turned into my love letter to Formula One. And it’s been a fun journey! Part of the process involved building a fictional, alternate Formula One universe for this story to live in. While following the true-to-life schedule from the 1978 Formula One season, I’ve incorporated an entire grid of fictional drivers and teams, many of whom were influenced by racing legends from that era such as Niki Lauda, Mario Andretti, Enzo Ferrari, James Hunt, Gilles Villeneuve, and others. Hence, you might find a few Easter eggs along the way that serve as nods to racing’s biggest heroes of yesteryear.

Maybe you enjoyed the Drive to Survive documentary series on Netflix. Or you appreciated films like Rush, Days of Thunder, Le Mans, Grand Prix, Driven, and Ford v. Ferrari. Or maybe you just love sharing your passion for motorsport with the rest of the world. If so, then my hope is that this story speaks to you, if only just a little bit.

Currently, the manuscript is in the beta-reader phase, with some minor final edits likely to come. From there, I’ll be submitting to literary agents in the hopes of finding a co-driver who can help bring this project to life.

Beyond that? Time will tell, but I truly hope this story soars into the world one day and finds itself on the bookshelves of racing fans around the world, including yours.

Race on.