Jake Humphrey: The Inside Track Review

When Jake Humphrey announced that he would be writing his own book on his experiences of presenting Formula One coverage on the BBC, I knew immediately that this would be a book that I would purchase.
  Fortunately, I received the book called 'The Inside Track' as a Christmas present in 2012 and I was really excited to read it. However, because of commitments with Sixth Form I wanted to wait until it was over so that I could guiltlessly enjoy the book. So in July I finally had the time to sit down and read it, and I was not disappointed. 

 

Whilst I was reading the book, it was almost as though you could imagine Jake himself telling the many stories and experiences shared. You could really hear his voice whilst you were reading and so much of his personality that viewers of the BBC coverage grew to love was evident throughout.
   On page 16 Humphrey writes "It's the sport that never takes it foot off the pedal, and whether you're driving the car, making decisions from the pit wall, cheering in the stands or glued to the TV, F1 has something for everyone." I found that like the statement made, this book also has something for every fan of F1. Even if you are relatively new to the sport, Jake retells and describes events and aspects of Formula One in a way that is easy to understand, even if you do not know everything there is to know about testing and developing a new part for a Formula One car or how the safety of the sport has evolved over time. Jake also shows his deep understanding of many aspects of the sport, such as the detailing in how a team works and how the car works and this illustrates his genuine love of the sport.
  For those who have followed Formula One for a long time, this book gives you the opportunity to relive some of the greatest moments in the sports recent and past history, such as the way that the 2012 season started with a record breaking 7 different winners in as many races and the moment that both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton won the World Driver's Championship in 2009 and 2008.  So even if you are a 'F1 fanatic' and don't necessarily learn anything new from this book, you are reminded of some of Formula One's greatest moments!
  Jake Humphrey also gives us access to a world of Formula One that us fans never usually experience. He describes what it was like moments before going live on his first ever live broadcast as presenter for the BBC and even how he got to the job in the first place. From reading this book, I've learnt about many things that I wouldn't have learnt about otherwise and you can really tell that he has passion and love for what he is writing about, much like the people reading. 

If you're looking for an interesting read on how one sport has influenced someones life, then look no further than this book. Humphrey even explains his decisions for leaving the BBC and his plans for the future as well as casting his opinions on the safety of F1, the expansion of the sport and Lewis Hamilton's departure from McLaren. I have really enjoyed reading this book and could have easily read a hundred more pages. 

'The Inside Track' is available from many retailers and is also available to purchase on line.