GP Racing

GP Racing, formerly F1 Racing, is a monthly magazine focused on Formula One racing that launched in March 1996.

Launch and development

F1 Racing's launch was the culmination of a year of preparation by UK publishers

Two business decisions in particular made the new title feasible: Haymarket's focus on agreeing annual (rather than monthly or ad-hoc) deals with advertisers, and its publication of a German edition to capitalise upon Schumacher's popularity. A private 'dummy' test issue was produced in November 1995, dubbed 'Issue Zero', before the first issue proper was published to coincide with the beginning of the 1996 season.[1]

Much of the title's growth took place under long-standing editor Matt Bishop, who took over the helm of the title in December 1996. Bishop left both F1 Racing and Autosport (for which he wrote an online column) in late 2007 to join McLaren and was replaced as editor of the monthly magazine by the then executive editor Tim Scott, and later by Hans Seeberg. On 9 May 2012 it was announced that Anthony Rowlinson would become the magazine's new editor.

In July 2005, F1 Racing celebrated its one hundredth issue; it continues to publish in over twenty countries, and claims the title "The World's Best-Selling Grand Prix Magazine". In the one hundred issues, Michael Schumacher had been cover feature over forty times – more than any other driver – including the first issue in March 1996. In February 2001, a "Michael Schumacher Special Edition" was published.

Many well respected journalists and photographers contribute to the magazine. Such regulars have included journalists

As of 2011 F1 Racing has been available as a digital download, alongside the print edition.

In 2016, Haymarket sold their motorsport properties to Motorsport Network, including F1 Racing.

In February 2020 it was announced that the magazine would no longer licence the F1 trademark and that from the March 2020 issue it would be renamed GP Racing. Editor Ben Anderson wrote in his editorial column that because of the cost of the licence, "...it would not have been sustainable for us to continue reporting on Formula 1 in this way without significantly increasing the price of the magazine, reducing the physical quality of the product, or sacrificing its editorial independence."^[2]

Team sponsorship

F1 Racing magazine briefly sponsored the ill-fated Mastercard Lola team in 1997. However, the team failed to qualify for the opening round of that season at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix with both of their cars having failed to make the 107% time. The team withdrew from the next race in Brazil and withdrew from the whole championship soon after.

McLaren 'brake steer' scoop

At the

At the

References

External links

• GP Racing homepage
• Official F1 Racing forum for Australia and New Zealand