Frosty by Mark Winterbottom with James Phelps

I’m a bit of a petrol head, so was looking forward to reading a good Formula sports biography of how a talented driver forges his way to success. But strap yourself in and be prepared for one heck of a ride. This is a story of more than just rags to riches, going from the small, poor suburb of Sydney, Doonside, to the top of Mount Panorama. That in itself would be a captivating tale. Having absolutely no money and fortuitously winning a raffle for a Peewee 50 motorcycle that launched his career into motor racing, then, after a spectacular crash, his mother dictated that his motorcycling career was over, but he could move into karts.

There is a mixture of triumph and tragedy. He proudly declares his deep love for his mother and describes himself as a “mummy's boy,” and the bond that forms between them as his parents’ marriage disintegrates. You cannot help but be emotionally engaged after his mother is diagnosed with breast cancer and he ends up as her main support, accompanying her to chemotherapy sessions.

And, of course, there is motor racing. He won 10 Australian kart championships and 25 state championships before moving to Formula Ford. Then there was his famous victory at Bathurst in 2013, alongside Kiwi Stephen Richards, followed by his win in the 2015 Super Cars Championship.

The insight into the politics of Supercars and what went on behind the scenes is a real eye-opener.

Love, marriage and three children with his racing success round out a wonderful life, but whenever he felt things were tough, he would go back to Doonside and look at where he had come from to remind him of how truly fortunate he was.

This is far more than your average sports biography, and with Bathurst just a few weeks away, it's a perfect warm-up lap before the main event.

Reviewer: Chris Casey

HarperCollins