New F1 documentary to debut in Austin

Mario Andretti will be one of many Formula One world champions featured in the F1 documentary, 1.

A spectacular new Formula One documentary will be unveiled next Thursday in Austin during the build-up to the 2012 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. Entitled ‘1’, the film tells the story of the drivers who raced during the sport’s most dangerous era in the 1960s and ‘70s and those who stood up to improve safety standards.

Using rare archive footage, ‘1’ features the largest list of F1 interviewees ever assembled for a single film, among them 12 world champions. Contributors include Bernie Ecclestone, Max Mosley, Sid Watkins, Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Niki Lauda, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Jody Scheckter, Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Jacky Ickx and Martin Brundle.

The Spitfire Films, Flat-Out Films and Diamond Docs production is directed by acclaimed documentary maker Paul Crowder, whose credits include the award-winning ‘Riding Giants’, and written by Crowder’s long-time creative partner Mark Monroe, the man behind Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Cove’. Nigel Sinclair, who co-produced '1' with Michael Shevloff, is a noted film and documentary maker who has previously won Grammys for ‘No Direction Home: Bob Dylan’ and ‘Foo Fighters: Back And Forth’.

"The early days of Formula One racing was a very different time – the risks were high and the characters were more than larger than life," said Sinclair. “Our film is a big screen experience in which we travel across the world with the glamorous circus surrounding this death defying sport but also experience the tragedy that came with it. It’s emotional, frightening and so very, very exciting, but ultimately about humanity and friendship between the drivers."

“We set out to truly capture the spirit and soul of Formula One, the smell and the sounds, the charisma of the drivers and the pioneering spirit of a different generation," added Shevloff. "It was such a distinct period, so raw and real."

“Millions of people worldwide watch the Formula One races as the circus travels the globe, but there are many who just don’t know the history behind this, at one time, incredibly dangerous sport," commented Crowder. “Our film conveys the essence of the era while telling this story and giving intimate insight into the life and personality, struggles and triumphs of racing’s pivotal characters."

The red-carpet special presentation of ‘1’ – a collaboration between SXSW Film Festival and race venue, the Circuit of The Americas – will take place on November 15 at the Paramount Theatre in the centre of Austin.

Spitfire Pictures is the documentary film production label of Los Angeles-based Exclusive Media, who are also currently in post-production on ‘Rush’, the highly anticipated Formula One feature film directed by Ron Howard and starring Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt and Daniel Bruhl as Niki Lauda, due for release in September 2013.