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Matt Straker #1
Driven
To a Formula One driver, speed, wheel-to-wheel combat and danger are part of every Grand Prix. But things turn sinister in Monaco when Remy Sabatino's car is sabotaged. Then Remy's teammate suffers a highly suspicious life-threatening crash.
Matt Straker, former Royal Marine and corporate intelligence director, is brought in to the team to investigate. Under increasing pressure, he battles to protect its Formula One drivers as they try to race in the glamorous Grands Prix of the world, from Monza to Brazil. Straker manages to uncover a malicious conspiracy - these acts of sabotage are about far more than manipulating the World Drivers Championship. Commercial control of Formula One and the billions that flow through it are what's really at a prize so great the saboteurs will stop at nothing to get what they want....
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and incidents portrayed and the names used herein are fictitious and any similarity to the names, characters, or history of any persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and unintentional. Even when recognisable names appear, their actions are fictitious. This [book] is unofficial and is not associated in any way with the Formula One group of companies. F1, Formula One, Formula 1, Fia Formula One World Championship, Grand Prix and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing B.V.
Matt Straker, former Royal Marine and corporate intelligence director, is brought in to the team to investigate. Under increasing pressure, he battles to protect its Formula One drivers as they try to race in the glamorous Grands Prix of the world, from Monza to Brazil. Straker manages to uncover a malicious conspiracy - these acts of sabotage are about far more than manipulating the World Drivers Championship. Commercial control of Formula One and the billions that flow through it are what's really at a prize so great the saboteurs will stop at nothing to get what they want....
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and incidents portrayed and the names used herein are fictitious and any similarity to the names, characters, or history of any persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and unintentional. Even when recognisable names appear, their actions are fictitious. This [book] is unofficial and is not associated in any way with the Formula One group of companies. F1, Formula One, Formula 1, Fia Formula One World Championship, Grand Prix and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing B.V.
- GenresFiction
Audible Audio
First published September 15, 2014
14 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 7, 2017
I picked this book up after seeing an advert for the author’s second book, also set in the world of f1. I am a big fan of the sport and have been watching since before I could remember, I was excited to read a book set in this world.
This book really gives the experience of being in the car with the driver, delivering heart pounding sequences. It shows the atmosphere of the races and explains really well why people watch f1.
It is an intriguing mystery with lots of twists and turns that you don’t expect. The whole story is frilling to the very end; I loved how the author ended it.
I love the inclusion of the fictional London grand prix, very detailed. If you know London you can imagine it happen as she goes through the turns.
I love that the driver is female because motor sports is a very male dominated world, and that the author includes information on real female drivers. Most people aren’t aware that there have been female drivers. It is important that females are not denied the opportunity to work in or watch the sport merely because they are female. This is something I feel very concerned about. If you want to know more about inspiring girls to go into motor racing have a look at the dare to be different website; https://daretobedifferent.org/
This story also highlights the impact of PTSD. This is important to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of it and that it is not seen as a weakness to suffer from it. Combat Stress is a charity that specifically focuses on veteran’s mental health. You can visit their website to find out more about PTSD; http://www.combatstress.org.uk/vetera...
This book really gives the experience of being in the car with the driver, delivering heart pounding sequences. It shows the atmosphere of the races and explains really well why people watch f1.
It is an intriguing mystery with lots of twists and turns that you don’t expect. The whole story is frilling to the very end; I loved how the author ended it.
I love the inclusion of the fictional London grand prix, very detailed. If you know London you can imagine it happen as she goes through the turns.
I love that the driver is female because motor sports is a very male dominated world, and that the author includes information on real female drivers. Most people aren’t aware that there have been female drivers. It is important that females are not denied the opportunity to work in or watch the sport merely because they are female. This is something I feel very concerned about. If you want to know more about inspiring girls to go into motor racing have a look at the dare to be different website; https://daretobedifferent.org/
This story also highlights the impact of PTSD. This is important to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of it and that it is not seen as a weakness to suffer from it. Combat Stress is a charity that specifically focuses on veteran’s mental health. You can visit their website to find out more about PTSD; http://www.combatstress.org.uk/vetera...
December 24, 2020
This was a DNF for me, sorry. Picked it up because I like F1. The descriptions of the racing and behind-the-scenes work were great, but the plot was flat from the get go. The author also introduced way too many characters with very little differentiating features way too quickly; I had difficulty keeping track of them all when they spoke with the same cadence. Disappointing because I really wanted to like it!
January 23, 2020
As a returning F1 fan, I had to give this book a go. Not following the sport in the early 2010's was a disadvantage due to the changes in cars and rules. But, all in all, this was a good story even for non-F1 fans. I loved the main driver was female. That was different and much appreciated.
On to the next book in the series...
On to the next book in the series...
November 9, 2018
Great read even if you're not an F1 fan, an even better read if you are.
As an avid racing fan it is great to find a book that pays tribute to the sport as well as this one does but is also a really good story and a fun read.
As an avid racing fan it is great to find a book that pays tribute to the sport as well as this one does but is also a really good story and a fun read.
August 7, 2018
Loved it.. super story even though I am not a big F1 fan... loved the chase from Brailes to Swalcliffe!
December 23, 2018
Enjoyable
Kept me up way to late cause I couldn’t stop reading, had many story lines all going in one fun, exciting direction.
Kept me up way to late cause I couldn’t stop reading, had many story lines all going in one fun, exciting direction.
October 17, 2020
For any F1 fans Driven by Toby Vintcent will be a great read. It’s fast paced - obviously - but also entwined with an intriguing story. The main character Matt Straker has a feel of Jack Reacher about him and so it’s no surprise his story continues in the subsequent two books from Vintcent that follows this debut novel. I think there will be many more to come, especially as Straker works for a billionaire boss who could quite easily be a character from a Bond story. Driven includes a leading F1 female racing driver which also feels very right and fitting for today. Some of the racing action can be repetitive and the twist is a little obvious but overall a very good read.
September 6, 2015
Engrossing page turner - while there are some minor inaccuracies (and I'm not talking about the F1 rules portrayed here being an amalgam of different seasons, that part is fine), this is is definitely the best autosport thriller I've read in a while -- and I'm saying this as a fan of Tammy Kaehler's Kate Reilly series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews