Do you watch Formula One motor racing on a regular basis? If so, you are probably familiar with the usual comments from the race winners, when being interviewed after the race. They go something like this: “Thanks to the team and everyone back at the factory.” “How about those fans? The best fans are here.” “I love this circuit - I think it is my favourite...” And yes, similar comments are made at every race... I CRAVE authenticity.
Having been lucky enough to travel around the world to photograph motor sport, I was recently wondering which is my favourite circuit. I have a different set of parameters to a race car driver. I need to photograph the action.
When photographing motor sport, you need a track that has certain characteristics which appeal to a photographer:
Easy access to service roads.
Plenty of properly-made windows in the catch fencing where appropriate.
Areas where you can get very close to the cars without being in a red zone.
A great media centre with good food!
Probably others, but those give you the general idea. And thinking about all the circuits I have visited, which offers the above and more?
Silverstone is OK, but mostly because it is home territory for me. The media centre in The Wing is OK but lacks windows, and you need to pay for food.
Mexico is interesting. The track offers some good angles, especially in the arena section. But walking around the track is quite a trek, and the location of the circuit requires protection from anti-terror squads of armed policemen. Kinda sends the wrong message. When you arrive, you are pretty much locked in to the circuit. The media centre is OK, but laptops have gone missing...
Bahrain is pretty good. A great media centre, well catered. Some good angles on the track. HOT! Lovely people.
Shanghai needs work. It is a bit of a clinical track, clearly purpose built - man-made, synthetic. Other synthetic tracks have character. Shanghai less so. Interesting media centre overlooking the grid.
Sepang is interesting. Some very good corners. A few good backgrounds. Some long lengths of catch fencing where there is nothing to shoot.
I quite like Monza. It needs work, and it isn’t easy, but once you get to know it, you can do some good work.
This is not a list of all the circuits I have been to, but of the ones I have visited, the Red Bull Ring in Austria is, at present, my favourite. A GREAT media centre, a shorter circuit which you can hike around (it is a bit hilly though) and some really great backgrounds. There are areas where you can get close to the cars, others where you are overlooking the track, and a great turn one. Oh, and good food and coffee.
Sure, this is personal opinion, and from a photographer’s point of view. But if you have the chance to visit the Red Bull Ring, take a hike around the track, visit the displays in the welcome centre, try out the slot car racing at the tunnel entrance to the paddock area.
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