British F3 International Series - Croft

[Simon Harrison]

I was also at Croft Circuit for the British F3 International Series last weekend. It's great to see so many threads from the weekend, as everyone has put their own and spin and style into the pictures they've posted. I find it very interesting to see how different photographers interperet the same event, and I personally have taken something from every thread so far. Hopefully, I can add something different into the mix again!

I only made one and a half days of the meeting. I'd travelled for 23 hours and covered 5,500 miles on Friday on my way home from Shanghai, getting home around 10pm. You'll understand I was a bit tired on Saturday, so as a race track is not the place to be with you reactions slowed by tiredness I left just after lunch as fatigue set in. Anyway, on to some pictures.....

#1 Preparation is everything. Without the benefit of a garage, these club racers work wonders in less than ideal conditions to get their cars ready.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/f3_2008/NX4L1347.jpg

#2 The Formula Fords also provided some of the best racing all weekend. I've struggled in the past to get shots of these cars, but some reason something clicked and I came away with some shots I'm very happy with.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/f3_2008/NX4L0209.jpg

#3 The run down into Clervaux Corner is always a favourite spot. On a bright, sunny day though it is tricky to photograph because of the position of the sun. Thankfully, Saturday was dull and overcast!
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/f3_2008/NX4L1101.jpg

#4 The British F3 Series was, as always, very quick around Croft. However, like all winged single seater cars, they just can't get close enough to each other to be able to overtake. This is a shame, as it spoiled the spectacle of them on the circuit, as I find I adjust to the speed of them very quickly. Tower Bend however, does offer one overtaking chance, but you have to be brave on the brakes!
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/f3_2008/NX4L2350.jpg

#5 The Caterham's had two huge grids of cars (have a look at Petrolhead's thread for the whole pack in all its glory heading down into Clervaux - great stuff!). Here's a smaller contingent racing hard and close to each other entering the Complex.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/f3_2008/NX4L0604.jpg

#6 The Ginetta G20s however provided the best racing all weekend in my opinion. Here's the first lap charge into Tower Bend. The pack stayed pretty much this close together for the entire race.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/f3_2008/NX4L2122.jpg

#7 The prettiest cars of the weekend were the Ginetta G50s. Unfortunately, they didn't produce the close racing I had been hoping for. The heavy rain for their second race made things more interesting, and the cars even prettier!
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/f3_2008/NX4L2665.jpg

#8 I'll finish with another shot of the Ginetta G20s, this time into the Complex. I was trying to get a couple of cars in the background moving in the opposite direction to the main car to highlight the speed of the main car.
http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.com/Galleries/forum/f3_2008/NX4L0360.jpg

All in all, a very enjoyable weekend made all the better by some great company from other POTN members.

All of the shots were taken with a 1D mk II and a Sigma 120-300 f2.8 (apart from #1 which used a 17-40 f4 L). One or two also used a 1.4XTC. There's full galleries from Saturday and Sunday on my website - follow the link if you are interested in seeing them: -

http://www.srh-motorsport-photography.fotopic.net/

As usual, any comments or feedback on the images would be most welcome.

Cheers,

Simon.

[KevB]

Excellent stuff, the Ginetta G50 in the wet is my favourite.:D

Kev

[GSH]

Hmm who's that good-looking chap in the background of #4 & #6 ? :D

Those are excellent Simon, particularly #5 with that countryside in the background and like yourserlf i like the angle for #2...hopefully there won't be anything blocking the view there next time i'm at Croft.

As we've discussed before i've also often struggled with Single seaters but I think i found the cure at the weekend :D

[Simon Harrison]

Excellent stuff, the Ginetta G50 in the wet is my favourite.:D

Kev

Thanks Kev. The G50's are very photogenic and sound superb. Unfortunately, the races weren't very good as the cars became spread out around the circuit very quickly. The rain in the second race did make things interesting though. I think the G50 races were filmed. If so, I'll be interested to see if I make an appearence in the second race. There was a TV camera pretty close to me that might have captured me getting offside in a mighty hurry as an errant G50 hit the barriers hard right where I was standing. Pushed the armco back and tore the conveyor belt lining right off the tyre wall......

Simon.

[darren h]

All very good shots indeed Simon but i think #4 & 8 just sneak it for me

[Cadwell]

Very nice, Simon. #4 is favourite for me here. The colours are absolutely beautiful in all of these.

[JuZ]

Cracking shot as always Simon, #4 for me too :) Soooooooo sharp.

[Semmonka]

Nice series. #7 for me. The color really pops in the wet.
#4 shows some good battle

[Big Ant]

A nice series Simon, I like #4 a great action shot but the G50 in the wet is superb

[Ian_H]

All great shots Simon but the G50 in the rain is the one that stands out for me, I really like the way the colour jumps out at you. I left part way through the G50 farce as I'd had enough by then.

Cheers
Ian

[Simon Harrison]

Hmm who's that good-looking chap in the background of #4 & #6 ? :D

Those are excellent Simon, particularly #5 with that countryside in the background and like yourserlf i like the angle for #2...hopefully there won't be anything blocking the view there next time i'm at Croft.

As we've discussed before i've also often struggled with Single seaters but I think i found the cure at the weekend :D

Thought that was you in the background!

Thanks for the comments Geoff. I think I might be able to guess what the cure was for your single seater shooting ;).

Cheers,

Simon.

[Simon Harrison]

Very nice, Simon. #4 is favourite for me here. The colours are absolutely beautiful in all of these.

Thanks Glenn. I can get the colours right when I don't mess about in PS :lol:.

Cheers,

Simon.

[petrolhead]

Hmm who's that good-looking chap in the background of #4 & #6 ? :D

You mean this guy
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j25/1st_petrolhead/Forum%20Links/temp/NX4L2122.jpg

Oh no, hang on
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j25/1st_petrolhead/Forum%20Links/temp/NX4L2350.jpg

Hehe

As we've discussed before i've also often struggled with Single seaters but I think i found the cure at the weekend :D
Interesting, go on tell

[petrolhead]

Simon

Great shots there and would agree that No 7 is the pick of the bunch

[Simon Harrison]

You mean this guy
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j25/1st_petrolhead/Forum%20Links/temp/NX4L2122.jpg

Oh no, hang on
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j25/1st_petrolhead/Forum%20Links/temp/NX4L2350.jpg

Hehe


Interesting, go on tell

Now that's not very nice is it :lol:.

Simon.

[Simon Harrison]

Cracking shot as always Simon, #4 for me too :) Soooooooo sharp.

Thanks JuZ.

Simon.

[Simon Harrison]

All great shots Simon but the G50 in the rain is the one that stands out for me, I really like the way the colour jumps out at you. I left part way through the G50 farce as I'd had enough by then.

Cheers
Ian

Thanks Ian. I actually enjoyed the second of the G50 races. The heavy rain made a big difference.

Simon.

[Mike Hoyer]

I didn't - I got soaked! Then I managed to break a flash in half...