WRC Rally Turkey 2010

[Rhodri.Lew10]

Well, where do I start? My first ever foreign event, and what an 'event' it turned out to be! That unpronouncable Icelandic volcano decided to wake up the day after we arrived in Istanbul, and little did we know at the time the carnage and confusion that would bring upon us. Our flight home which was scheduled for Monday afternoon was cancelled, which meant our only realistic option was a 50hr coach trip to Dusseldorf in Northern Germany via Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria (almost 3000km); followed by a flight to Heathrow and a hire car to Birmingham to pick up Ben's car from there. Finally arrived home Thursday night at 11pm, almost 3 days after setting off from the Hotel!

The Rally itself was absolutely spectacular, with some of the most incredible committment I've ever witnessed - the speed being carried through the corners really was beyond belief. The stages themselves ranged from wide, sweeping corners over crests which resembled Finland, to narrow, rough car-breakers more akin to Acropolis.

Enough waffle, here's a small selection of my shots from the event. Found it impossible to narrow it down to just 8 images!


#1
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4545569327_fdc972c579_o.jpg


#2
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/108/4546204976_da3d8ec402_o.jpg


#3
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4546304237_d4284727af_o.jpg


#4
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4545571029_7a57953a01_o.jpg


#5
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4545489623_a5e7b7d144_b.jpg


#6
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4546814878_9c09a94d83_o.jpg


#7
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4546202972_a04528a1ee_o.jpg


Loeb showing exactly why he's so dominant, only Hirvonen got anywhere near as much air over this crest:

#8
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4547048016_1a7891c564_b.jpg


Thanks for looking,

Rhod

[NIUJager]

amazing set! this is why i want to go to a WRC event. heck id settle for a regular rally event in this area

[82NoMe]

Great shots #2 & #3 are my favorites. You must have been pretty close to the action on #2 to shoot at 23mm...

[cfnz]

Nice pics, the photos of Wilson (#2) and Hirvonen (#3) are my favourites as well.

[Jean-Louis]

#5 gives a really nice perspective, really great set.

[banksy87]

Amazing set! Awesome shots
hope the hastle was worth it, looks that way!

[petris]

Fine collection, Rhod ;) Some really nice framings. Your skills has improve a lot. Any atmo images?

[Rhodri.Lew10]

Thanks for all the comments so far.

Fine collection, Rhod ;) Some really nice framings. Your skills has improve a lot. Any atmo images?

Cheers Petris, yes I took a couple of atmospheric shots although probably not as many as I would have liked. We didn't have time to visit the Hagia Sophia or the Blue Mosque, as we were staying in a hotel on the other side of Istanbul.

[ALALAL_1]

Hi Rohd

These are fantastic, can`t believe the air those cars are getting!!!
#2 of Matt is great and #8 shows me how much he had to push this rally.

Are you putting any more up on your Flickr account ?

Cheers for posting
Alan

[Tír Eoghain]

any shots of the mad Mitsubishi driver over the jump that was shown on telly?

NIce pics there BTW

[chrispons]

Whatto Mate,
Glad you finally got home safe and sound,but does sound a mare with the travel,all that time sat in a Bus,horrendous !
Some cracking pics in this set,think 6 is my favourite,cracking exposure and framing,super sharp.

Been shooting Horsey stuff today,absolutely loved it !

Talk soon,
Pons

[mikey_mac]

Absolutely terrific set, insane jumps, you seemed to get fairly close to the action, like them all, well worth the trek :)

[Big Ant]

Superb set Rhod, plenty of action and atmosphere

Great comps

#3 & #6 for me

[hairycrab]

Great stuff...love no. 1

[GSH]

Quality stuff !

Hope the unexpected Road Trip didn't put too much of a dampener on things though.

[Welby]

Very nice Rhod as mentioned above any of the mentos EVO over that jump?

[KiwiRallyFan]

Very nice shots, I really like them. I'd pick #3 as my personal favourite, but they're all good.

We've got Rally NZ here in a couple of weeks, which I'm really looking forward to as it will give me an opportunity to try out my new 7D. Hopefully I can get some decent shots to post here.

[Rhodri.Lew10]

Thanks for the comments all, although the long trip back did put a slight dampener on things - once we'd got over the uncertainty of not knowing how to get home, we did make our own fun on the way back via a video blog etc, so it didn't really spoil what was an immense couple of days.

Unfortunately I missed "Mental Mentos" over the jump, I was away from the jump getting some atmospheric stuff and was walking back when he came passed. Gutted I missed it with the camera, but it was one of the best rallying moments I've witnessed.

Cheers,

Rhodri

[texascaoboy]

I'm always amazed to see how close photographers and fans get to the cars. #2 looks pee-in-my-pants close! XD

Unless you used a distant lens. Either way, awesome set!

[ETERNAL]

Your angles are amazing!! #2 is perfect. Looks like they set it up just for you to take the picture!!!

[jon.s]

Wish i was there mate!!

Cracking set, not a lot more that can be said fella! Actually there is make sure i come next time LOL

Regards,
Jon.S

[silveradomike]

now thats jumping a car!!

[NeherPhoto]

#5 holy crap!!!

[Rhodri.Lew10]

I'm always amazed to see how close photographers and fans get to the cars. #2 looks pee-in-my-pants close! XD

Unless you used a distant lens. Either way, awesome set!

Cheers, #2 was shot at 23mm but I have cropped it a little. Although it looks very close, out of shot just to my left is a rather large tree which prevented the cars from cutting the corner:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4555140084_8e4779b3ab.jpg


Your angles are amazing!! #2 is perfect. Looks like they set it up just for you to take the picture!!!

Thanks, Mat was one of the very few who chucked it into the corner, so right place right time!

Wish i was there mate!!

Cracking set, not a lot more that can be said fella! Actually there is make sure i come next time LOL

Regards,
Jon.S

Cheers Jon, if there's one thing you do this or next year, get to event abroad like this one, you won't be disappointed! Makes our events look tame by comparison.

now thats jumping a car!!

#5 holy crap!!!

Cheers both.


Rhod

[wizaron]

I like this one of Hirvonen fine colors, the jumps ar amazing :cool:

[KevB]

Excellent set Rhodri. Hard to pic a favourite out of these.

Kev

[Pete Owen]

Cracking set Rhod,those jumps are unreal!
1,3,5 & 6 for me mate :)
Looked a cracking event on tv
Pete

[tcvd112]

:( US rallies need bigger jumps. *goes to get a shovel* lol

Awesome pics!

[Chisholm]

Hey Rhod,
These are the nutts....... #6, I can see that on A1 canvas on the wall above the fireplace, amazing !
Tom
canonific

[RoryOD]

Rhod! always love your shots but these are beautiful! have you been caught by the WRC bug yet? next year it will be 2-3 events and next thing you will be booking time off work around wrc events :-)
The shots are amazing, one question did you have a pass for the event or were you on stage good and early to get the good spots! shame about the long trip home for you, but going from the shots it was worth it!! you doing portugal in a few weeks by any chance!!

[Rhodri.Lew10]

Thanks for the comments all!

Rory, you're absolutely spot on mate, the WRC bug has completely bitten myself and Ben. The action, weather, stages and laid back attitude of the whole event was really special. Neither of us had any sort of pass, but on most stages the marshalls were pretty laid back about things so getting close to the action wasn't a problem. Elf n Safe-T hasn't infected their events like it has over here!

Won't be doing another foreign event until next year now mate, probably looking at Acropolis in June 2011.

Cheers,

Rhod