Require some tips for capturing Formula 1 cars

Lowner wrote in post #8740878
Rather than spend large wads of money on longer glass, think about renting.

I rented a 500mm f/4 IS L for the British MotoGP at Donnington earlier this year. Had it for three whole days and it cost £100. And thats one expensive lens.

Once you bite the bullet and start thinking about long lenses, you will need to also think about a monopod. I dread to think what my muscles would have felt like after a day of hand-holding the 500!

You're suggesting that the OP should start off running when he really needs to learn to use the gear he has and work on from there. You did note that the OP has a 500D didn't you?
£100 would buy him a longer lens - OK maybe not a 500/4L - which would be useful for all sorts of other photography as well.

Incidently if you went to Donnington(sic) you perhaps didn't see much MotoGP action - that event was at Donington this year...............

Paul,

Renting is a relatively cheap way of practising the techniques. The OP needs something longer than he's got. You presumably are recommending he sticks with what he's got?

I find with my 30D that I need a minimum of 400mm at most tracks, more at somewhere like Silverstone, less at my local Thruxton.

I choose to ignore the other remark.

Lowner wrote in post #8741685
Paul,

Renting is a relatively cheap way of practising the techniques. The OP needs something longer than he's got. You presumably are recommending he sticks with what he's got?

I find with my 30D that I need a minimum of 400mm at most tracks, more at somewhere like Silverstone, less at my local Thruxton.

You presumably know what you are doing and what lenses you need/would like and can afford to experiment, that's fine.
The OP is very obviously new at this game and needs advice on how to start off and if you handed him a 500/4L on his 500D his results would be most possibly be 'disappointing'.
I also presume that you didn't start photographing motorsport with a 500/4L at the second race meeting you went to? I certainly didn't.

Remember that you have to tailor your advice to the experience, finance and commitment of the person asking, not assume that everyone knows as much or is as well funded as you.

Ignoring the previous remarks completely, a member of this forum runs his own lens hire business: Lensforhire.co.uk

He offers a 400mm prime for just £51.75. Shorter focal lengths will be less.