They say a picture tells a thousand words – and its certainly true for a good motorsport picture. Capturing the action, drama, and background story in one frame is not easy, but somehow the professional and amateur photographers around the UK’s motorsport venues do it time and time again. Revolution asked those who cover some of the main events to pick their favourites from the season and explain what made them so special.

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Result!

Event: GB3 Championship, Oulton Park

Date: 16th April

Photographer: Stephen Fisher (www.jakobebrey.com)

Luke Browning in parc fermé after winning the season-opening race. This is what it looks like when you start the season by winning the opening race by 10 seconds! Choosing to shoot from a low angle, this shot captures a nice blue sky with Luke suspended in the air as he is jumping out of his car to go celebrate with his team.

Realisation

Event: Brands Hatch

Date: 9th October

Photographer: Jakob Ebrey (www.jakobebrey.com)

Tom Ingram takes in the moment after securing the 2022 BTCC title. The confetti from the championship podium made a great frame to my picture. Hopefully it did not stain Tom’s suit too much!

Virtually victorious

Event: FIA Motorsport Games, esports

Date: 29th October

James Baldwin secured a maiden gold medal for Team United Kingdom. Baldwin took a lights-to-flag victory in the esports final, but it was not all plain sailing. This screen shot captures him in front of the chasing pack, showing the pressure he had to absorb through much of the race before finally taking the virtual chequered flag to claim victory.

On the bounce

Event: HSTA Trial, Hertfordshire

Date: 8th October

Photographer: Charlie Wooding (www.charliewooding.co.uk)

Neil Davies is ‘bounced’ by long-time friend Dick Dixon to clear a difficult section. I am always on the lookout for locations where wheels are likely to leave terra firma, and I found this one after about a half-mile trek through the woods. It was very gloomy under the canopy but with the advances in digital technology it was still possible to operate. In a location like this the composition more or less looks after itself, although getting the camera close to the ground helps.

On the rise

Event: British F4, Brands Hatch

Date: 8th October

Photographer: Mike Hoyer (www.jakobebrey.com)

A British F4 competitor heads up to Druids corner in the autumn light. The latter part of the UK racing season can mean some great light if the weather is good. Brands Hatch is a fantastic circuit to photograph at in those conditions, and this position offers a very different angle to others at the circuit, showing the track framed by the crowds who brave the autumn weather to attend.

Side By Side

Event: British Kart Championship, Junior TKM, Rounds 5&6, PFi

Date: 25th September

Photographer: Chris Walker (www.Kartpix.net)

Alfie Garford (1) and Leo Robinson (88) with Leon Frost (7) race to the line in a fight for victory. The Wera Tools British Kart Championships delivers incredible racing with last-ditch efforts for the win often taking place across the line with the chequered flag being waved above. This image of the Junior TKM racers at PFi captures perfectly the ‘inner racer’ in these two drivers.

Post-run discussion

Event: British Sprint Championship, Anglesey / Trac Mon

Date: 1st October

Photographer: Kim Broughton

Team spirit in the Paddock. I chose this picture because I felt it showed the camaraderie that exists between the competitors in the British Sprint Championship. This picture was taken at Anglesey, when the championship was very tight at the top with only a few more rounds to go. It shows a post run discussion between the 2021 Champion Steve Miles (left), the 2022 Champion Matt Hillam (centre) and the Championship Sponsor, Steve Broughton (right), who also drives the SBD Dallara with Matt. I was walking back to the garages between trailers when I saw them talking, so rapidly snapped the shot.

Long train running

Event: IAME Round 6 & 7 – PF International

Date: 23-25 September 2022

Photographer: Chris Walker (www.Kartpix.net)

Kit Belofsky leads the huge field of competitors in an IAME Cadet race. The IAME Cadet class provides some breath-taking racing and requires not just a great drive but a tactical approach to get to the front of the pack. That means the start of the races can produce great scenes like this ‘train’ at PFI, with Kit Belofsky out front and Jorge Edgar just peeking out from behind ready to make a move.

Clash of Champions

Event: British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy, Pembrey, Round 8

Date: 28th August

Photographer: Tom Banks

Ollie O’Donovan and Derek Tohill battle for position at the joker lap merge point. Rallycross offers lots of unique opportunities for a motor sport photographer: five abreast starts, gravel sections, sideways racing, and guaranteed action. Another unique element is the joker lap – a longer section of the circuit that all competitors must take once in each race. The ‘joker merge’ is often a crunch point for drama and this was a case of right moment, right time.

Under pressure

Event: British Touring Car Championship, Brands Hatch

Date: 8th October

Photographer: Stephen Fisher (www.jakobebrey.com)

BTCC title contenders Tom Ingram and Jake Hill battle through Clearways. Tom was really feeling the pressure from Jake in this race, and he was using every inch of the circuit he could to stay ahead. Using a low down angle allowed me to see Ingram’s two wheels lifting, showing that he was really working hard to keep ahead.

On the town

Event: Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally, Dunoon

Date: 24th June

Photographer: Gavin Brown (West Coast Photos)

The Mitsubishi Evo 9 of Michael Binnie and Claire Mole runs through the closed street stages of Dunoon. Extra lights are fitted on the car in readiness for the two Friday night stages which included a 14-miler. The Argyll Rally was the final round of the 2022 KNC Scottish Rally Championship and was won by David Bogie and Cameron Fair giving them both Driver Co-Driver titles.

Through the trees

Event: British Hillclimb Championship, Doone

Date: 19th June

Photographer: Stuart Wing

Scott Moran heading off on his qualifying run at Doune. This was my first visit to the Scottish hillclimb, and I noticed this spot through the trees as I headed back down to the paddock. I thought ‘this is perfect for a picture’ and it turned out well with this shot.

Eat my dust

Event: AWDC Comp Safari Championship, Walters Arena

Date: 22nd March

Photographer: Mike Hoyer (www.jakobebrey.com)

Chris Bird drives into the action during the season’s opening round. It was hard to pick a single picture to sum up the championship from this event, as the whole day was full of great action! This wide angle shot helps to show the type of terrain these vehicles compete on, as well as the huge clouds of dust that follow them.

Ready to roar

Event: British Drag Racing Championship, Super Pro, European Finals

Date: 10th September

Photographer: Dave Jones

Daniel Giles lights up the tyres before a qualifying pass. Daniel carries the No 1 on his of the Giles & Hartley Racing Super Pro Dragster having won last season’s national championship. A bumper crowd was out at Santa Pod, so the camera was held high to capture the full bank in the background, with the dragster shot from behind to fill the foreground.

Chasing gold

Event: British GT, Donington Park

Date: 15th October

Photographer: Mike Hoyer (www.jakobebrey.com)

Ian Loggie under a double rainbow in qualifying for the season’s final round. This rainbow appeared during a rain disrupted qualifying session, which called for a change to wet tyres. Most of the cars were unable to set a representative time and came straight into the pits, but fortunately one of those that opted to continue was Ian Loggie, who won the championship pot of gold on the following day.

Jump to it

Event: British Rally Championship, Nicky Grist Stages

Date: 9th July

Photographer: Jakob Ebrey (www.jakobebrey.com)

Eamonn Kelly and Conor Mohan on their way to winning the Junior BRC category of the Nicky Grist Rally. Epynt is one of my favourite places for a rally and I’ve had so many amazing adventures over the years there. On this shot, you can see the red flags flying for the military ranges in the background. It was taken on a remote camera operated from about 100m away while photographing the same jump from another angle!

In the spotlight

Event: British Historic Rally Championship, Rally North Wales

Date: 26th March

Photographer: Jakob Ebrey (www.jakobebrey.com)

A Mk 1 Escort blasts through sunbeams in a classic forest stage backdrop. I love rallying, it’s the best! I used to own a Mk1 Escort, so seeing one blasting through the early morning stages is exactly what rallying means to me. The trees, the sunlight, the dust; there was no need for any composition from me – nature did it all itself.

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