After another year spent at my home racetrack (*) (Le Castellet – France)… Here is my selection of 25 pictures, among the shootings I did in 2023.
(*) Precision: despite appearances, it does not mean I camp full time at Le Castellet 😁.
Mythical car and livery, threatening sky, dramatic angle: some ingredients of a succulent picture are there.
The 10000 Tours always host emblematic Jaguar models. This XJR-9 (chassis J12-C-188) finished third at the 1988 Daytona 24h (driven by Cheever/Watson/Dumfries), and still bugles the ecstatic sound of the seven liters V12!
Top photo :
Peter Auto Dix Mille Tours – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/800 sec. | f/8,0 | ISO 200 | 17mm
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Official tests – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/9 | ISO 100 | 102mm
I needed to sit and rest but could not resist to continue shooting… The guardrail provides a linear foreground on which the CSA Audi R8 LMS GT3 seems to slide. I took care to avoid the vertical stakes that spoil the speed impression: not so easy…
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Official tests – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/160 sec. | f/4 | ISO 200 | 135mm
He swapped from an Audi to a BMW, but still in the WRT squadron… Valentino Rossi continued his 4-wheel learning in an upward curve, achieving with his teammates his first podiums in the GT World Challenge, and his first victory at Misano.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – 6h race – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/14 | ISO 100 | 105mm
The real Star of GT is (was) him. More fast and reliable as ever, Raffaele Marciello alias ‘Lello’ will move to well-deserved challenges next year, in the BMW Hypercar team. To say goodbye to AMG-Mercedes, nothing better than a dazzling victory at Le Castellet (4 cars swept in a single lap to take the lead !!!), and a triumph in the GT3 championship.
European Le Mans Series – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/80 sec. | f/7,1 | ISO 400 | 17mm
‘Atmosphere catching’ in the GMB Motorsport Aston Martin pits.
Ultimate Cup Series – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/10 sec. | f/5,6 | ISO 400 | 17mm
Is it the famous ‘blue hour’? I believe yes.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Official tests – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/1000 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 135mm
This Barwell Motorsport mechanics performs tires fitting and some last adjustments before releasing the car on track.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Official tests – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/13 | ISO 100 | 115mm
The Hexis liveries are always classy and neat; this was already the case in the era of the McLaren MP4-12C or of the Aston Martin GT1. Don’t you think this CLRT Porsche 911 GT3R is worthy of her glorious elders?
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – 6h race – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 100-400mm f5,6 | 1/1000 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 400mm
This is my tribute to the Le Mans centenary winners. Same team (AF Corse Ferrari), same livery, and partially the same lineups.
European Le Mans Series – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/640 sec. | f/8 | ISO 250 | 17mm
No helmet, no fireproof suit… Did I catch these mechanics in an unacceptable non-compliant situation? No… They are simply proceeding with pitstop training.
European Le Mans Series – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/14 | ISO 100 | 92mm
Once again, I play with the guardrails (in the Mistral straight, this time).
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – 6h race – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/1000 sec. | f/5 | ISO 200 | 175mm
Philipp Sager (Dinamic GT) is a lucky guy: he will have the honor of driving the gorgeous Ford Mustang GT3 in 2024!
International GT Open – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/1000 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 26mm
Disturbing distortions…
International GT Open – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/1000 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 27mm
In 2023, the Ferrari 296 GT3 broke into the various GT Championships around the world. From some perspectives, I feel that her line is not very well balanced, but this angle and the colorful livery clearly showcase her well.
International GT Open – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/800 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 38mm
Unpacking and packing the cars, the parts, the tires, all the logistics and the pits infrastructures… In addition to their main duties, this is the life of the mechanics during a race weekend.
Peter Auto Dix Mille Tours – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 100-400mm f5,6 | 1/1000 sec. | f/8 | ISO 400 | 400mm
The mild light that every photographer seeks is like a gentle touch on this bestial 1974 Porsche 911 RSR Turbo! On September 1, 18:47, I feel so gooooood at the ‘Virage du Camp’!
Peter Auto Dix Mille Tours – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/13 | ISO 100 | 70mm
Ligier’s story isn’t just about F1: before reaching the single-seaters summit, the JS2 symbolized the glory days of Ligier in endurance. Powered by a Maserati engine (until 1974), then by a Cosworth DFV (1975), the JS2 won the Tour Auto and finished second at Le Mans, with Lafosse and Chasseuil.
Peter Auto Dix Mille Tours – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/640 sec. | f/8 | ISO 100 | 70mm
From Ligier to Ferrari F1… A little nod to Clay Regazzoni’s glorious Ferrari 312T.
Peter Auto Dix Mille Tours – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/500 sec. | f/8 | ISO 100 | 135mm
This Obermaier Porsche 962 (962-155) wears a famous logo.
But in 1993, it was the cause of a conflict between the ACO and the team, which was initially denied the right to compete at LM under these colors. Curiously (when one knows the inflexibility of the ACO), they finally gave in before the race, and our 962 crossed the line in 7th position, with the unofficial title of first Porsche classified.
SRO Racing festival 2023 – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 100-400mm f5,6 | 1/1250 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 370mm
The GT2 pack settles on the grid, led by the LP Racing Audi R8 LMS GT2 that set the pole position. Her lineup (Hassid/Beltoise) is the laureate of the European GT2 2023 season.
Porsche Carrera Cup France – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/4 | ISO 800 | 122mm
In the mood for incandescent brakings… Like the one of Jeremy Sarhy (Racing Technology Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) at the entrance of the ‘S de la Verrerie’.
Porsche Carrera Cup France – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 100-400mm f5,6 | 1/1250 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 400mm
Shark attack… The ABM Porsche 911 GT3 Cup eats the kerbs of the ‘Chicane Nord’.
SRO Racing festival 2023 – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/200 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 29mm
This ‘art car’ (GPA Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4) is signed by the Belgian Jean-Luc Moerman. He is a self-taught and iconoclastic artist, known for his street murals.
Deux Tours d’Horloge – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/100 sec. | f/8 | ISO 400 | 17mm
From this angle, the Chevron B16 (Chateaux Sport Auto) seems to have a family resemblance to some illustrious Ferrari…
The only 24h uninterrupted historic cars endurance race in the world (!) was back for its 17th edition. Among other drivers, Benoit Treluyer (3 times Le Mans winner with Audi), Jacques Nicolet (Head of Ligier Automotive and 9 times LM driver), and the Swiss Patric Niederhauser (Audi factory driver in GT3) were entering the event, not hesitating to lend a hand to the mechanics… The Endurance passion is still alive!
Deux Tours d’Horloge – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/800 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 112mm
Finally, some relief after 24 hours of emotional rollercoaster… Philippe Hottinger, alias ‘Nelson’, emerges from his Palmyr March 81 S, before stepping on the podium in 3rd position.
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