Here are 25 pictures I selected, within my 2024 shots.
I did not post so much in GT Report this year (only for the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS), so it’s time to amend myself, and present to you a panel of the motorsports events for which I was accredited.
Top photo :
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Official tests – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/800 sec. | f/8,0 | ISO 200 | 17mm
This top picture could be entitled ‘cloudy day at Le Castellet’ .
I choose it as a cover because:
- the Mclaren 720 is my favorite GT3,
- the angle of the picture is adding drama, and look at these ground reflections!
- the cloud shape looks like a jumping dolphin (got it ?),
- the attitude of the lonely bored woman on the right reminds me about one of my favorite paintings of Edward Hopper (“New York Movie”) .
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Official tests – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/13 | ISO 100 | 98mm
Action!
I already told you the Mclaren 720S was my favourite GT3. Add to this the mild light of a March afternoon end in Provence, and you have all the criteria that make her appear here…
Rallye Monte Carlo tests January 2024
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/800 sec. | f/6.3 | ISO 200 | 80mm
This picture is about the immensity of the pre-Alps mountains countryside, somewhere in the heights of the city of Gap. The tree on the left proudly wears its flamboyant winter colors, and… ah yes, there is a race car also , the Hyundai WRC of Mikkelsen / Eriksen.
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
If you witness a surprising race car livery (Barwell Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO 2) and busy tyremen in action, then you can think about doing a nice shot.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Official tests – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/250 sec. | f/4 | ISO 400 | 50mm
The loneliness of the actor before entering the scene…
The Belgian Gilles Magnus concentrates prior to going behind the steering wheel of his Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Official tests – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 100-400mm f5,6 | 1/1250 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 400mm
I like the aggressive look, shape and color of this Century Motorsport BMW M4 GT3, and, as a bonus, there are those subtle headlight reflections on the tarmac…
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Official tests – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/100 sec. | f/7.1 | ISO 320 | 98mm
Driver swap briefing, between Mark Sansom and Nicolai Kjaergaard, in a nice color harmony!
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS – Official tests – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/100 sec. | f/11 | ISO 100 | 102mm
Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO (Maximilian Götz / Adam Christodoulou / Thomas Drouet).
It is a little tribute to the Boutsen VDS typical orange and black livery, topped with the VDS feline.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS race – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/500 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 200mm
What a beast!
Well done CSA Racing Audi; your mechanics, gladly striking the pose, had great success with the media…
Grand Prix de France Historique – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/1000 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 40mm
Nowadays, these vintage work overalls give such a touch of class… I like the ‘biblical’ attitude of the mechanics, devotedly leaning over the Ferrari 312 B3 F1 1974, driven in career by Clay Regazzoni. I also like the structure of the image, with the light window in the background, from which the crowd is trying to witness the scene.
Grand Prix de France Historique – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 100-400mm f5,6 | 1/1250 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 400mm
An American saga…
Two-in-one picture: the Ford GT1 2010 and the Dodge Viper 2000 are two magnificent non-contemporary monsters, meeting on the track and fighting at the North Chicane.
Grand Prix de France Historique – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/1000 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 29mm
‘Rooftop with a view’…
It is one of my favorites, due to:
- the point of view,
- the subject, the Maserati 250F Formula 1 showing her guts – imagine that JM Fangio himself was crowned world champion behind the wheel of a 250F!,
- the composition with the mechanics, the spectators, that are respectfully keeping their distance, and the lines graphics.
I was standing here at the good moment; sometimes photography is as simple as that.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS race – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/11 | ISO 100 | 120mm
Here I’m satisfied with the speed rendering, and for a good reason. We are in the 1850m Mistral straight without chicane; the Sky Tempesta Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 is running fast and it is not easy for me to get a successful panning here!
International GT Open – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/800 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 85mm
Isn’t she impressive with her deployed elytra?
International GT Open – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/400 sec. | f/8 | ISO 400 | 200mm
The Sunday race of the International GT Open was interrupted by a rainstorm, provoking a red flag. At restart, I leaned against the pit wall and shot, as the pack was passing by. It rewarded me with this trail of headlights following the Scuderia Villorba Corse Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO (Jim Pla / Michael Blanchemain).
International GT Open meeting – F4 Italia – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/400 sec. | f/6,3 | ISO 400 | 165mm
The International GT Open hosts support races, like the F4 Italia.
The British Freddie Slater (Prema Racing) outrageously dominated this championship, more than 100 points above his competitors. Who knows, maybe I captured a future Formula 1 Star?
International GT Open – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/13 | ISO 100 | 110mm
Pirates emblem? You had to dare, GetSpeed Mercedes did it!
Porsche Carrera Cup France – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/800 sec. | f/5 | ISO 200 | 70mm
Some teams opt for a more peaceful identity. Each year ABM Porsche proposes great art car liveries. After geometrical figures in 2022 and aviation-style shark noses in 2023, the 2024 trend was on superb paradisiac island inspiration!
Peter Auto Dix Mille Tours – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/1000 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 110mm
Far from these eccentric liveries, this Porsche 962 (chassis 962-142) wears the mega-classic Momo dress. I love the 962, the Endurance ‘weltmeister’ of the 80s, and I think this one is well showcased here. The blue line drawn on the pitlane, and the metal structure both guide the gaze to the subject.
Peter Auto Dix Mille Tours – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/10 | ISO 100 | 70mm
Does a masterpiece of academic sculpture need a complex livery?
This 1969 Ferrari 312 P enters the ‘S de la Verrerie’ curves in the splendor of its fluid scarlet beauty… and in the ecstatic symphony of its 3.0l V12!
Peter Auto Dix Mille Tours – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 100-400mm f5,6 | 1/800 sec. | f/8 | ISO 320 | 400mm
From a vintage classic to a modern classic, from the Italian flamboyance to the German rigour (cliché!): the Audi R8 LMP is no less than the most dominant prototype of all time. This cold monster achieved 63 wins out of 79 entries, and 5 Le Mans triumphs out of 6 participations! Here the new toy in the collection of François Perrodo exits from the ‘Virage du Camp’ corner. This chassis id 607 was a spare factory car, never raced before in career.
Peter Auto Dix Mille Tours – Le Castellet
Nikon D7100 + 17-50mm f2,8 | 1/1800 sec. | f/8 | ISO 200 | 17mm
In German, ‘CSL’ stands for ‘Coupe Sport Leichtbau’, and these 3 letters represent something for any BMW-ist. Then if you are lucky enough to have 2 instances in the frame, in their famous factory colors… I took care to keep in the foreground the signature of this model, her rear wing that justified her ‘Batmobile’ nickname…
SRO Racing Festival (Alpine Elf Europa Cup) – Le Castellet
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/1600 sec. | f/5 | ISO 200 | 70mm
A pitlane full of Alpine! In the French racing car microcosm, it is not often we have a true success story…
Ultimate Cup Series Europe
Nikon D7500 + 70-200mm f4 | 1/80 sec. | f/11 | ISO 100 | 86mm
I could not resist showing in my portfolio this Porsche Cup in the classic ‘Interscope’ livery: do you remember the 935 K3 Kremer?
SRO Racing Festival (Championnat de France FFSA GT)
Nikon D7100 + 100-400mm f5,6 | 1/320 sec. | f/6 | ISO 400 | 290mm
The Night is falling on the Circuit Paul Ricard. The Signes curve is a classic spot at that moment, where one can catch the dusk atmosphere. I captured the whole Mistral straight (cut by the North chicane) full of car headlights, up to the surrounding Sainte Baume hills in the far distance.
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