Jim Clark on motor sport photography

The following excerpt is from the 1964 (revised in 1965) Jim Clark autobiography “Jim Clark at the Wheel”.

You can read the review for this book here.

“While on the subject of communications media, I’d like to say a word or two about motor racing photographers. Somehow they are different and I have many close friends who are photographers for newspapers and magazines. Indeed, one of the things I would like to try when I retire is taking motor racing photographs. I have always been interested in photography but haven’t had the time to develop it (no pun intended !).

I think I know most of the best places to go on the circuits to take pictures and sometimes when I get a bit bored in a race I look out for some of my photographer friends. I remember that I built up a warm friendship with George Phillips of Autosport in my early days and used to delight in either sticking my tongue out at him in practice or trying to spoil his pictures. Whenever I was bored, there was always George to wave to. At other times I would drive very close to him on a corner and try to make him move back.

On some circuits, there are certain spots where you can get really good pictures and at various times in practice I have tried to signal to a photographer to come nearer a corner or move to a different angle. On the next lap, I have checked his position and then on the following lap, maybe flicked the car sideways for him so that he can get a more dramatic picture. This is in no way suggesting that all racing pictures are ‘posed’. I only do this when I’m completely on my own. When I’m in the thick of a race, I am too busy to think about photographers or which way the car is pointing for them. When you think of it though, most people see motor racing for the first time through photographs and they contribute a lot to the development of public interest in motor racing. At school I used to look at racing pictures long before I took any interest in the text matter.”

 

 

Photo courtesy of f1wolf.com

Final numbers from the Jerez test

 

 

 

 

Jerez day three: Rookie Magnussen goes fastest as Red Bull struggle continues

© Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic

 

Kevin Magnussen set the fastest time on the third day of the Jerez pre-season test while Renault-powered teams continued to suffer with technical issues.

It was the first time Magnussen had tested the McLaren this year.

The Dane, who took over from team-mate Jenson Button after the lunchtime break, was over four-tenths quicker than closest challenger Felipe Massa.

“I was pushing but it wasn’t balls to the wall. We will go quicker,” Magnussen said.

“I’m pretty happy about what we did, but I’m especially happy about the laps we got in – and the lap Button did too,” He said.

“The reliability of the car has been much better than we thought it would be.”

It was another strong showing for all Mercedes-powered cars, who filled the top four spots at the end of the day’s running.

Nico Hulkenberg, in the fifth Mercedes-engine car, was in sixth.

Red Bull’s struggles continued into Thursday as they were forced to cut short Daniel Ricciardo’s day with another technical issue.

Renault’s F1 engine chief Rob White told AUTOSPORT the issues won’t be fully fixed by the end of the Jerez test.

“We had objectives for the first test that won’t have been fully realised and therefore the step up we need for Bahrain is absolutely bigger,” he said.

Red Bull have completed 14 laps in three days of running while their expected rivals McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari together completed 212 on Thursday alone.

Marussia entered the track for the first time in 2014 but only managed five laps at the hands of Max Chilton, recording no lap time.

 

Full results below

Brazilian Grand Prix Team-mate Battles

Sebastian Vettel
Standings: Vettel 17, Webber 2

Nine from nine for Vettel and another record to add to the many he has broken in the last five years. Webber was valiantly close to Sebastian in the Australian’s final race and it bodes well for his future World Endurance Championship career. Brazil was one of Mark’s strongest races of 2013 and Sebastian has very much put as much pressure against the incoming Ricciardo as he could. Game on for 2014.

Fernando Alonso
Standings: Alonso 16, Massa 3

Felipe’s last race for Ferrari could have yielded him a podium for the team, but clumsily driving over the cross-hatched pitlane entrance after having been warned previously cost him a final taste of glory. But the race was a great example of the Alonso-Massa partnership. While Felipe fumbled, Fernando kept it on track and delivered the goods.

 

Massa should consider himself lucky he’s been at the team for the last four years.

Jenson Button
Standings: Button 13, Perez 6

In Perez’s final race for McLaren, many hoped he would pull a surprise result out of the bag to cement his place on the grid in 2014. It wasn’t to be and Jenson was the star at McLaren in Brazil, despite qualifying behind Perez. Button secured McLaren’s best result of the year with fourth place and Sergio came in a solid sixth, some seven seconds adrift at the end.

 
Romain Grosjean
Standings: Raikkonen 11, Grosjean 8, Kovalainen 0

Grosjean may have suffered an early race engine failure, the last seen in the V8 era, but qualifying sixth to Kovalainen’s 14th suggested he had the pace to out perform his new team-mate again. Heikki’s disappointing cruise to 14th at the chequered flag did nothing to help him gain a seat in 2014.

 

Nico Rosberg
Standings: Rosberg 7, Hamilton 12

Nico bested Lewis in qualifying and then was the only one of the two Mercedes drivers not to clumsily put himself at risk of a DNF. A penalty for Lewis put the Brit ninth at the end of the race while Nico took the lead early on and came home a solid fifth. Lewis may have come out on top at the end of the year, but for Nico to have scored within 18 points of his team-mate says a lot about the German’s understated talent.

Nico Hulkenberg
Standings: Hulkenberg 17, Gutierrez 1

Nico in qualifying, Nico in the race. A predictable end to 2013 for Sauber and a debut season Gutierrez will prefer to forget in the future.

 

Paul di Resta
Standings: Di Resta 13 Sutil 6

A disappointing race for the Force India drivers, but one that di Resta put himself at the front of the pair for. He’s supposedly off to IndyCar for 2014 and after the last 12 months he’ll probably be looking forward to the change of atmosphere.

 

Valtteri Bottas
Standings: Maldonado 12, Bottas 7

Bottas was on top in qualifying and but for contact with Hamilton would almost definitely have finished in front of Maldonado. Pastor’s negative comments about the team two weeks ago won’t have helped the motivation of the mechanics working on his car. But for 2014 it’s unsure whether or not Massa will be a quicker replacement than Pastor.

Daniel Ricciardo
Standings: Vergne 6, Ricciardo 13

Daniel had the upper hand in a strong qualifying session for Toro Rosso and it was the first time he’d looked equal to JEV in the wet. A single point at the end of the race for the Australian meant he ended the season with 20 points and out-scored his team-mate by one point over their two-year partnership. Daniel now has an enormous hurdle ahead of him with Sebastian Vettel as a team-mate, but he’ll have the self confidence to tackle it face on.

 

Charles Pic
Standings: Pic 12, van der Garde 7

Though van der Garde had the upper hand in qualifying, Pic was lapping strongly before a mechanical failure lead to his retirement. Van der Garde has had a strong debut season and both drivers should be proud of their season, even if they didn’t beat Marussia.

Jules Bianchi
Standings: Bianchi 17, Chilton 3

Max was slower in qualifying and slower in the race. Nothing changes. The team was proud of its 100% finishing rate on Chilton’s car, but a car should be expected to hold together when it’s going as slowly as Chilton was.

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Webber confirms 2015 Bathurst appearance

Mark Webber has confirmed on Twitter he will participate in the 2015 24-hour Liqui-Moly Bathurst endurance race.

It will be the first time the Australian has raced at Bathurst.

Webber will partner Eric Bana and James Tomkins in a Porsche for the weekend.

Webber will begin his 2014 WEC begins on April 20 at Silverstone and will drive the new LMP1 Porsche supercar.

“@griffo346: @AussieGrit Mark will you be driving for Porsche at the Bathurst 12 hour in February 2014?”15 with @EricBana67 @jamestomkins65

— Mark Webber (@AussieGrit) November 26, 2013

United States Grand Prix Team-mate Battles

Sebastian Vettel
Standings: Vettel 16, Webber 2

Vettel continued his run of victories and broke the previous record as he brought home consecutive victory number eight. Pole, fastest lap and having lead almost every race, Sebastian is threatening to push a lot of casual viewers away from the television sets on Sunday. Team-mate Mark Webber showed on Saturday he might have the pace to fight for the win, but being boxed at turn 1 again put him in traffic as his team-mate pushed away in the lead. But for the Lotus’s long seventh gear, it would have been another 1-2 here for Red Bull.

 

Fernando Alonso
Standings: Alonso 15, Massa 3

Massa dropped the ball in qualifying and failed to recover on Sunday. Alonso was steady, if unspectacular. Let’s hope Ferrari moved their focus to 2014 a long time ago – it’ll be embarrassing for them if they have even thought about touching the car in the last six months.

 

Sergio Perez
Standings: Button 12, Perez 6

Perez again as Button floundered in the midfield. Now without a contract, Sergio will be hoping drives like these have improved his chances of picking up a drive next year. Jenson has had the measure of his team-mate for much of the season, so he shouldn’t be too worried about the last couple of races. A defeat in Brazil would be a bit disappointing, though – and would certainly leave McLaren red faced.

 
Romain Grosjean
Standings: Raikkonen 11, Grosjean 7, Kovalainen 0

Grosjean stepped up to the plate again with Kimi absent and recorded his fourth podium result in five races. He’s made a big step up in the last 12 months and should certainly be a prospect for a top team. Kovalainen’s return was less impressive as he suffered the all-to-common woes one-off (or in this case two-off) returnees and debuting drivers seem to go through every first race.

 

Lewis Hamilton
Standings: Rosberg 6, Hamilton 12

Nico cost himself a result on Saturday and while Hamilton wasn’t happy with the the car on Sunday, he scored ten more points than his team-mate on this occasion.

 

Nico Hulkenberg
Standings: Hulkenberg 17, Gutierrez 1

Hulkenberg again at the front, trying to interfere with front runners’ races. Gutierrez again at the back, fighting for crumbs.

 

Paul di Resta
Standings: Di Resta 12, Sutil 6

Sutil binned it, Paul kept it on the track. Easy as that.

 

Valtteri Bottas
Standings: Maldonado 12, Bottas 6

Bottas made a sensational entry into a points result and punched higher than any Williams team member could have imagined. A fantastic result after being re-signed by the team. Pastor needn’t have showed up and put his engine and gearbox through 55 laps for nothing.

 

Daniel Ricciardo
Standings: Vergne 6, Ricciardo 12

Ricciardo had the edge in qualifying and the race. A late-race struggle with the tyres put an end to his hopes of a point this weekend, but the pit wall are well aware of who was faster (and who didn’t get a penalty post race).

 

Giedo van der Garde
Standings: Pic 11, van der Garde 7

Giedo continued his run of supremacy over Pic. It’s been a while since Charles turned up on Sunday.

 

Jules Bianchi
Standings: Bianchi 15, Chilton 3

Max finished last, a lap behind the next guy. Jules beat both Caterhams.

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Magnussen rumour cuts available seats to nine

2013 Formula Renault 3.5 champion Kevin Magnussen is reported to be in the process of finalising a contract with McLaren for 2014.

Kevin is the son of former Formula One driver Jan Magnussen, who competed with McLaren and Stewart between 1995 and 1998.

The Dane, who beat fellow McLaren Young Driver Programme driver Stoffel Vandoorne and Red Bull Junior Team driver Antonio Felix da Costa to the 3.5 title, has been with McLaren since 2010.

While neither McLaren seat has yet to be filled, Jenson Button is believed to be in negotiation for a  contract extension with the team.

Magnussen’s signing would reduce the available seats for 2014 to nine.

Neither Lotus or Force India seats have been filled for next year.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Team-mate Battles

Sebastian Vettel
Standings: Vettel 15, Webber 2

Vettel was top of the field again. A better start might have saved Webber, but being stuck behind Rosberg in the first stint put him 20 seconds behind 20 laps into the race.

 

Fernando Alonso
Standings: Alonso 14, Massa 3

Felipe in qualifying, Fernando in the race (again).

Sergio Perez
Standings: Button 12, Perez 5

A first-lap collision put Button on the back foot and he would never recover. Another strong drive by Perez.

 
Romain Grosjean
Standings: Raikkonen 11, Grosjean 6

Raikkonen was put to the back at the end of qualifying and put himself out in a clumsy move at the first corner. Grosjean was again impressive.

 
Nico Rosberg
Standings: Rosberg 6, Hamilton 11

Hamilton struggled again as Rosberg showed he’s very capable of matching his team-mate. Lewis will be kicking himself that he’s still not making friends with the tyres.

 

 

Nico Hulkenberg
Standings: Hulkenberg 16, Gutierrez 1

Hulkenberg again topped qualifying but was put back with a drive-through penalty after an unsafe release. All things considered, he showed a lot more pace than Esteban.

 

Paul di Resta
Standings: Di Resta 11, Sutil 6

Di Resta had Sutil’s cover in both qualifying and the race. No contest this weekend.

 

Pastor Maldonado
Standings: Maldonado 12, Bottas 5

Pastor on top on Saturday and was in contention for points until the late stage of the race. Is there another point out there for Williams in 2013? It seems unlikely.

 

 

Daniel Ricciardo
Standings: Vergne 6, Ricciardo 11

Ricciardo on top on Saturday but a disaster start put him well behind. Vergne looked to have Dan’s measure for most of the race, but as his one-stop strategy fell apart the Frenchman dropped quickly.

 
Giedo van der Garde
Standings: Pic 11, van der Garde 6

Van der Garde on top in qualifying and the race. He’s shown himself at least the equal of Pic in the second half of 2013.

 

 

Jules Bianchi
Standings: Bianchi 14, Chilton 3

Jules was in front again, where he should be against Chilton. Max was nowhere on Saturday and, despite starting ahead after Bianchi’s penalty, was again behind at the end of the race.

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Vettel again on top in FP3

Sebastian Vettel has topped the third and final practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, edging out team-mate Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton in third place.

Vettel’s fastest time of 1:41.349 was two tenths faster than Webber’s best.

It was the second session in a row the newly crowned world champion has topped.

Vettel and Webber were fastest and second-fastest respectively in practice 2.

Lewis Hamilton was under one hundredth of a second slower than Webber.

Nico Rosberg followed behind his team-mate, while Grosjean headed the Lotus pair again and Jenson Button rounded out the top six.

A strong showing from the Sauber drivers left Hulkenberg and Gutierrez with the seventh and eighth fastest times.

Ferrari’s poor practice showing continued, with Fernando Alonso setting the 11th fastest lap time while Felipe Massa came in 14th.

 

Full times below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Times courtesy of F1Fanatic.co.uk

 

Seb testing out his new lid design for this race. 4 stars for his 4 titles and with a classic Roman IV on top #V4TTEL pic.twitter.com/55XKGLmIu7

— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) November 2, 2013

Vettel quickest in Abu Dhabi FP2

Sebastian Vettel has gone fastest in the second practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend as Red Bull began to show their pace.

Lap times were seconds faster than they had been in the weekend’s first session as the sun went down.

Lewis Hamilton was again near the front, albeit over three tenth of a second slower than Vettel’s best time.

Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg and Sergio Perez rounded out the top six.

Full results below.

Times courtesy of Formula1.com

Chequered flag #AbuDhabiGP, FP2 over. Seb finishes in P1 with 1:41.335, just ahead of Mark, then HAM, RAI, ROS, PER, BUT, ALO, HUL, and MAS.

— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) November 1, 2013