Photographing the No Limits Endurance at Donington Park

Report By David Harbey

A second Saturday in a row saw me heading north towards Donington Park for two wheeled action. This time it was for No Limits Racing including a 5-hour endurance race. I arrived mid morning to greyish skies and a prospect of a fair bit of “through the fence” shooting. I started near the entrance from the tarmac lake car park at Hollywood about half way through the qualifying sessions. The PistonClick circuit guide can be found here - Donington Park Photography Guide

Whilst the guide focusses on shooting from the inside of the track at Redgate and Hollywood, I was on the outside of the track, somewhere I tend to avoid. A grey morning and the inevitable softness of shooting through the fence at an angle means the shots may “pop” less. Perhaps if I explored some of the editing software available, I might be able to get a sharper, tighter feel to images, but I do have a personal preference for more natural colours rather than overly contrasty and saturated images. Each to their own!

The fence line through Hollywood and down to the Craner Curves does have gaps but, of course, these only permit rear shots – and there can be marshal’s cars and other circuit furniture in the background.

Moving up the hill there’s a different head on shot as the bikes exit Redgate. All the shots so far were with the 500mm prime plus 1.4x teleconverter – so focal length of 700mm – aided by my monopod.

Further towards Redgate and the paddock is now the backdrop. Don’t shoot too early unless you want the bright yellow ambulance in the background … Qualifying for the endurance race had now started and sticker tyres were in evidence on a couple of the competitors. There were a few novice bibs out on track – riders in their first races. There was a lap time difference of 20 seconds between quickest and slowest in qualifying.

The gap in the fences again allowed a clear rear view. I was elsewhere for the race start, but this would be a good spot to shoot from.

By now, I was right up to Redgate.

At Redgate there is a gate (who knew !), for circuit access and thus another fence free shot – a quick pan, but you do need to be on the ball here - or of the rear.

Back to the car for a quick lens change before the afternoon where I was planning to start at the exit of the Melbourne Hairpin (paddock side) and then work my way to Coppice via the Esses. I also grabbed my step as there are points at the Esses and Coppice where the height is useful.

Lens-wise I now had the 300mm prime and 70-200mm zoom plus teleconverter. Racing at the hairpin in the early laps of the support races was typically busy.

It wasn’t such a good day for some –

I worked my way up and down the fence line to get different angles.

My favourite shot of the day at Melbourne.

Time to move on – to the other side of the Melbourne Hairpin – again shooting through the fence towards where the previous shots were taken from in the background.

The final race before the endurance started was for the popular CB500s and Modern / Retro 400s. This shot is taken looking back at the Esses. You can either stand at the top of the grass bank or with the step shoot just above the fence

With 43 teams taking part in the endurance race there would be some good multi bike shots at the Esses in the early laps.

Climbing up the grass bank allows for a panning shot above the fence. Sunday of the weekend included a round of the Armed Forces Inter Services Challenge – the Army had four teams entered in the Endurance race alongside a team from the RAF.

I mentioned the presence of novices – riders wearing orange bibs while they complete enough races to get signatures on their race licence (it’s like the novice cross on the back of race cars). I didn’t see what led up to the following situation, but I can guess. The black and white bikes were circulating closely in first and second for a fair few laps early in the race.

Walking past the end of the fence gives a clear view of the Esses at ground level. Time to get some panning shots of the bikes through the left right chicane known as the Foggy Esses.

If you are quick, you can get them just as they exit the left-hand part of the chicane.

A short walk through the Esses tunnel leads to one of my favourite places at Donington. Stand by the marshal’s post to get a panning shot into the Esses, or a rear shot through the chicane. However, as I discovered at the BSB Test Day, you will need a step (or be on tiptoes) as the rather useful sleeper that used to be there has gone.

Time of day is also important as you are facing south – towards the sun on a good day.

It’s a great overtaking spot too.

Right, off to Coppice and there were promising hints of sunshine. First though the wheelie shot halfway down Starkey’s Straight near where the Dunlop Bridge used to be (that’s aged me !). It’s through the fence and new wooden fencing means you are a little further back than previously.

Timing is important to get the front wheel off the ground and avoid the marshal’s toilet in the background ! There’s a bit of ghosting from the fence on these shots – again more extensive post processing could probably eliminate this more effectively. Regardless, with the bikes at high speed it’s a good place to watch too.

Coppice - my favourite location at Donington; no fence … the sun comes out … there’s a short safety car … the situation was soon resolved. Using the essential step and with no vehicles on the outside of the track to distract in the background, all is good.

Through the Coppice Tunnel to the outside of the challenging double apex corner, it is apparent that some work has been undertaken for vehicles using the perimeter road. We are back to through the fence and if it is bright then you seem to get more ghosting. It would really benefit from some matt black paint on the outside of the fence.

Having got as far as Coppice, I decided to walk back to the tarmac lake round the outside of the circuit. This is heavily fenced so these shots are more of an experiment than anything. These are as the riders head up to McLeans.

Oh, and the sun had come out again at the end of a largely grey and at times chilly day. As I walked up past Craners the warm, early evening light illuminated the riders as they plunged downhill yet another time. 

I called it a day as the teams passed the half way point of their race. My motorsport spectating and photography background was firmly on four wheels until recent years but has expanded thanks to PistonClick. I was reminded yet again that to race on two wheels is challenging, sometimes risky and definitely not for the faint hearted.

To each one of the competitors. I say enjoy your racing – enjoy every time you brake and turn into Redgate, accelerate through Hollywood and then plunge down the Craner Curves. Negotiate the Old Hairpin then accelerate up through Schwantz to McLeans and then the blind, tricky Coppice. Flat out down Starkeys, perhaps lift the front wheel on the crest then brake hard for Foggys. Take just the right amount of kerb and plunge down the hill to the Melbourne Hairpin. Get the braking right before pushing hard back up the hill, brake hard again for Goddards and then pin the throttle past the start line.

I couldn’t do it – I’m glad you can and do!