Anglia Motor Sport Club Snetterton Stage Rally - 10 February 2024

Round 5 Snetterton

The Pistonclick team have been following the MGJ Engineering Circuit Rally Championship and it’s predecessors for quite a few years now and are quite familiar with the cars that turn out for this very popular winter motorsports event. What we are not so familiar with is the drivers. We have spoken to a few and had race reports included from the teams over the years but not this year, yet!

What we do at every event is cover the viewpoint of the paying spectator photographer and report back via the website on what we find. Generally speaking, the good news for this race series is that it is a positive review.

The only fly in the ointment for me and a few of the other spectators was the issue with the stage maps. Usually these can be viewed online before the event so you have some understanding of where the cars will be going. Let’s take a step back and look at the MGJ Engineering Circuit Rally Championship in general so you understand my viewpoint.

There are usually six to eight pairs of stages that will utilise the track, service roads, paddock and grassed areas of the circuit. Putting out all of the cones and tyre walls is time consuming and not easy to change between stages. So to maximise the stages some of them will run in a reverse direction, miss out some sections and have other sections added.

This is a great test of the drivers and co-drivers skills and is good for the spectators as it not repetitive with different views of the cars competing. What it is not good for is the spectator without a map as you don’t have a clue of which direction the cars are coming from or if they are even going to be making an appearance where you are standing.

Previously the stage maps have been available to view and download prior to the event. I had a quick look a week before the event and they were available but I didn’t download them. On the evening before when I checked they had disappeared with a note on a Facebook page that you would have to buy a programme on the day to see the maps.

In all of the reports I have written over the years covering these events I have recommended buying a programme so I’m not adverse to buying one as they are usually packed with good information and articles to read between stages. 

What I don’t agree with is being forced to spend another £5 on top of the £22 entry fee to fully enjoy my day trackside, and talking to my fellow spectators I was not alone in that opinion. Also, this is the first time I have been approached more than once by programme sellers so there was a definite process put in place to release more cash from the spectators. 

This left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, considering the tough time some people going are through with the cost of living crisis. However, my faith in humanity was restored somewhat by one of the Marshals who gave his programme to a older gentleman who was confused by what direction the cars would be appearing from - top work as always the Orange Army.

Besides the stage map shenanigans, the event was a good as last year with perhaps a smaller number of competitors. Fortunately the stages were quite similar to last year so I wasn’t completely blind as to where to go.

The off road section was in approximately the same place - infield between the corners of Brundle and Murray’s. This was a popular viewing point for obvious reasons, plenty of muddy action. 

There were a few cars that over shot the exit to this stage striking the concrete wall. One Escort stalled here only for another to try and squeeze past, and paint was swapped, but seconds count in this game.

Due to the nature of circuit rallying there are going to be areas that will be placed out of bounds which usually, you as a spectator will have access to on a standard race day.

As a spectator photographer I have in my mind’s eye images that I would like to capture on my visit track side. So when I strolled round to Nelson to meet up with my shooting buddies for the day I was a little disappointed to find most of that corner was not available to spectate from.

Safety first is always the best policy, so if the shot I was after was not to be I would have to look for alternatives. It didn’t take long. One title shot in the bag to headline the report and a few nice captures for my portfolio.

As I had an idea of where the action hot spots would be happening from previous visits, I headed to Murray’s. A left hand corner with some fierce curbs that if hit by the front tyres would lift the car into the air for a dramatic shot.

However, there was a bit of a traffic jam as the competitors queued to enter the stage so I had time and headed over to grab some arty shots.

As the cars headed to the stage I continued to Murray’s and I could have predicted it, they were heading away from me so I wasn’t going to get the shot I wanted. If only I had some cash on me, which I didn’t, I could have purchased a programme and picked a better viewing location.

So I headed to the paddock where a slalom of concrete and cones had been laid out allowing the spectators to get quite close to the action.

Reviewing my shots it was obvious that the small army of plastic cones are quite distracting, as I expected. I have included a shot where I have used my somewhat inadequate photoshop skills and removed some of the more intrusive elements.

There were better locations to take a shot, but I also spent some time here as it was arguably the best place to watch some very good “gymkhana” auto test type skills as the cars slide and accelerate round the twisty course. 

Leaving the heady aroma of burning rubber and hot brakes I headed for Palmer where I expected to get some nice panning pictures without too much of a distracting background. There was quite a delay between the stages so I refuelled and rehydrated and waited while the victims of the last stage were recovered.

I wasn’t disappointed. With the complex track at Palmers, I would be able to get the shots I was after. l also had the cars coming straight at me for a few different shots. It did amuse me that some of the best light of the day for taking photos was in between stages with nothing happening!

Mustn’t complain though as there was biblical rain last year, so a bit of winter sunshine was very welcome.

Photographic Post Script

As the light started to fade away I headed for my car that was parked at Nelson for the trip home. On my way I considered my visit to Snetterton for the Stages which overall had been a pleasant one. The circuit rallying was entertaining as it always is and Snetterton is one of the better circuits for taking photos as there is not much in the way of safety fences.

Camera equipment used for this report was my standard Nikon D500 with a 200-400mm f4 VR2, 70-200mm f2.8 and a 24-70mm f2.8 for the close panning shots. This setup works well but is rather cumbersome and heavy.

Now if I don’t buy a programme for the next 15 years of motorsports events I might be able to save up for the latest state of the art lightweight mirrorless camera!

We are not a results service but here are the winners from the different classes.

As I don’t have a visa for Wales and am scared of sheep I don't expect to cover the next round at Anglesey. The team will be at Donington and the final round at Cadwell.