So I was at Spa to see Toyota win last weekend...

[Ciaran Mk1]

I have a full race report here so check it out
http://www.autolifers.com/event-fia-...-hours-of-spa/

This is my second year at the 6 hours of Spa and was an epic race by all accounts!
This year was a little different to last years however. For one thing, I had knowledge of the layout of the track and could better position myself to take pictures. Plus the day afterwards, I would be driving the track for the first time myself!!
The better half got me tickets for Spa as an xmas present which included two PAX laps with a professional driver (I got Marc Duez) followed by a tour of the facilities and then two laps in my own car!



The better half get me tickets for Spa as an xmas present which included two PAX laps with a professional driver followed by a tour of the facilities, and then two laps in my own car!
The passenger laps were in a Megane RS 265 with Marc Duez at the wheel. The guy was awesome and in the two laps he showed me loads in terms of breaking points, lines and gearing. This left me REALLY stoked for my own laps!



Good news: The car didn't break
Bad news: I had to stay behind a "pace car" and "couldn't overtake"
This meant I had to trundle around at a relatively easy pace or else drop back to crawling pace on the straights so I could attack the corners. So I did what anybody else would do and switched off traction control and made the most of it!
Needless to say I have some unfinished business with Spa so I hope to be back before the year is out to get a proper track day in.

[Ciaran Mk1]

But the race itself was epic! The toyota's are really REALLY fast and they are really putting it to Audi and Porsche.
Toyota seem in the strongest position to take Le Mans this year though, going by the first two races at least. Then again, 24 hours is a long time!



I couldn't get over the noise (or the lack of!) of the Audi's. In comparison to the rest of the field, all you hear is air displacement really!







In contrast, the Aston Martins were just brutal. Every time one passed you would shudder a bit, but in a good way!





Radillion (Eau Rouge) is the only corner on a racetrack where you experience a G force in all directions. The fact they don't lift off for this corner is even more impressive!







But what I enjoyed the most was trying to get these low shutter speed pans through the trees. I only got it right a couple of times, but each time I did, it was an explosion of color and gave a good idea of the speed they reach on the Kemmel straight.



Next weekend, I'm off to Cologne to see the HQ of the Toyota Le Mans operation, TMG Europe, and then a day at the Nurburgring for a round of the VLN (and maybe a couple of laps afterwards ). I am gonna be eating soup and raw potatoes for the next while to get through this month, but to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way!!


Ciaran


So if you have time, take a look at the article and let me know what you think. It takes me a long time to put these together and it's all out of my own pocket, so hopefully it's worth all the time and effort!

http://www.autolifers.com/event-fia-...-hours-of-spa/

[mfbmike]

Eau Rogue.

<3

[Wise]

Epic pics of perhaps the worlds most beautiful track.

Love Spa. So jealous.

[cycleboy]

Very cool! I'd love to get to that track. I like your shots showing a lot of speed with the background.

I was at Laguna Seca last weekend. Same event I've been going to for 16 years, but this is the first time it is the TUSC series. They split the categories so there were 2 X 2Hr races, which actually turned out good because both races were really clean and competitive. Support races were Conti Tires Challenge, Lambo Super Trofeo, GT3 Cup, and Miatas.

I rented a 70-200 f2.8L IS lens and it definitely made me get some of the best shots I've taken at the races!

Here are a few:

IMG_3866 by cycleboy12, on Flickr

IMG_3897 by cycleboy12, on Flickr
IMG_3924 by cycleboy12, on Flickr
IMG_3967 by cycleboy12, on Flickr
[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5318/14141887124_e6***153da_b.jpg[/IMG]IMG_3924 by cycleboy12, on Flickr

More at flickr, and more to come as I get a chance to go over them and post them up.

I haven't driven the track yet, only ridden my road bike on it.

[Ciaran Mk1]

Originally Posted by mfbmike

Eau Rogue.

<3

Such a scary corner when you drive it in person for the first time!! But what a beautiful track, can't wait to get back out there!


@ Cyceboy, awesome pictures! I've heard that Flying Lizard are making the trip over to Le Mans again this year, will be interesting to see how they get on in GTE Pro

[Crazy Drew]

Wow, thanks for the pics. I need to pay attention to prototypes again. I kinda stopped watching when I was tired of Audi dominating everything.

Awesome pics, awesome cars and an awesome track. Thank you again.

[cycleboy]

Funny, Flying Lizard's sister car to the one pictured above had the GTD race won, had led from the green and with a 10-15 sec lead on the last lap.

And they ran out of fuel on the way down from the Corkscrew!

Looking forward to watching Le Mans, another race I need to see in person someday!

[stevesnj]

One of the great F1 tracks. Very nice!

[Grassroots_BRZ]

[FRSupra]

Which model/picture was powered by Toyota?

[Dezoris]

A lot of expensive junk out there, good stuff!

[Ciaran Mk1]

Originally Posted by FRSupra

Which model/picture was powered by Toyota?

In the article it's the blue and white prototype car with the closed roof. Totota also supply engines to the only non-hybrid LMP1 team, Rebellion Racing. Rebellions cars look awesome too but they are way off the pace of the hybrid cars