It was still quite chilly and the track was damp for the first qualifying/practice session of the 2009 Ma5da Racing season, much like the test day earlier in the month. I started the session at Brooklands, infront of the BRDC stand and witnessed a few spins early on in the session. It was also good to see some new competitiors (and of course competitors from the 2008 season, but with new cars/paintjobs).

Charles Plumley spinning - Priory

Alyn Robson & Kevin Middleton - Woodcote

Ben Robinson - Wootcote

Justing Newman & Carl Powell - Brooklands

It had warmed up a bit by the time the Ma5das came out for their first race, for this session I headed round to the Abbey chicane, but unlike the test day, I was able to get trackside for some lower angle shots. After a long winter break it was good to see the field of 30+ MX-5s coming straight at me nose to tail at racing speeds.

Lots of Ma5das - Abbey chicane

Another thing that hadn’t changed from 2008, was T0m Roche being the fastest man out there, leading from the front to win the race. For most of the race he was being chased down by Scott Kirlew and new guy Rob Boston, in his distinctive yellow and black car.

Tom Roche leading Scott Kirlew & Rob Boston through Abbey chicane

The early intervention of the safety car made sure that that the pack was closed up for most of the race, although I’m sure it still would have been close racing without any outside help!

Steve Greensmith heading a close battle - Abbey chicane

For the second race, weather played more of a part, rain had been threatening all the way into the lead up to the race, but only a few spots actually fell during the race. For this race I positioned myself at Luffield and moved round towards Woodcote, which is really the bread and butter of shooting at Silverstone. The location did not disappoint, with lots of action throughout the race. Although the action really started before the cars even reached the complex with both cars on the front row having problems, 2nd place Carl Powell had car trouble and after a slow lap pulled in to the pits and pole sitter Tom Roche fell off the black stuff and rejoined in 18th place. Amid the chaos experience proved to be the winner with Steve Greensmith and Paul Sheard coming through first and second. Meanwhile, the usual suspects from 2008, Jonathan Greensmith and Tom Roche, were both on a charge coming up through the field.

Carl Powell about to be lapped by the leaders - Luffield

Jonathan Greensmith battling through the field - Luffield

Tom Roche overtaking everyone - Luffield

Having passed everyone else the last few laps returned to a classic Greensmith – Roche battle, with Jonathan managing to hold on to the lead for the chequered flag.

Jonathan Greensmith just managing to keep the lead from Tom Roche

There was even a guest appearance at the end of the race!

I'm sure that body kit is against the regs...

Last week Ma5da Racing had their pre-season test/media day at Silverstone, before the first round of the championship there on the 28th March. I tagged along to get some photos for them, it was good to be back shooting motorsport again, after what felt like a very long winter break, which was infact only a few months long.

I started the day at Priory, as by the time I’d waited for the circuit office to open and said hello to various people there wasn’t much time to get a good location, so Priory, next to the paddock had to do for the first of 4 sessions:

Jonathan Greensmith - Ma5da Racing Test

As the International circuit was in use, which was a first for me at Silverstone, I decided to take a wander round the far end of the circuit to try some new angles, at the end of my wander I found myself at Bridge corner, which is part of both the International and GP circuits, another angle I’d not shot from before. In addition to some decent slow pans as the cars came round Bridge corner there was the added compositional element of the bridge itself:

Under Bridge - Ma5da Racing Test

For the third session I went to Abbey and climbed the terrace to shoot over the catch fencing. On the full GP circuit Abbey is pretty much just a straight, but on the International circuit, it is a hair pin:

Abbey Hairpin - Ma5da Racing Test

For the last session of the day I headed to Luffield, a corner which I’ve always avoided at Silverstone, due to all the other photographers being there, but since I was on my own I decided to try it out. I was quite pleased, I was able to get shots of both the entry and exit of the double right hander, so may give it another shot when I return for the race at the end of this month. This shot from Luffield was my favourite shot of the day:

Leading the pack round Luffield - Ma5da Racing Test