I wanted to choose 10 rally photos which meant something to me. These are not necessarily my ‘best’ ever pictures, instead they have context that makes them special. Here I explain why…
Elfyn Evans & Scott Martin, Ford Fiesta WRC – Rally Sweden 2019
My friend Tom Banks took me to this corner, he convinced me it was good for action. I had to accept he was totally right on the location; but I had to show him that I can actually take decent photos!
Ken Block & Alex Gelsomino, Ford Escort Cossie V2 – Rally International du Valais 2019
I love working for Ken Block, he’s the only driver who asks me where I will go on the stages. He always asks Alex Gelsomino to mark his film crew’s locations into his pacenotes. Ken and I actually discussed this jump in detail beforehand, so I felt slightly under pressure to get the shot. I’d set up a remote camera for this one, Ken was the first car on the road and I couldn’t see or hear him approach. He did his bit and, thank God, I did mine. Happy Hoonigan, even happier McMaster.
Malcolm Wilson & Bryan Thomas, Ford Escort RS Cosworth – 1993 RAC Rally
I grew up wanting to photograph racing cars and I realized my childhood dream, covering the Formula 1 grands prix in the early 1990s. But some winter sunshine and a jump at Chatsworth House in 1993 changed everything. This was pretty much the first decent photo I took of a rally car, and so began a love affair with the sport.
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya, Toyota Corolla WRC – 1998 Rally GB
The 1998 WRC had the most dramatic of conclusions and I was in the right place, at the right time, to capture it. Luis Moya is one of the best friends I ever made in the sport and I can still feel his anguish and despair at this moment.
Richard Burns & Robert Reid, Subaru Impreza WRC – Rally Australia 2001
I knew about this little crest for some years beforehand, but it was fairly inaccessible in the Australian bushland. In 2001 I was the only photographer to go there and the action didn’t disappoint. Most people have seen my crazy photo of Colin McRae from this jump, but this one of Richard Burns was special too, particularly as he was the Best Man at my wedding that year and he went on to win the 2001 World Championship.
Gilles & Hervé Panizzi, Peugeot 206 WRC – Safari Rally 2002
I covered the 2002 Safari Rally in a helicopter – budgets were bigger back then! I was dropped off in the middle of nowhere and the heli flew on to another location. Waiting for the cars I saw animal footprints on the ground and I convinced myself they were big-cat pawprints. When the Masai boy appeared, I felt safe. I pointed at the prints and said ‘Simba?’, he just smiled. He can see lions almost every day, but on that day in 2002 he was only interested in the silver French ones.
Petter Solberg & Phil Mills – Rally GB 2002
Petter Solberg is a man who knows how to celebrate a win. This was his first one in WRC and I got a good champagne soaking. A dozen years later Petter was still doing the same stuff to me when I was photographing him winning in World Rallycross. I worked out recently that Petter is the person I have taken the most photos of, in the whole world (sorry to my family!).
Harri Rovanperä & Risto Pietiläinen, Peugeot 307 WRC – Rally New Zealand 2004
Another rally in a helicopter, this time using it properly for some aerial photography. New Zealand is a favorite country of mine and probably the most photographic of them all. We should have been back there for WRC in 2020, a trip I was really looking forward to.
Sébastien Loeb & Sébastien Ogier – Rallye de France 2010
Citroën put themselves under massive pressure to win this rally. I was working for the team and given fantastic access. In today’s PR-polished world, this image of the two greatest drivers of their era, sharing some van space for a quiet lunch, is quite unique. It is my favorite photograph of the two Sebs together.
Kimi Räikkönen – Rallye de France 2010
Also shot in France 2010, but unlike my photograph of the two Sebs, this is a study of pure irreverence. Love him or loathe him, Kimi Räikkönen is his own man and he provided a fun sideshow in WRC, at a time when its popularity outside of France was waning.
Elfyn Evans & Scott Martin, Ford Fiesta WRC – Rally Sweden 2019
My friend Tom Banks took me to this corner, he convinced me it was good for action. I had to accept he was totally right on the location; but I had to show him that I can actually take decent photos!
Ken Block & Alex Gelsomino, Ford Escort Cossie V2 – Rally International du Valais 2019
I love working for Ken Block, he’s the only driver who asks me where I will go on the stages. He always asks Alex Gelsomino to mark his film crew’s locations into his pacenotes. Ken and I actually discussed this jump in detail beforehand, so I felt slightly under pressure to get the shot. I’d set up a remote camera for this one, Ken was the first car on the road and I couldn’t see or hear him approach. He did his bit and, thank God, I did mine. Happy Hoonigan, even happier McMaster.
Malcolm Wilson & Bryan Thomas, Ford Escort RS Cosworth – 1993 RAC Rally
I grew up wanting to photograph racing cars and I realized my childhood dream, covering the Formula 1 grands prix in the early 1990s. But some winter sunshine and a jump at Chatsworth House in 1993 changed everything. This was pretty much the first decent photo I took of a rally car, and so began a love affair with the sport.
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya, Toyota Corolla WRC – 1998 Rally GB
The 1998 WRC had the most dramatic of conclusions and I was in the right place, at the right time, to capture it. Luis Moya is one of the best friends I ever made in the sport and I can still feel his anguish and despair at this moment.
Richard Burns & Robert Reid, Subaru Impreza WRC – Rally Australia 2001
I knew about this little crest for some years beforehand, but it was fairly inaccessible in the Australian bushland. In 2001 I was the only photographer to go there and the action didn’t disappoint. Most people have seen my crazy photo of Colin McRae from this jump, but this one of Richard Burns was special too, particularly as he was the Best Man at my wedding that year and he went on to win the 2001 World Championship.
Gilles & Hervé Panizzi, Peugeot 206 WRC – Safari Rally 2002
I covered the 2002 Safari Rally in a helicopter – budgets were bigger back then! I was dropped off in the middle of nowhere and the heli flew on to another location. Waiting for the cars I saw animal footprints on the ground and I convinced myself they were big-cat pawprints. When the Masai boy appeared, I felt safe. I pointed at the prints and said ‘Simba?’, he just smiled. He can see lions almost every day, but on that day in 2002 he was only interested in the silver French ones.
Petter Solberg & Phil Mills – Rally GB 2002
Petter Solberg is a man who knows how to celebrate a win. This was his first one in WRC and I got a good champagne soaking. A dozen years later Petter was still doing the same stuff to me when I was photographing him winning in World Rallycross. I worked out recently that Petter is the person I have taken the most photos of, in the whole world (sorry to my family!).
Harri Rovanperä & Risto Pietiläinen, Peugeot 307 WRC – Rally New Zealand 2004
Another rally in a helicopter, this time using it properly for some aerial photography. New Zealand is a favorite country of mine and probably the most photographic of them all. We should have been back there for WRC in 2020, a trip I was really looking forward to.
Sébastien Loeb & Sébastien Ogier – Rallye de France 2010
Citroën put themselves under massive pressure to win this rally. I was working for the team and given fantastic access. In today’s PR-polished world, this image of the two greatest drivers of their era, sharing some van space for a quiet lunch, is quite unique. It is my favorite photograph of the two Sebs together.
Kimi Räikkönen – Rallye de France 2010
Also shot in France 2010, but unlike my photograph of the two Sebs, this is a study of pure irreverence. Love him or loathe him, Kimi Räikkönen is his own man and he provided a fun sideshow in WRC, at a time when its popularity outside of France was waning.
Elfyn Evans & Scott Martin, Ford Fiesta WRC – Rally Sweden 2019
My friend Tom Banks took me to this corner, he convinced me it was good for action. I had to accept he was totally right on the location; but I had to show him that I can actually take decent photos!
Ken Block & Alex Gelsomino, Ford Escort Cossie V2 – Rally International du Valais 2019
I love working for Ken Block, he’s the only driver who asks me where I will go on the stages. He always asks Alex Gelsomino to mark his film crew’s locations into his pacenotes. Ken and I actually discussed this jump in detail beforehand, so I felt slightly under pressure to get the shot. I’d set up a remote camera for this one, Ken was the first car on the road and I couldn’t see or hear him approach. He did his bit and, thank God, I did mine. Happy Hoonigan, even happier McMaster.
