It was really good to be able sit in the stand taking my photographs and enjoying the race with no pressures at all on my time. I knew that James and Tony would be in no rush and would let me know when they felt like moving on.  For the first time since 1998 I wasn't expecting to leave the circuit while the race was on and I was still snapping away - albeit from the other end of the now substantially empty stand - as the four-hour point of the race arrived.  I'd brought baguettes and water with me, so I had no desire to go looking for a meal!  Sometimes the simple relaxed approach works wonders! 

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

The big advantage of a place in T34 is the lack of any debris fencing or other restriction between you (and your lens) and the cars.  You also have a great vantage point down into the pit road as the cars come in and go out again.  Of course, you can't look into the garages as you can on the other side of the track, but it is possible sometimes to hang your camera out to take some speculative shots of the cars being refuelled - although doing that always gives me the heebie-jeebies for my camera!  There are reports each year of things being dropped onto cars and mechanics from the stand - this year I heard of a bottle of water (not unusual) and an iPhone!!

              

         

                   

              

         

                   

                   

                   

                   

    

I even managed to take some photos of the 'Dream Team' now opposite me in the T17 grandstand - although they remained blissfully ignorant of my presence! 

         

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

My stint in T34 came to an end when I received a text from James suggesting that we meet up near the ACO area at the Dunlop Chicane, although this was preceded by the unfortunate knocking down of a Speed TV camera-man in the Audi pit - which I didn't realise I had captured some of - until after the event.....