Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph a wide range of motorsport series, from the intensity of BTCC to the endurance battles that come with long distance racing. But despite covering so many different disciplines, there was one side of motorsport I had never properly experienced from behind the camera and that was drifting.

Motorsport photography often looks like an expensive hobby from the outside. Spend five minutes in a media centre or trackside at a major race meeting and you’ll spot enormous telephoto lenses worth more than some race cars. For beginners, it can feel impossible to get started without spending thousands on professional equipment.

For many aspiring motorsport photographers, accreditation feels like the ultimate goal. It’s the pass that gets you inside the barriers, into the pit lane, and closer to the action than most fans will ever experience. But while accreditation opens doors to some incredible opportunities, earning it takes far more than simply owning a camera and applying online.

Motorsport photography is one of the most exciting forms of photography there is. The speed, noise, atmosphere, and unpredictability of racing create endless opportunities for dramatic images. While many aspiring photographers believe you need full media accreditation to capture professional-quality motorsport photos, that simply isn’t true.

Motorsport photography is about far more than pointing a camera at fast cars. It’s about freezing a split second of speed, tension, emotion, and drama into a single frame. From the roar of engines on the grid to the celebration after the chequered flag, every race weekend is filled with moments waiting to be captured.