The pictures on these pages were all shot between 1981 and 1997.
During this time, I took pictures at several Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3000,
and Group C races; as an amateur, but also as a semi-professional photographer.
From 1988 - 1991, I published a few books, and also did some shootings
for a few fanzines, and tried to set up my own photography agency.
I always enjoyed doing it, but when my dream of becoming a fulltime
motor-racing photographer didn't work out , I had to stop after having
finished my last Formula 1 book in 1992.

The main reason why I had to stop was that I was not granted an accreditation for the
Formula 1 races I attended. This meant I had to pay for all the expenses
(travels, entrance fees, stays) myself. In the end, I wasn't able to do it anymore.

The very last race I was present at, was the one that marked the
beginning of the career of the most successful racing-driver of all times:
German Michael Schumacher at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix.
After that I didn't attend any races again, until a one-off 'comeback'
at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1997, where I took some pictures during the Friday practice sessions.
Photography wise I turned my attention to other subjects... Skyscrapers.
And in some way or the other I never looked back,
although I continued to follow the sport, like I have been since 1978.
Because of this new photography passion, I never felt the need to go back to a racing-circuit, until...

...until I started to work on these web pages and digitalized some 2,000 analog pictures.
While working on it, I thought it would be great to return to an F1 race again
and to shoot my first motor-racing pictures in just over eight years.
And my very first digital motor-racing pictures.
It would also be a very good opportunity to try out my newly bought Canon EOS 350D camera.
The result of these shootings - at the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps -
you can find here:

2005 F1 and GP2

Enjoy!


Above left: the legendary Ayrton Senna at the wheel of his 1991 McLaren at Spa Francorchamps.
Above middle: Another Brazilian: Roberto Moreno, the 1988 Formula 3000 champion; Zolder, 1988.
Above right: Alessandro Nannini in his Benetton at the German Grand Prix in 1988.


Above left: Alessandro Nannini at Brands Hatch (UK) 1986 in his Minardi.
Above middle: Yannick Dalmas in his AGS during the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, 1990.
Above right: Britain's Derek Warwick in his Arrows, during the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa in 1989.


Above: three pictures of the late, great Ayrton Senna.
The first pictures was taken at the Belgian GP in 1990.
The second sees Ayrton reflection at Paul Ricard in 1990.
The last picture sees Ayrton at the wheel of his McLaren during the German GP in 1991.
Ayrton Senna was F1 World Champion in 1988, 1990 and 1991.
He was born in March 1960 and died on May 1st, 1994 after a crash during the San Marino GP at Imola.


Above left: another World Champion (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993): Alain Prost in his Ferrari during the Belgian GP in 1991.
Above middle: Nigel Mansell, World Champion in 1993, is taken back to the pits by Philippe Alliot
in his Ligier, after Mansell had a failure on his Ferrari during the 1990 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Above right: Michael Schumacher, World Champion in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Here in action during his very first Grand Prix, Spa, Belgium, 1991, in his Jordan.


Above left: the Ferrari bodywork during practice for the 1991 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Above middle: Italian Elio de Angelis in his Lotus during testing for the 1983 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.
Three years later, in May of 1986, Elio died during testing at Paul Ricard, France.
Above right: Brazilian Mauricio Gugelmin in his Leyton House March. Spa, Belgium, 1989.


Above left: Another World Champion (1981, 1983, 1987): Brazilian Nelson Piquet.
Here in his Benetton during the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, 1991.
Above middle: The Larrousse V12 Lamborghini engine, 1990.
Above right: another picture of Michael Schumacher during his debut race.


Above left: Italian Andrea de Cesaris in his Jordan. Hungary, 1991.
Above middle: Swede Stefan Johansson in his Ligier, Hockenheim, Germany, 1988.
Above right: Derek Warwick in his Toleman, during testing at Spa, 1983.


Above: three more pictures of Ayrton Senna in his McLaren.
(left: at Paul Ricard, 1990; middle and right: at Hockenheim, Germany, 1991).


Press here to see more pictures and to enter the Motor-Racing Picture Collection pages:

ENTER


All pictures copyright 1983 - 1986 - 1988 - 1990 - 1991 Patrick Beckers


All Rights Reserved.
Download of any pictures from this site without written consent is strictly prohibited, unless for personal use!
This personal use does NOT include using the pictures on other web sites.


Home