Photographer Trackside Passes??
Discussion
A few friends and I are off to Le Mans this year in June.
Having been reading up it seems there are very few spots to get decent shots unless we get trackside passes.
Is it possible for amateurs to get these passes and how would we go about getting them?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Having been reading up it seems there are very few spots to get decent shots unless we get trackside passes.
Is it possible for amateurs to get these passes and how would we go about getting them?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
You can apply via the ACO website I think http://presse.lemans.org/public/index.asp?idlangue...
First off apologies for pouring cold water on your dream but the odds of getting a track pass, given your current status is zero. To get a media credential you should be a full time working professional.
The process for information's sake is to create an account on the page linked to, then fill in all the details.
Then you have to file these
JUSTIFICATORY DOCUMENTS TO POST
- Requests must be on publication's or agency's headed notepaper, must bear the director's or éditor's signature, and must include:
o The surname and first name of the people who are to be accredited
o Their specific activity
- The photocopy of their up-to-date press card
- For those media having already covered event: Photocopy or originals (of what was published both before and after last year's event (for agencies: magazines or newspapers in which their photos have been published).
- If applying for the first time: an original copy of the publication requesting the accreditation
A press card is usually issued at a national level, by the Guild of Motoring Writers, PPA or NUJ. The MSA have stopped issuing them this year.
Even if approved at this point the process is not complete. An assessment is made by the ACO Media Department as to what level of access tabard you will be allowed ie pits and track or just track. Also whether your tabard is to be shared with others or not, the majority of media have to share. There are too many media chasing too few passes.
My advice is to take a basic camera & lens set up and just shoot to enjoy yourself. Le Mans is one of the great events in the motorsport calendar to be experienced, believe me working the event is absolutely not fun. If you want to get into the business, start at the club level and build up your portfolio and knowledge. Probably not what you want to hear but I have been in the business for a long time and I know a bit about how it works at La Sarthe.
The process for information's sake is to create an account on the page linked to, then fill in all the details.
Then you have to file these
JUSTIFICATORY DOCUMENTS TO POST
- Requests must be on publication's or agency's headed notepaper, must bear the director's or éditor's signature, and must include:
o The surname and first name of the people who are to be accredited
o Their specific activity
- The photocopy of their up-to-date press card
- For those media having already covered event: Photocopy or originals (of what was published both before and after last year's event (for agencies: magazines or newspapers in which their photos have been published).
- If applying for the first time: an original copy of the publication requesting the accreditation
A press card is usually issued at a national level, by the Guild of Motoring Writers, PPA or NUJ. The MSA have stopped issuing them this year.
Even if approved at this point the process is not complete. An assessment is made by the ACO Media Department as to what level of access tabard you will be allowed ie pits and track or just track. Also whether your tabard is to be shared with others or not, the majority of media have to share. There are too many media chasing too few passes.
My advice is to take a basic camera & lens set up and just shoot to enjoy yourself. Le Mans is one of the great events in the motorsport calendar to be experienced, believe me working the event is absolutely not fun. If you want to get into the business, start at the club level and build up your portfolio and knowledge. Probably not what you want to hear but I have been in the business for a long time and I know a bit about how it works at La Sarthe.
It is very hard to get track side at Le Mans. But there also some great locations to get good shots.
As for track side passes you need to get a UK Press card. Unless you are in full time employment in the media arena it is very hard to get one.
I have applied for one as a freelance photographer for a union.. If that goes through then i get a press card. Then I can apply to the ACO correctly. I have already been in touch witht hem and I full all their requirements just not the press card.. Fingers crossed that I get that then who knows. Perhaps I can get a track side pass. I ahve insurance and I am a registerd track official as well so the possibility could be there. But ist hard to qualify for the press card
http://www.ukpresscardauthority.co.uk/
As for track side passes you need to get a UK Press card. Unless you are in full time employment in the media arena it is very hard to get one.
I have applied for one as a freelance photographer for a union.. If that goes through then i get a press card. Then I can apply to the ACO correctly. I have already been in touch witht hem and I full all their requirements just not the press card.. Fingers crossed that I get that then who knows. Perhaps I can get a track side pass. I ahve insurance and I am a registerd track official as well so the possibility could be there. But ist hard to qualify for the press card
http://www.ukpresscardauthority.co.uk/
As if there were not enough hoops to jump. I started my application process today and this is what they have requested in their email reply.
Official letter (headed notepaper) signed by the director or chief editor of the media for which you work including the name and first name of the people to be accredited plus their job description.
• Copy of valid press card,
• Copies of press cuttings/photos/internet site pages dealing with the 24 Heures du Mans 2012 and/or 2012 FIA WEC season.
• Copy of the insurance guarantees covering risks (loss, damage, injuries) in the context of a professional activity carried out at events attracting a crowd in general and motor sport in particular.
Special cases
Freelance journalists: In the case of a first request, please send us a recent article written by you published in a recognized media accompanied by a mission letter from the media for which you will be working at the 24 Heures du Mans 2013. In the case of a renewal please supply your articles devoted to the 24 Heures du Mans 2012 and/or 2012 FIA WEC season.
For a first request (whether freelance journalists or not): Send us an original example of the publication by letter.
Internet sites: Please send us the screen shoot of your copies of your 2012 statistics tool (Google Analytics) in addition to your web reports on the 24 Heures du Mans 2012 and/or 2012 FIA WEC season.
Press photographers: Because of the huge number of requests we can only give accreditations to professional photographers.
People working for teams, drivers or accessory suppliers: namely, press and public relations services, website editors and photographers. All requests for accreditations must be accompanied by an official letter from the team complete with references for the person(s) in question.
Having said all that the ACO media staff do a great job under enormous pressure and under constraints imposed from outside. The McNish and Rockenfeller accidents in 2011 and Davidson's last year have increased that pressure, so having a press card is no guarantee.
All I can say is good luck and don't give up if you are not successful on the first attempt.
Official letter (headed notepaper) signed by the director or chief editor of the media for which you work including the name and first name of the people to be accredited plus their job description.
• Copy of valid press card,
• Copies of press cuttings/photos/internet site pages dealing with the 24 Heures du Mans 2012 and/or 2012 FIA WEC season.
• Copy of the insurance guarantees covering risks (loss, damage, injuries) in the context of a professional activity carried out at events attracting a crowd in general and motor sport in particular.
Special cases
Freelance journalists: In the case of a first request, please send us a recent article written by you published in a recognized media accompanied by a mission letter from the media for which you will be working at the 24 Heures du Mans 2013. In the case of a renewal please supply your articles devoted to the 24 Heures du Mans 2012 and/or 2012 FIA WEC season.
For a first request (whether freelance journalists or not): Send us an original example of the publication by letter.
Internet sites: Please send us the screen shoot of your copies of your 2012 statistics tool (Google Analytics) in addition to your web reports on the 24 Heures du Mans 2012 and/or 2012 FIA WEC season.
Press photographers: Because of the huge number of requests we can only give accreditations to professional photographers.
People working for teams, drivers or accessory suppliers: namely, press and public relations services, website editors and photographers. All requests for accreditations must be accompanied by an official letter from the team complete with references for the person(s) in question.
Having said all that the ACO media staff do a great job under enormous pressure and under constraints imposed from outside. The McNish and Rockenfeller accidents in 2011 and Davidson's last year have increased that pressure, so having a press card is no guarantee.
All I can say is good luck and don't give up if you are not successful on the first attempt.
A friend of mine managed to get trackside to take shots a few years back, he succeeded via an alternative route: Got up at first light on Sunday, wandered over to the circuit, got chatting to some of the Marshalls, indicated he'd really like to get closer to get some shots without the fencing, I think 15 Euros changed hands (not sure if that was before or after) and he came back with some magnificent pictures a couple of hours later. It was somewhere between Dunlop Bridge and Tetre Rouge.
Worth a go if you're particulary keen and can't get trackside via more legitimate means.
Worth a go if you're particulary keen and can't get trackside via more legitimate means.
Slomo_uk said:
I wont give up 
Its a steep mountain to get it for this year but then i hope to get it for next year
Your best (and frankly only) chance of getting one is to cover other races too - and in truth that's exactly as it should be. Its a steep mountain to get it for this year but then i hope to get it for next year
If you are good enough then someone will be interested in using your stuff - and you need to prove that from the spectator areas first. If you aren;t then to be blunt you really shouldn't be doing it! Le Mans is not a place for anyone trackside that doesn't know what they are doing (In no way implying that you don't)
Mellow Yellow said:
A friend of mine managed to get trackside to take shots a few years back, he succeeded via an alternative route: Got up at first light on Sunday, wandered over to the circuit, got chatting to some of the Marshalls, indicated he'd really like to get closer to get some shots without the fencing, I think 15 Euros changed hands (not sure if that was before or after) and he came back with some magnificent pictures a couple of hours later. It was somewhere between Dunlop Bridge and Tetre Rouge.
Worth a go if you're particulary keen and can't get trackside via more legitimate means.
Great advice and totally irresponsible on many levels.Worth a go if you're particulary keen and can't get trackside via more legitimate means.
A repeat McNish/Rockenfeller incident where the car vaults the barriers and hits said individual, whether fatal or not, is likely to have unforeseen consequences. Insurance policies in place would be most likely invalid as underwriters always try and wriggle out of their obligations, so the mortgage is not paid off nor is there provision for the family back in Blighty. I have to make full disclosure in my insurances.
While there are far less police around than when I first worked at the track, they and security are still present, particularly at Terte Rouge, plus there are cameras everywhere that are monitored by Race Control, the lack of a tabard makes the individual conspicuous. If challenged the best result would be being escorted from the premises, the worst would be a night or two in the cells.
Less serious but worth mentioning is that the accredited media are there to earn a living and fulfill a brief, so members of the public wondering around getting in the way is a serious irritation, especially so early on Sunday when most of the photographers have already been up for more than 24 hours.
There is absolutely no place trackside for those not legitimately working and signed on with the ACO. Motor racing is dangerous and that risk must be respected.
Finally at that part of the track there is no need to do this as Webby74's excellent pictures above show and there would be no problem getting a spot early on Sunday. So why take an unnecessary risk?
samoan attorney said:
Great advice and totally irresponsible on many levels.
A repeat McNish/Rockenfeller incident where the car vaults the barriers and hits said individual, whether fatal or not, is likely to have unforeseen consequences. Insurance policies in place would be most likely invalid as underwriters always try and wriggle out of their obligations, so the mortgage is not paid off nor is there provision for the family back in Blighty. I have to make full disclosure in my insurances.
While there are far less police around than when I first worked at the track, they and security are still present, particularly at Terte Rouge, plus there are cameras everywhere that are monitored by Race Control, the lack of a tabard makes the individual conspicuous. If challenged the best result would be being escorted from the premises, the worst would be a night or two in the cells.
Less serious but worth mentioning is that the accredited media are there to earn a living and fulfill a brief, so members of the public wondering around getting in the way is a serious irritation, especially so early on Sunday when most of the photographers have already been up for more than 24 hours.
There is absolutely no place trackside for those not legitimately working and signed on with the ACO. Motor racing is dangerous and that risk must be respected.
Finally at that part of the track there is no need to do this as Webby74's excellent pictures above show and there would be no problem getting a spot early on Sunday. So why take an unnecessary risk?
A repeat McNish/Rockenfeller incident where the car vaults the barriers and hits said individual, whether fatal or not, is likely to have unforeseen consequences. Insurance policies in place would be most likely invalid as underwriters always try and wriggle out of their obligations, so the mortgage is not paid off nor is there provision for the family back in Blighty. I have to make full disclosure in my insurances.
While there are far less police around than when I first worked at the track, they and security are still present, particularly at Terte Rouge, plus there are cameras everywhere that are monitored by Race Control, the lack of a tabard makes the individual conspicuous. If challenged the best result would be being escorted from the premises, the worst would be a night or two in the cells.
Less serious but worth mentioning is that the accredited media are there to earn a living and fulfill a brief, so members of the public wondering around getting in the way is a serious irritation, especially so early on Sunday when most of the photographers have already been up for more than 24 hours.
There is absolutely no place trackside for those not legitimately working and signed on with the ACO. Motor racing is dangerous and that risk must be respected.
Finally at that part of the track there is no need to do this as Webby74's excellent pictures above show and there would be no problem getting a spot early on Sunday. So why take an unnecessary risk?
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