Friday 27th September 2019

Hot hatches cooling off | Pic of the Week

Our four car Focus ST group test is imminent - here's the desktop preview!

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You may have noticed that summer seems to have well and truly ended over the past ten days or so, a fact we were reminded of during a recent trip to the Peak District. The shoot was arranged back in the heady days of August, with the new Ford Focus ST, Hyundai i30 N, VW Golf GTI TCR and our long-term Renault Sport Megane 300 Trophy along for the ride. Four hot hatches, we're sure you'll agree, that couldn't be better suited to exploring the twisty sun-scorched roads of the north.

Mother Nature had other ideas, though, and the downpour that greeted us and poor photographer Sim dispelled any hopes of one final balmy day out of the office before the seasons changed. Still, while we turned our heated seats up a notch he persevered, coming away with some fantastic shots - including this one of the convoy traversing Winnats Pass.

You'll be able to read our conclusions from the sodden showdown this weekend, but for now you can enjoy our efforts in Pic of the Week form. As the weather continues to turn and the nights draw in, it'll hopefully serve as a reminder that there's plenty of motoring fun still to be had.

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Photo: Sim Mainey

[Turbobanana]

Even as an amateur snapper, I'm annoyed that you didn't all switch your wipers off and allow them to park. Looks like a hastily-grabbed shot, which it may have been - given the weather. Shame, as the composition's good and the landscape epic.

[Turbobanana]

Henrico said:

But you realise they're moving right?

If they are then they're very close together and presumably moving very slowly to help Sim get them sharp and not producing much spray. It's possible, and would explain the wipers, but I can't see why you'd need them in motion for this kind of landscape shot.