11/07/2010 OPS: the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Preparing to race pictured World Champion Jason Button ©Paul Stewart 2010 07917652636
11/07/2010 OPS: the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Preparing to race pictured World Champion Jenson Button ©Paul Stewart 2010

Covering Motorsport for me has been a passion, I’ve covered more than my share of “regular” sports as well, from football, rugby and cricket, to ice hockey, darts and even bowls.  None of these, if I’m honest, get the adrenalin going for me.  However motorsports are a passion and not just Formula – 1 or Moto GP, I have covered everything from Karts to truck racing and enjoyed it all.  One of the great things is the unpredictability of it all, a driver can be on pole, then lead the field, only for a mechanical problem to put them out of the race.  Also, race meetings give you the chance to get peripheral pictures, like the portrait here of the then world champion, Jenson Button taken in the McLaren pit just moments before he went out to drive in the 2010 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Brands Hatch Great Britain 25/03/2011 Nicolas Hamilton, brother of 2008 Formula One World Champion Lewis prepares to compete in the 2011 Air Asia Renault Clio Cup. ©Paul Stewart 2011.
Brands Hatch Great Britain 25/03/2011 Nicolas Hamilton, brother of 2008 Formula One World Champion Lewis prepares to compete in the 2011 Air Asia Renault Clio Cup. ©Paul Stewart 2011.

I’ve met some pretty amazing drivers, some of whom have taken me on fast laps round the circuit, which is  one of the the best “white knuckle” rides in the world and I’ve met some inspiring people, like Nicholas Hamilton, younger brother of Lewis, the (at the moment) three times world champion, who has over come cerebral palsy to race at a really high level including the British Touring Cars Championship.  I first photographed and interviewed Nick for Express.co.uk, the website of the Daily Express, when he was doing his first practice for his first race in the Renault Clio Cup.  I think in the portrait shown here,

BRITAIN Brands Hatch Circuit Brands Hatch 30/03/2012 OPS: - Daiy Star columnist Mat Jackson prepares for the 1st race in the 2012 BTCC driving Ford Focus ST of Resdstone Racing © Paul Stewart 2012 07917 65 26 36
Brands Hatch Daiy Star columnist Mat Jackson prepares for the 1st race in the 2012 BTCC driving Ford Focus ST of Resdstone Racing
© Paul Stewart 2012

taken as he prepared at Brand’s Hatch, you can see his utter determination.  Both of the Hamiltons are stunning drivers and I hope they will forgive me for telling you that on the simulator, Nic has beaten Lewis.

Some of the best racing I’ve covered has been in the BTCC series and in 2012 driver Mat Jackson who was racing for the Redstone Racing team, was signed as a columnist by the Daily Star, sister paper of the Daily Express.  This meant I had to rush down to Brand’s Hatch and get pictures of him in the pits with his newly Daily Star branded Ford Focus.  I then had to stay for the weekend and photograph the meeting for the paper. I Guess it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.

BRITAIN Brands Hatch Circuit Brands Hatch 01/04/2012 OPS: - Daiiy Star columnist Mat Jackson mixes it round Graham Hill bend and into Cooper Straight in the 1st race in the 2012 Dunlop MSA BTCC at Brand's Hatch. Jackson is driving a Ford Focus ST of Resdstone Racing © Paul Stewart 2012 07917 65 26 36
Brands Hatch 01/04/2012 Daiiy Star columnist Mat Jackson mixes it round Graham Hill bend and into Cooper Straight in the 1st race in the 2012 Dunlop MSA BTCC at Brand’s Hatch. Jackson is driving a Ford Focus ST of Resdstone Racing © Paul Stewart 2012

“It’s a tough job but someone has to do it”

Lewis-Express

Silverstone Circuit Great Britain 10/07/2011 OPTthe 2011 Santander British Grand Prix Hamilton takes Alonso on the inside at Copse© Paul Stewart 2011 Cellphone +44 (0)7917 652636
Silverstone Circuit Great Britain 10/07/2011 OPTthe 2011 Santander British Grand Prix Hamilton nails Alonso on the inside at Copse© Paul Stewart 2011