My purpose with automotive pictures has all the time been to seize all features of automobile tradition. One thing I’ve needed to do for so long as I can bear in mind is shoot Nineties Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) race vehicles in motion.
This summer time, I lastly realised that long-time dream.
Yearly, Bellahøj Park in Copenhagen hosts the Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix. As one of many few occasions of its form in Denmark, it attracts hundreds of tourists. Having simply solely just lately found it, I made a decision to attend whereas on a household vacation.
When it’s on, the streets round Bellahøj Park are remodeled right into a 2.4km racetrack with tight corners and difficult chicanes. The park itself turns into a hub for quite a lot of extra actions.
I entered by means of one of many occasion’s a number of gates, which occurred to be closest to the Through Retro automobile present – an amazing place to begin.
This present space was full of vehicles from varied Danish golf equipment, together with Porsche, Lancia, Land Rover, MG, and others. Some golf equipment showcased fashions I’d by no means even heard of earlier than.
One instance was this fantastically preserved Seventies Lancia Fulvia Sport, a smooth, fastback and sportier variant of the Fulvia Coupe.
One other standout was this J5 from Kellison, a California-based equipment automobile producer energetic within the late Nineteen Fifties and Sixties.
Occasions like these all the time have particular vehicles on show, however for me, probably the most fulfilling a part of any automotive pageant that centres round racing lies within the paddock.
The 2024 Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix featured seven courses racing over its three days. These ranged from the Youngtimer class for contemporary hatchbacks…
…to the System Junior class that includes single-seaters just like the Lotus 22 and Lola Mk5A, and the Sixty-Fivers for vehicles from the late Sixties. Japanese automobiles have been scarce, however I did spot a Datsun 240Z.
Whereas I’m a Japanese automobile fanatic at coronary heart, I have a tendency to understand classic occasions with traditional vehicles greater than anything; they simply really feel ‘grown up.’ Possibly it’s as a result of I’m a father in my thirties, however there’s something about watching these automotive time machines scream previous that makes the expertise unforgettable.
For me, the occasion spotlight was clear: the Tourenwagen Legenden.
Earlier than the Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix, my publicity to DTM races had been restricted to archived Eurosport replays and YouTube montages, usually set to German rock and roll music.
Whereas not essentially a foul factor, it didn’t put together me for the joy of seeing these touring vehicles fly previous in individual.
There was selection within the grid with Porsche 996 GT3 Cup vehicles, Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24s, BMW E30 M3s, and Mercedes-Benz 190 E EVO I and EVO IIs all racing collectively. It was a spectacle I didn’t anticipate to see.
Kristian Poulsen, winner of Friday’s race, pushed his BMW E30 M3 DTM to the restrict. Mechanical points prevented him from ending Saturday’s race, however Kristian secured second place on Sunday. This BMW was undoubtedly my favorite automobile of all the weekend.
Although the DTM class was my spotlight, it was a blast to observe all types of vehicles race across the road circuit.
Whereas placing this put up collectively, I realised it might be cool to shoot these iconic vehicles with period-correct analogue digicam gear to seize their true essence. Trevor’s 35mm pictures has impressed me to discover this additional.
I must be taught extra about taking pictures on movie, however till then, get pleasure from many extra photographs from the 2024 Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix beneath.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa
Touring Automobile associated tales on Speedhunters
