Our Top Ten Favourite Photos of 2022
Looking back at 2022, apparently, there was plenty of wheel-lifting action, fire, rain, more rain, smoke and mud.
Below are ten of our favourite pics captured this year.
They may not technically be the best images we’ve taken, but they all tell their own unique story that helped make the year enjoyable.
10. Karting at Oakleigh
The karting action we’ve seen this year has been absolutely first-rate, with the freshly renovated Oakleigh circuit an absolute revelation, with plenty of rise and fall, and subsequent wheel-lifting action.
9. It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s a Magna!
Speedway is great. Ramps Racing is better.
This was genuinely the most fun we have had in years – Ramp Racing from Drouin is the wholesome family entertainment we need more of.
Frankly, a flying purple Magna with a wheel hanging off should feel hard done by to come in at only number nine…
8. Incoming
There have been plenty of quality flyovers this year, and this one was right up there, with a trio of Chinooks cutting a lap of the Townsville Street Circuit.
7. Skids
How can you not love a good celebration? Cam Waters’ effort at Winton was first-class…
6. It’s a boy!
But wait, there’s more!
In the foreground is the sad sight of Chad Neylon’s favourite ever racecar, the AU Falcon, and in the background are some rad skids celebrating an impending arrival at the Townsville Street Circuit.
5. Splashdown #1
On the Sunday morning at the Sandown Supercars round, I noticed this somewhat significant puddle in the gravel trap at the final corner – but how long would we have to wait for someone to hit it?
Dylan O’Keeffe’s response came immediately on the first lap, resulting in the above artwork…
4. Splashdown #2
Danny Buzadzic told Dylan O’Keeffe to hold his beer in this return of serve at the Sandown SpeedSeries round aboard his TCM Torana.
The size and scope of the splash was rather large – well outside of the generous framing provided for the photo. Impressive.
3. To the winner goes the chicken dinner (well done)
After last year accidentally capturing the Bathurst finish pyrotechnics, this year I framed the shot better to capture more of the fireworks, the chequered flag, and the cheers from the wall.
Obstacles this time around included the wildcard entries at the bottom of pit lane, who rushed over at the last moment, and absolutely wanted to fill the gap in the fence I was already occupying…
2. Bathurst mudbath
Typically for the Bathurst 1000, I’m a creature of habit on race day: shoot the grid, the start from Hell Corner, then cut a lap of the top of the Mountain.
This year, I decided to change strategy, and head over to The Chase early in the race – the wet outfield was a recipe for disaster, which proved to be the case when Zane Goddard went bowling through the muck into a mega-shunt.
I wound up being a couple of laps short of being present for that incident, but I did manage to snap the sequence of Alex Davison spearing off.
It was as if the crash came in slow motion – after he locked up at the start of the braking zone, I repositioned myself to get the full sequence in the grass – which took an absolute eternity.
Halfway along, I thought to myself very clearly and deliberately: “He’s going to hit the wall, and it’s going to hit here.”
I managed to stand my ground, get the snaps, and receive a free mudbath thrown in for free…
1. Splashdown #3
The rains came at Friday lunchtime ahead of the Bathurst 1000, and it made things rather interesting on and off track.
After capturing Macauley Jones whacking the fence in The Chase, I made the executive decision to scoot back to the inside of Murray’s Corner under the red flag to shoot the end of the session.
This was a twofold call:
- The Coke Commodore had earlier sprayed it there, and it looked spectacular
- It was closer to the media centre, and thus, would result in less time standing out in the rain
Next minute, Craig Lowndes rolled into view in a spot of bother, with the results rather spectacular.
Thanks, CL!
BONUS TOP 10 – The People of 2022
Motorsport is nothing without the people – the drivers, fans, teams and officials, who make the sport tick
Also, because we frankly couldn’t stop at 10, we have to include this additional list in our end-of-year rankings…
10. Craig Lowndes
Champagne CL.
9. The weird and wonderful in Geelong
I might be the only person to appreciate this angle shooting down on the Geelong Revival, but it’s a unique vantage of some of the out there machinery on show.
For the record, the old pickup truck absolutely hammers…
8. “Your’re driving what?”
Per the Bryant Park Hillclimb.
Once again for the record, the Mini Cabriolet was one of the fastest cars on track.
Amazing.
7. When coffee is life…
The Sandown SpeedSeries event on Saturday truly flooded during the GT World Challenge Race, although, no level of rain will ever stop Melbournians from securing a hot cuppa…
6. Fernando goes for a ride
After Fernando Alonso found the wall in Australian Grand Prix qualifying, one of the boundary riders gave him a lift back to the pits.
Judging by the sheer terror in the eyes of the official, the act of helping out a two-time World Champ must be somewhat stressful…
5. Nick Percat has a moment
Here is Nick Percat behind the Bathurst podium, reenacting a rather tight moment from on top of The Mountain during the Bathurst 6 Hour, where he had to tuck himself up into a ball to thread the needle after a somewhat close shave at Reid Park.
4. SVG: Focus
Shane van Gisbergen was practically unstoppable this year, with his eyes firmly fixed on the prize.
3. Lee and Jack
Perhaps we could turn this into a caption competition…?
2. Very good boys get to go to the races
I love this from the Geelong Revival – some very good boys out enjoying their Sunday walk and a spot of motorsport, with families and punters from all walks of life taking in the action from a wonderful setting.
1. Flipping Dick Johnson the bird
When Dick Johnson rolled out of pitlane on Thursday afternoon to make the world debut of the new Mustang, it sadly wasn’t to the approval of this gentleman, who in providing a one-finger salute, made the viral hit of the Bathurst 1000 weekend…
Mark Walker (administrator)
A vastly experienced Motorsport Public Relations operator, journalist, commentator and photographer, Mark brings his unique angle to The Race Torque in both words and imagery. As well as serving as our key photographer on the ground at major events around Australia (and overseas), Walker will often chime in with his unique and pin-point sharp viewpoint of the racing world via the keyboard too.
