Castle Combe Circuit Photography Guide

Location: Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 7EY
Circuit Length: 1.85 miles
Website: https://castlecombecircuit.co.uk

Quarry Corner. 24mm, 1/10, f4,5, ISO320, ND Filter

Castle Combe Circuit is one of the oldest and fastest in the UK. Strict noise regulations mean the days of British GT and other major UK championships are sadly a thing of the past, but the circuit more than makes up for it with a very strong and popular line-up of local circuit-based championships, as well as many of the key UK club championships. As well as race days, Castle Combe run an extremely popular series of themed Action Days throughout the year, these are effectively a combination of car show and track day and attract big crowds.

I’ve been taking photos at the circuit for over 20 years, the vast majority as a public shooter, it’s a compact venue with quick and easy access to all the major photo spots, which makes it a fantastic circuit to teach yourself motorsport photography. Add to that the rather frantic nature of the schedule on a typical race day, with 10 or so short races and virtually no downtime between sessions, and it’s the perfect place to experiment and try new things.

Whilst many spectators will look for high vantage points or sweeping views of a single corner, photographers will often want to get as low as possible…access gates, fence gaps, we love all that stuff. I’m often asked where the spots to shoot from are, thankfully we have quite a few to choose from. To give you an idea of how quick and easy it is to get around, I can comfortably make my way on foot from a photo spot at Quarry around to another spot at Tower in a little over 10 minutes. This guide will start from Quarry and work its way around in a clockwise direction. None of these locations require shooting through fences and all work with as long or as short as a focal length you have available to you.

Quarry

We may as well start with the obvious one, head clockwise away from the main crowd area as the banking dips down towards the access road. You can either shoot from just before the access gate (1) or just after it as the path starts to rise towards the Farm Straight viewing (2). You can shoot both ‘panning’ shots and head-on shots of the subjects tackling Quarry Corner from the same location. The catch fence at Quarry has extended significantly for the 2024 season, this is likely to mean that spectators and especially photographers are compressed towards the access gate end from now on, but if you can reach the front of the crowd line it’s a great place to shoot from.

This is also the best location for ‘panning through people’ shots as it’s usually packed with people several deep, head towards the exit of the corner and pick your spot (3). Again the new fence will make this trickier from now on, shots won’t be as clean but it’s still possible to pan through people and a fence.

Quarry Corner (3). 97mm, 1/10, f25, ISO50

Farm Straight

Whilst this position is elevated it does offer up a pretty cool photographic opportunity and unique angle to shoot from, as the track runs very close and directly parallel to you. Again this area is likely to be busier from now on, but it’s worth experimenting with, even if just for a few minutes when passing, as it’s a great angle to play around with.

Old Paddock Bend

Another area that’s nice and low for panning and head-on shots (1). For head-on shots you’ll need a decent bit of focal length at your disposal, but for panning it’s very close with a nice clean background. You can also head around to the gate (where the medical car parks), shooting through/under the gate (2) as low as your knees will allow, for a very cool unobstructed rear shot. On the rare occasion where the circuit is still operating towards sunset (typically events in October/November) this is the best area to include that in your shots.

Hammerdown

Nobody spectates here but it’s superb for photography. You’re at (even below in places) track level with a nice low fence and clean backgrounds. If you want to practice panning there is nowhere better. There is quite a bit of variation in the type of panning shots you can achieve depending on where you stand, so it’s worth experimenting and not hanging around in one spot for too long.

Tower

Towards the end of the Hammerdown straight, just before the catch fencing begins (1), there is a nice clean angle of Tower Corner. You’re shooting cars heading away from you and cornering (at some speed, too) so this is far from an easy place to shoot, but you can get some pretty cool shots when you catch it just right.

Bobbies

Another cool, low rear shot here which is easy to miss. Position yourself next to the loudspeakers, just at the bottom of the small hill up to the Bobbies viewing bank and you can grab a nice clean rear shot.

Westway

A great spot for a true ‘head-on’ shot as well as another good panning location. You’re so close here that you can feel really the big fast stuff such as the GTs pass. For head-on shots you’ll want to be as close to the end of the catch-fence as possible, you may also find you need a slight bit of elevation to clear the barrier, a small fold-out footstool would be ideal. I’m just under 6ft and can shoot on tip-toes, although that’s obviously not ideal :)