I was sitting watching the Italian Grand Prix which as ever was pretty uneventful stuff to be honest. Although the Toyota’s racing each other was entertaining, I guess when your fighting for nothing then you have nothing to loose?

It got me thinking about the times that I have been to Monza. The first visit was back in 2003 when I attended the Grand Prix of which it was won by Michael Schumacher. Remembering back nearly 6 years, I sat at Variante della Roggia where there was no action at all. The race was pretty exciting however as it was all won on strategy. Of course it was extra special that Ferrari won. What struct me however for the first time visit was its a race track in a park (abit like Melbourne). Its quite a trek to get around it and if you don’t follow the track and head into the forest you quite easily forget where abouts you are. If you don’t have a race seat then you need to be at the track very early on Sunday morning to get a race seat, and I mean very early! They like to camp out in the middle of the track. Unfortunately no pictures of this event are available.

Next up was April 2006 when I should of been at practice for the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix. I took a trip down to Monza which was open to the public as there was no racing. It also mean’t that I had access to the bank curving. Having been on the bank curves at the Brooklands circuit in Weybridge, UK I was able to climb to the top but these curves were near impossible to climb apart from if you crawled up. Looking over the edge of the banking reveils the massive drop and how many drivers would have lost their lives whilst racing on them. A good selection of photos were taken and some of which I converted to black and white.

The latest trip was to cover the Formula 1 testing in August 2008. I only spent one day at the track but it was very restricted for photographers. You were only allowed from the last to the first corner. The sun was not my friend that day either with it shining straight into the camera which caused under exposed photos.  There was a lack of runners during the day so there was a lack of photos taken. F1 testing was a big affair for the Italians and by that the crowds rival that of a BTCC race day. I believe to get into watch testing from the main grand stand was roughly £10 UK pounds.

So as a photographer, does Monza have much to offer? Not really. Its very fast with one chicane looking like the other one. The run off areas are large so a long lense is needed aswell. Outside of the track however then yes it has plenty.