2012 British Grand Prix - Aintree on Sky TV

[speedsport]

Two weeks ago I was at Aintree whilst Sky TV were filming Damon Hill driving a Lotus 25 as raced by Jim Clark in 1962. Damon completed quite a number of laps of the Club Circuit and more footage was shot in front of the stands too.

The intention is to use the footage as part of the intro to Sky's coverage of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone during this weekend July 6-8th.

I've no idea when it will be shown, nor how much of the footage will make it to the screen, but they have shot drive-by sequences at various points on the Club Circuit, in-car footage with Damon driving, more "Grand Prix Starts" in front of the stands, interviews with Damon & Ian Titchmarsh & one of Graham Hill's mechanics from the 1960's.

Unfortunately, I won't get to see it as I don't have Sky, but if you do, don't forget to watch out for Aintree during the weekend.

John H

[speedsport]

A few photos from 12th June

(Above - Damon Hill & Lotus 25 in front of stands)


(Above - Andy Middlehurst & Damon Hill)


(Above - Damon & Bob Dance - one of Jim Clark's mechanics)


(Above - ready to go out - Aintree Club Circuit)


(Above- Club Circuit start/finish line)


(Above - With Derek Lawrence)


(Above - With Sky TV crew in front of stands)

[moke]

Excellent pics. Who's volunteering to record on the Sky Box and burn to disc so us Freeview types get to see it.

[speedsport]

And some more on Aintree Club Circuit


(Above - Club Corner)


(Above - Finish line)


(Above - admiring looks!)

Incidentally, the car (Lotus 25) is owned by an Australian and is raced by Andy Middlehurst from St Helens in the Classic Grand Prix series of races. Just before bringing it to Aintree, Andy had won in the car at Monaco in this years F1 support race.

Some of you will remember Andy from his days in Touring Cars, but Andy's own connection with Aintree goes back to to the 1970's when he took his first faltering laps in a FF1600 on ACC's Tuesday evening test sessions. The Middlehurst family connection goes back even further as his dad, Phil, raced at Aintree in saloon cars in the '60s too.

[speedsport]

I've just heard that the footage was of such high quality that it could have been made into a 30 min documentary, but Sky will only be broadcasting a 2 minute VT - such is TV!

[tlgphoto]

Just seen the Sky coverage of Damon in the Lotus...impressive, but too short.!

[speedsport]

Here's a link to the Sky TV footage www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtpPv4QIQX0