HONDA CIVIC TYPE R

03/03/10

I met up with my friends Al & Mark at 6am in Deal, we then set off for the Tunnel crossing at 7am and arrived to a lovely blue sky and the wonderfully smooth roads of France, after avoiding continuous pot holes and breaking tarmac in the UK since the cold spells it was a joy to just enjoy driving again. Must admit the 3 degrees temperature outside was a little too fresh for our liking but a few coffees soon relieved that. The drive down to Reims from Calais is around three hours, the great part about the French roads is that they always seem clear and the Type R just lapped up the miles in no time at all. It is fair to say that the journey may have been a little quicker than three hours due to a slightly heavy right foot!

Upon arrival at the circuit the car was parked in various settings with the sun creating some nice reflections from the newly painted pit lane and buildings, this has taken away the rustic and aged look that the circuit had in the past, unfortunately it was close to being demolished hence the new and fresh paintwork to make it look more pleasing!! I used the 24-105mm partnered with the 5D II and a polarising filter, this minimises the reflections and allowed the blacks to be a little more contrasty as well. After an hour at the circuit we then headed in to the centre of Reims and had a great lunch at the Cafe Du Palais restaurant where we had a great lunch. After looking around the town afterwards we then set back home, taking in a more scenic route rather then sticking to the motorway. Just south of Laon we came across a train station and an industrial estate where their were some imposing towers, I used this opportunity to take some moodier shots of the Type R, used a little off camera flash to lighten up the right side of the car which worked a treat.

We then arrived back at the tunnel for the 7.20pm crossing and had a great day, I will use these images for the Carzpix website as well as the Civic Type R forums that I am involved with as well with the view to gaining some commissions from owners and clubs. Never know someone might fancy a shoot down at Reims in the summer!