Visiting A Living Piece Of History

Only around a 2 hour drive to the base at Hemel Hempstead, we arrived at the DriftLimits around mid-afternoon after maybe getting lost two or three times on the way (they sent us information by email on how to find them but only realised this when we were already lost!) However it was the weather that was more of a concern since it hadn't stopped raining for most of the journey. It almost seemed fate that when we turned up, the clouds just managed to hold off with the tiniest amount of sunlight.

Not only is DriftLimits host to an amazing piece of racing history, as suggested by the name they carry a large supply of other vehicles to drive: Mazda MX5's, Audi R8's, even a few American police cars to rumble through the track that overcomes an old airfield. For what looks like a small area, it certainly felt like something so much more once we were waiting.

This is when we were now able to turn our attention to the esteemed Wall of Fame for the yellow racing team. Multiple pictures covered the wall of celebrities old and new who had been given the pleasure of meeting this beauty, as well as a centre piece displaying the car in the recognisable Silverstone pitlane from the Formula One British Grand Prix last year.

It was also now that we realised the exact car that we were seeing was from year my sister was born, the coincidences becoming all too real at this point.

We must have only waited for around 20 minutes before we were called to make our way over to a private sector of track. The weather was clouding over and it seemed as if the rain could hold off for just a little while longer, but for anyone that dabbles in photography knows that this can never ruin a good picture! During the journey, this would be the first time we were able to tell the company about the importance of this team with our family; safe to say they were intrigued. There was a small incline in the terrain which almost hide the showpiece from public view. You would find it hard to notice if it wasn't for its ecstatic colour.

And then, there it was:

Being protected by a small piece of shaded structure across the English countryside almost seems unnatural for something of its status (even if it wasn't a successful car during its time). Unfortunately the 2002 year saw the beginning of the end with the team as sponsorship money was slowly diminishing and the loss of the Honda engine for the 2003 season made it difficult to perform at a high standard. It makes you wonder what could've been.

You'll also notice it partnered with a F1000 car which was still incredible to see and compare to in their own styles, notably the F1 car having an engine that was 3 times more powerful.

Having the ability to be up close with the car was definitely something of an experience to be able to examine all of its structures and compare to how much the cars have changed between two decades. The Eddie Jordan signature on the front wing from the year I was born also added an extra bit of flare!

It seems that word of my sister's name had circulated around the small paddock as she fashioned a Jordan racing style dress (also from the year she was born! My parents bought that and kept it in perfect condition until it was gifted to her a few years back.) The guys that oversaw the car had so many questions about our love for Formula One, one even jokingly asked me if I was by any chance called Aston! It was an extremely special memory that was about to become even better.

Not only would my sister be getting a photoshoot with the car, but the family before us had booked to drive the car around for a few laps so we even had the privilege of seeing it in action. And more importantly hear the engine start up. Even though the car had to be housed with a V8 Judd instead of a V10 Honda when it was sold on and had mufflers inserted into the car, the sound elicits something inside of you when it starts up. And for a 22 year old car, it still roared!

While watching the car drive around, it reminded me about the one thing that absolutely fascinates me about Formula One cars which is it's the development of aerodynamics over the years. Obviously this car doesn't have a DRS system so it seems that in certain likes, a 2002 design could be more compared to the new 2026 regulated cars than what were powered around tracks all across the world between 2011 to today. The front nose was changed to have more of a sharper ridge towards the cockpit from the 2001 season and new techniques were established to reduce the weight of the car and centre the gravity more efficiently.

Now it was time for the main part of the day: the photos. The owners did a great job at pulling the car into a perfect position along the track to get the best angle, and better yet the rain had managed to just about hold off. No wet hair for the shoot which was a sigh of relief! It was such a relaxing experience for the three of us as all of the staff were so lovely at making this something to happily  remember with constant banter and all sharing this common interest intently. It makes me wish that I was alive at a time like this to see these historic teams race but alas I must rely on the stories I'm told by my parents.

Although we did experience this a few weeks ago, I was desperate to see the results of the final pieces of photography even if it wasn't me in the pictures! I can safety say that the day was captured perfectly even if it wasn't as bright and sunny as we'd hoped but a few editing tricks certainly made it all worthwhile.