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Virtual Motorpix

Images and stories on cars and motorsport

Star Wars Day at the 6 Hours of Spa

May 12, 2017 by: John Mountney | Leave a Comment

Pitl lane team member at G-Drive Racing at Spa 2017

Star Wars Day at the 6 Hours of Spa – As an accredited motorsport photographer we are granted access to some pretty amazing and sometimes scary places and get to see a side of the sport that the guys and girls in the grandstands and terraces can only see on tv or in photographs. The pitlane is one such place.

#77, Porsche 911 RSR (2016) at the 6-hours of Spa 2017
#77, Dempsey Proton Racing, Porsche 911 RSR (2016), driven by Christian Ried, Matteo Cairoli, Marvin Dienst at WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2017, Spa-Francorchamps race circuit, on 06.05.2017

The pit lane is  both the quietest and the most frenetic and dangerous place on the circuit, so much so that as photographers when working in the pit lanes during FIAWEC or ACO (Le Mans 24H) races we have to wear fire suits and helmets. As a result some of us look like teletubbies and others look like super heroes.

It was rather apt that this year at Spa we celebrated Star Wars Day “May the Forth…” We didn’t get to see Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker but there were numerous storm trooper squads orchestrated by a car controller (lollipop man)

Vaillante Rebellion's Lollipop man at the 6-hours of Spa 2017
#13, Vaillante Rebellion, Oreca 07 Gibson, driven by, Mathias Beche, David Heinemeier Hanson, Nelson Piquet Jr, FIA WEC 6hrs of Spa 2017, 04/05/2017,

Pit lane team members at Vaillante Rebellion at the 6-hours of Spa 2017

 The car controller is the commander he is the link between the pit wall, the driver and the pit crew. Nothing happens without the car controller!

Lollipop man for Tockwith Motorsports in the pits during the 6-hours of Spa 2017

On the command of the car controller the storm troopers are ready to refuel (both car and driver).

Porsche Team ready to receive the #2 car for refuelling

#38 Jackie Chan DC Racing driver changeChange wheels

#38 tyre change on the Oreca 07 Gibson

Clean windscreens.

Pit stop of the #77 Porsche 911 of Dempsey Proton Racing

And oversee driver changes

Driver change for the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid

Pit lane driver change for the #25 of Manor TRS RacingSometimes there is a rebel in the squad

Pit lane crew member of #1 Porsche

But nothing is missed by the Storm troopers

Pit lane crew of #25 CEFC Manor TRS Racing

Or by the Galactic Emperors!

Dr. Wolfgang Porsche at the 6-hours of Spa 2017
Dr. Wolfgang Porsche
Earl Bamber, Timo Bernhard, #2 Porsche LMP Team
#2 Earl Bamber, Timo Bernhard, Porsche LMP Team
Hans-Joachim Stuck (right), Porsche
Hans-Joachim Stuck (right), Porsche

 Once the driver is clear

#98 Aston Martin driver

And the controller is happy the car is released.

#34 Tockwith Motorsports at 6-hours of Spa 2017

Back to warp speed…

#95 Aston Martin Vantage of Aston Martin Racing at Spa 2017
#95, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin Vantage, driven by, Marco Sorensen, Nicki Thiim, Richie Stanaway, FIA WEC 6hrs of Spa 2017, 06/05/2017,

For more images of the 6-hours of Spa, check out our website: www.virtualmotorpix.com

Written by: John Mountney
Images by: Virtual Motorpix/John Mountney and Glen Smale

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Categories: Automotive Photography, Car Racing, Featured Articles Tags: Aston Martin, Bamber, Bernhard, Dempsey Proton, Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Jackie Chan, Manor, Porsche, Rebellion, Stuck, Tockwith

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