Green Flag announces motorsport photography competition winners

The winners and runners up in a competition to find the countrys top amateur motorsport photographers have been announced by Green Flag, sponsor of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). In the senior category winner, Graham Bloomfield from Bristol scooped the top prize of 600 and Chester teenager Philip Ackerley (aged 17) was awarded 400 in the junior category.

Along with cash prizes, the winners got to spend the day with motorsport photographer Jakob Ebrey, experiencing life as a professional at the final rounds of the Green Flag BTCC at Oulton Park race circuit in Cheshire.

Senior category winner Graham Bloomfield won with a photograph of one of the cars competing in the Seat Cupra Championship taking off at Rockingham circuit.

Expert judge, motorsport photographer Jakob Ebrey said: Graeme had the foresight to shoot from one of the most exciting parts of the circuit and showed split-second timing to capture the drama of high-speed racing."

Accepting his award, keen amateur photographer, Graham said: Jakobs inspiration and Green Flags financial help has spurred me on to turn pro as soon as possible. Starting with a new digital camera."

Junior category winner 17-year-old Philip Ackerleys photograph captured a frenzied pitstop for the 2003 Green Flag BTCC champion Yvan Muller at Rockingham circuit. Philip showed how its possible for amateurs to catch key moments in the race and in this case the drama of a quick pitstop that could be the difference between winning and losing," said Jakob Ebrey.
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Commenting, sponsorship manager Nick Page said: The quality of submissions was superb. We ran the competition last year to coincide with our sponsorship of the Green Flag BTCC and again we have been bowled over by the amount of photographic talent out there."

In the senior category, the runners up were:
·   Adam Maul from Teesside for his shot of Anthony Reids MG ZS on two wheels on North Yorkshires Croft Circuit.

·   David Andrews from Gosport, Hampshire for his revealing photograph of BAR F1 test driver Anthony Davidson at this years Goodwood Festival of speed.

·   Nigel Keene from Maidenhead, Berkshire for his shot of touring cars vying for position at Snetterton Circuit, Norwich.

In the junior category, the runners up were:
·   Andrew Fryatt (aged 12) from Bedale in North Yorkshire for capturing Alan Morrisons Honda Civic braking hard and subsequently loosing a wheel earlier this year at Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire.

·   Ruth Hill (aged 17) for her shot of a single-seater car taking on the challenge of the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb in Worcestershire.

Notes to Editors
1.   The competition was open to amateur photographers in two age categories -- junior up to 18 years and senior aged 18 years and over. Full details of the competition rules are available from the Green Flag website (www.greenflag.com).
2.   The judging panel included Hillary Williams, Green Flag marketing director, Jakob Ebrey (Motor Sport Association young photographer of the year 2002) and Dan Eaves, touring car driver with Team Halfords.
3.   All winners/runners-up photographs and Green Flag BTCC images are available by contacting the press office.
4.   Winners and runners up are on display at www.greenflag.com.

Press Calls
For further information contact Nigel Charlesworth/Nick Page at Green Flag Motoring Assistance on 0113 399 1427/1423 (out of hours: 07711 964 615).