White Lightning by Mathijs Maasakkers

A white Porsche 911 GT3 RS emerges from a sharp bend on the circuit, fully focused. The car is positioned exactly at the point where speed, control and precision converge. The red-and-white kerbstones follow the line of the bend and draw your gaze straight towards the Porsche, whilst the dark strip of tarmac makes the white silhouette stand out even more.

What makes this image special to me is the contrast between the vast expanse of the circuit and the relatively small car in the centre of the frame. Yet the Porsche immediately commands all the attention. The spectators along the fence give a subtle sense of the atmosphere around the circuit and make it clear that something special is happening here.

My inspiration for this photograph stems from my fascination with motor racing and the way in which cars truly come into their own on a circuit. On public roads, you mainly see a car’s design, but on the circuit you see what it was designed for. I therefore didn’t just want to photograph the Porsche, but above all to capture the moment of speed and concentration.

The atmosphere is tense, sporty and powerful. The car seems as though it might dive further into the bend at any moment. At the same time, the calm composition creates an almost minimalist image. The white Porsche forms a strong focal point against the dark tarmac and the warm, dry surroundings.

By photographing from a greater distance, I deliberately included a lot of the bend and the surroundings. This creates a sense of speed and space, whilst the curved lines of the circuit seem to guide the viewer towards the car.