Well another Bathurst 1000 has come and has gone. This year marked the 50^th Anniversary of the Great Race and also marked my third Year in photographing v8 Supercars.

This year to commemorate the 50th Anniversary most teams took the challenge of changing the liverary of their vehicles for a more retro look and by the far the most meaningful one was the 888 Lowndes and Luff car, taking a Brock approach. Well Done to Vodafone for changing their strip for the 50^th anniversary.

Team Vodafone were unstoppable again but a late charge from David Reynolds in the Bottle’O Falcon almost ruined Jamie Whincup’s fourth win at the mountain.

The Endurance season finally kicked off last weekend with round 10 of the v8
supercar series. There were many mixed results, but again consistency was
proven for the fluro Orange team Vodafone.

The deadly combination of Lowndes/Luff, Whincup and Dumbrell showed to be
effective all weekend with the co-drivers having strong performances on both
days with the full time drivers doing their normal to keep the team ontop of the
points.

Lockwood Racing’s Fabian Coulthard had a frustrating weekend with his co-
driver destroying four front splitters leaving he team to borrow Jason Bright’s
BOC front nose for the 500km race on Sunday.

When the endurance season begins teams are in search for best driver
combinations possible, some choose proven results, some choose experience and
for some the decision comes down to budgets.

Personally, I don’t feel the endurance races should be about Championship
points but perhaps a separate prize for the winners as for some their strong
results all season may be effected with a low finish with the wrong driver
combination.

See you at Bathurst in three weeks

2008 was the last time the V8 Supercars raced at Eastern Creek Sydney. After
a few million dollars spent on track and facility upgrades and a new name, the
place looked almost brand new.

Teams arrived with old data and most just hoped that their cars were going to be
quick out of the truck or it may have seemed like a short round weekend, but it
could have felt like a very long weekend if things did not go to plan.

No surprises to see the same teams fast up front where it mattered with Team
Vodafone and FPR fighting for wins on both days.

With soft tyres on offer some teams rolled the dice and Tekno Autosports driver
Jonathon Webb was the first to dominate by leading Saturdays race for ten or so
laps before his tyres began to diminish as well as his lead.

The winners were Team Vodafone with Craig Lowndes taking out Saturday’s
race and Jamie Whincup winning Sundays race. The wins from both Team
Vodafone drivers means they have extended their lead from the FPR boys by one
single point.

Please enjoy my images and I look forward to the next Round in Sandown,
Victoria in a few weeks time.

The racing was awesome and both race 14 and 15 brought a heap of excitement with plenty of racing and thrills for the punters to enjoy. Great to see Fabian Coulthard get closer and closer to a podium finish by securing 4^th on Saturday but unfortunately an incident with Rick Kelly put an end to his speed and possibility of another top5 finish on Sundays race.

David Reynolds secured his first V8 Supercar Pole position on Sunday morning and he and the team were excited to receive the front row and the $2500 Armorall Pole Position Cheque, unfortunately for him and the fpr stable none of those guys were able to leave with victory but could only result in podium finishes for both Winterbottom and Davison.

Team Vodafone were the winners and Jamie Whincup showed us all why he wears the number one sticker on his car and drove to two wins and take race 14 and Race 15. Jamie and team mate Craig Lowndes raced hard on Sunday in the dying laps of the race, switching the lead a few times and causing the punters to roar on many occasions!

Jamie passed the chequered flag on Sunday and burned whatever rubber he left on those Dunlop tyres.  I was fortunate to photograph a fantastic Burnout shot while he excited the fans on the last corner before taking the car back to his team to continue celebrations.

Please Enjoy my images and I look forward to the next race.

Chris Nesci

I had the pleasure of attending and documenting the wedding of my dear friends Mark and Heidi Hill over the weekend and let me start by saying that the love, passion and dedication that the two of you show in every part of you lives is electric, inspiring and contagious.

It was a late start for me as I am used to arriving at the grooms home at 10am to snap a few images of the boys before moving on to the bride where she has been getting ready for hours and hours. This was not the case, Mark was sharp and was ready in minutes before a quick departure to the ceremony.

Heidi was also ready for me when i arrived and she looked stunning! She just couldn’t wait to get it over and done with, in her mind she was ready to marry Mark years ago and nothing had changed with minutes to go before she walked down the isle.

We arrived at the ceremony and Dustin, one of Mark and Heidi’s sons was ready in his cute little suit and straw hat, eager to walk mum down the isle. A quick kiss for mum and they were off!

Mark and Heidi married under the sun in the garden of the leaves and fishes restaurant with 60 of their closest friends and family, all guests were so happy for them to eventually tie the knot!

Heidi and Mark’s comment to me after the ceremony was simple “lets grab some quick pictures because we want to party” and that they did!

We returned to the venue for some family photos and then sat to enjoy a beautiful meal at the gorgeous Leaves and Fishes Restaurant. This place never fails, beautiful surrounding and even better food.

Again, congratulations Mark and Heidi and all the best to a bright and successful future.

Regards,
Chris Nesci