Bishopscourt Photographic Guide

Address: Bishopscourt Racing Circuit, Lismore Road, Downpatrick BT30 7EY, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)28 4484 2202

Email: roy@bishopscourt.org

Website: FaceBook

Bishopscourt Report and Images by Colin Johnston

Bishopscourt is a motor racing circuit in Co. Down, Northern Ireland, 28 miles south of Belfast. It is a photographer

friendly circuit as the majority of the circuit has good spectator access, limited safety fences and where you can get

close to the racing.

I’m a bit biased as bike racing is my thing, and my guide will mainly concentrate on that. However, there’s more than

bikes at Bishopscourt, with meetings for Karts, Single seaters, Touring cars and Classics throughout the racing season.

The circuit is also used for Rallying, Drag Racing, Track days, Exhibitions and general testing. From a bike racing

perspective, Bishopscourt hosts rounds of the Ulster Superbike Championship, Classic Bike Festivall and the end of

season Sunflower Trophy meeting.

History

Bishopscourt is a former RAF base and has been a motorsport venue since the 1960’s. The circuit now uses one side

of a triangle of disused runways and as you would expect, there isn’t much change in elevation around the track. That

said, the circuit provides a venue for good close racing, with a variety of fast bends and slower corners that challenge

the skills of the competars as well as entertaining the crowds.

There are two main car parks at Bishopscourt, one just after entering the circuit, and the other opposite the paddock to the let of the main straight, both car parking areas being only a few metres from the track itself. Parking at various other parts of the track is also normally available.

Recommended Photographic Equipment

My gear includes Canon DSLR and 100-400mm zoom and 500mm prime lenses,, but some areas are close enough to

allow shorter focal lengths to get good results. I find that the 100-400mm lens is the perfect piece of kit for

Bishopscourt, as this is more than enough to capture the majority of the acton. All these photographs were taken at

the at the various meetings over the past few years.

I usually start my day in the paddock, shooting the bikes on their stands and the crews working on them. At the top

end of the paddock is the race office, control tower, scrutenering and the various catering outlets.

Area A

The start line is around a third of the way along the Lismore Straight.

Photographs of the start of races can be taken from the outside of the circuit just about level with the start line. It can also be viewed from the paddock, although low walls and the pit lane mean that taking good photographs is tricky.

After the start line on the outside of the circuit is a small bank, that provides pretty good viewing.

Just under 500m from the start line is Brock’s, a fast left hander that provides plenty of action especially during the

opening laps when all the riders are bunched together. Access to both sides of the track allows plenty of photographing opportunities, on both the inside and outside of the track.

Area B

On the inside of the corner, you can shoot at the Armco barrier which is around 10 metres from the track, allowing

the use of shorter focal length lenses; 200m is more than enough here. As you’re not restricted on where you can

stand, photographs of the riders on entry and exit of the corner are possible, as well as shots with the bikes on the

kerb mid-corner.

Area C

On the inside of the track, a long lens is required to get shots with the bikes coming straight towards you, or panning shots as the riders negotiate the corner.

Less than 100m further on and it’s pretty hard braking into the right hander Islandgore, a reasonably good spot to

shoot overtaking on the brakes. Again, access is possible on both sides of the track, all the way from Brock’s.

Area D

On the outside of Islandgore, shooting the bikes entering the corner is unobstructed and just behind the Armco barriers. High catch fencing is in place for the rest of the corner, but there is a small gap around the mid-point of the bend, and shooting through the fence is also an option. The fence continues right up to the marshal’s hut at the exit of the bend, but a reasonably long lens is needed to get close to the action from there.

Area E

Access on the inside is possible, although a little bit further from the track. The view is unobstructed from behind the Armco, allowing shots of the bikes braking into the corner and well cranked over right through the bend, with the odd wheelie as the bikes exit the bend.

Area F

Next up is Larchwood, a fast left-hand kink in the track in its normal configuration. I’ve only recently found this spot and access is only possible at the outside of the track, but it allows for shots of the bikes leaned over at a reasonable speed.

Area G

There is the option to run Larchwood as a tighter left hander leading into a small cambered loop that reminds me a little of Shell Oils corner at Oulton Park. I have never seen this part of the circuit in acton, but it looks like it would be

an interesting addition to the current layout.

Area H

Coming out of Larchwood, a short straight leads into the Hairpin. Heavy braking and overtakes are the order of the day here.

If you’re prepared to make you way through long grass, then you can position yourself on the outside of the circuit to

shoot up the straight with the bikes peeling into the corner. Early laps usually have multiple bikes entering the corner,

however you again need a reasonably long lens to get up close to the action.



Making your way through the grassallows access to most parts of the outside of the hairpin, reasonably close to the circuit with the bikes at impressive lean angles. There’s a marshal’s hut just at the exit of the bend, around which is a very popular spot for photographers.

Area I

There is limited access to the inside of the Hairpin, but it is one of my favourite spots. With a longish lens you can track the riders from Larchwood, braking and overtaking into the hairpin, then follow them round all of the corner. As they accelerate out, three quarter and side on shots are possible with relatively short lenses.

After accelerating out of the Hairpin there’s a short straight to Deegan’s chicane, along which wheelies are commonplace particularly the celebrations of a race win.

Area J

From the inside of Deegan’s you’re a little bit further from the acton but reasonably close up shots are possible with around a 200mm lens.

Area K

Deegan’s is a relatively slow left-right chicane, and access is possible on both sides of the track from the entrance under braking and right through to accelerating out onto the main straight. From the outside it is possible to get close to the track right through the corners.

Area L

Although it’s known as the back straight, there are a couple of fast kinks known as Fairway’s 1 and Fairway’s 2. Again, all along this straight has unobstructed viewing and photographing opportunities on both sides of the circuit. The outside of the track at Fairway’s 1 allows more head-on or three-quarter shots, then behind the screen toward Fairway’s 2.

Area M

From the inside, both the left and right-handed sections offer excellent fast panning shots, the results can be quite pleasing. Just after Fairway’s 1 on the Inside of the track you can shoot the bikes at top speed.

Hard on the brakes approaching the tighter chicane known as Fairway’s 2, another of the passing opportunities for the riders. It’s possible to shoot on either side of the track.

Area N

On the inside, the track is approximately 40 metres away from the spectating area but provides some of the best side-on braking shots. The initial right-hand section can be partially obscured by the kerbside grass, but as the track gets a bit closer to the spectating area, the left-hand part allows side-on shots with the bikes well cranked over.

In the mid part of this section there is a tall safety fence that runs almost to the next corner, Ringawaddy. At the end of the fence, it is possible to shoot the bikes as they exit the right-hand secton of Fairway’s 2, but this needs a long lens to get close to the action.

Area O

From the outside of Fairway’s 2, it’s possible to access alongside the bends. Again, on the entrance to the let hander side-on shots of the riders braking hard are possible, and moving further along the Armco barrier allows shots from slightly ahead of the bikes as they’re braking. At this point on the circuit there’s a grassy bank that’s a popular spectating place and runs alongside the track to Ringawaddy. This can provide a good position for shooting as the riders drive through the left-hand exit to Fairway’s 2.

Area P



A short dash from Fairway’s 2 leads to Ringawaddy, a right-hander that is a common overtaking spot. Again, access is

possible on both sides of the track. The grass bank is a popular spectating spot, that also allows side shots down on

the bikes, as well as plenty of opportunities down at track level.

Moving further round the corner allows you to shoot straight back along the track as the bikes peel and as they navigate the corner.

Area Q



On the inside of Ringawaddy, there’s plenty of room to shoot at any part of the corner, from the braking area to accelerating out onto the next part of the track. Any lens around 200mm can produce decent images.

Area R

Between Ringawaddy and the final series of bends, Dunsford, there‘s a short piece of track with a left kink. I don’t believe this has a name as it’s not really a corner, but it is one of my favourite spots for shooting bikes as they pass through the kink and peel into the left-hand entry into Dunsford.

Area S



The left-hander into the Dunsford from the outside of the track allows shots of the bikes as they brake and enter the

corner.

Area T

Dunsford is the final series of bends before the bikes enter the finish straight. There is very limited access from the inside due to the pitlane entrance. The only pics from here require the use of a long lens, at least 500mm. Around the outside of Dunsford, access is almost unlimited at track level behind the Armco, or from another grassy bank that again is a popular spectating spot.



It’s probably the most popular spot for photographers, especially during the opening laps when multiple bikes are circulating together, but there’s plenty of room for everyone. For shots from the Armco a 200mm lens is sufficient, but from the bank a little more is required.

Accelerating out of Dunsford and onto the Lismore Straight leads to the finish line to complete the lap of Bishopscourt.