Welcome to the GriffinRally Web Site. Over the last 25 years I have been taking photographs of rally cars as an enthusiastic amateur. My interest started as an excited youngster accompanying my father to local events. We lived a mile from the Epynt military range; a ten minute walk would see us in the middle of prime rallying territory.

My first recollection of spectating was on a very cold November night back in 1974 watching the RAC Rally on Epynt.

Eventually, from just spectating, I was given a camera and so began my foray into the exciting world of MK II Escorts and 131 Abarths. As with most peoples early exploits of rally photography, my initial efforts didn't make for good viewing, but perseverance and learning from one's mistakes made for an improvement.
 

My father Alan took the early pictures from this minute sample of my library. They range from Hannu Mikkola in the Embassy MK I Escort on the start line of the Eppynt stage of the 1972 RAC Rally to Roger Clark in the debut of my all time favourite rally car the 1975 Cossack Escort. Alan shot these on mostly Kodachrome 64 slide film - thankfully!

After ten years photographing the Welsh domestic scene, I eventually travelled further afield and attended the Race of Champions in the early 90's. Then came the discovery of Greece and the Acropolis Rally, an event tailor made for photographers and rally cars. After Dipotamia, Hafren would never be the same again!

In 2003 I was runner up in the Inmarsat WRC World Wide Star Shot photo competition, amateur category, and overall winner of the 2004 Motosport News Photo competition.

Richard Burns attacks Mendenista,
Inmarsat Star Shot Runner up 2003:

Harri Rovenpera at the Elatia / Zeli mudhole.
Winner of the Motorsport News Photo competition 2004:

Having watched and phographed the world's best drivers, I achieved one of my life long ambitions in 2004 when I had the opportunity to sit alongside Hannu Mikkola in a 260hp Mk2 Escort for 10 miles in a classic Welsh forest. This was an amazing experience, just to look across from the passenger seat and see Hannu at the wheel of a car that he arguably mastered more than any other driver of that era, was a dream come true. All that was missing was a few Eaton Yale stickers!

Most memorable moments must include the Network Q Rally of Great Britain using the asphalt of Epynt in 2002. I had often thought how great it would be to see the world's best drivers over the Epynt jumps - Colin Mcrae, Tommi Makinen & co didn't disappoint. Marcus Gronholm, Jani Passonen & Tomasz Kuchar all crashing on the kink just before Deers - one of the most famous rallying incidents ever was unfolding in front of us.

These are two of my favourite photographs.


Carlos Sainz in Grizedale on the 1990 RAC Rally:


and Colin McRae close to the start of Dipotamia s/s in Greece.

Most of the photographs shown are on transparency (1972- 2004). The early 110 format pictures were taken on a Kodak Instamatic, a 35mm Zenith E, progressing to a Pentax MG, a Canon T90, EOS 1N HS and currently a 1V HS. For digital work (2004 + ) I started with a Canon D30, but currently use a 10D and 1D MK2, using a range of Canon lenses - 15mm to 300mm.

In 2006 I achieved another ambition and co-produced with Martin Leonard the highly acclaimed book "Epynt" - A stage rallying history. This was a great project to be involved with, but also a steep learning curve for a first time author/publisher.

If you have any interesting pictures/negatives taken on Epynt or Welsh rallying in general please use the contact facility on this web site. We'll perhaps use them in the updated version?

  Mark Griffin