DIVE INTO MIKE’S KIT BAG

1 Nikkor AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR New price: £1,999 MPB price*: £1,239 (Excellent condition)

The AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is my go-to trackside lens. It weighs 1.5kg but can be comfortably handheld. Dual Vibration Reduction modes are effective for panning. The versatility of a zoom lens suits the unpredictable nature of racing, and an optic capable of reaching at least 400mm (35mm equivalent) will allow you to get close to the action at most circuits.

2 Nikon EN-EL15 battery New price: £N/A MPB price*: £28 (Excellent condition)

If I’m shooting a few landscapes, the Nikon EN-EL15 will power my D800 all day long, but during a race I’m constantly operating the camera. Add to that practice, the qualifying and the support races, and it can be hard to find a lull in the action. I often drain two batteries in a day, so I always make sure I have at least four batteries fully charged and ready to go.

3 Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4E PF ED VR New price: £1,799 MPB price*: £1,259 (Good condition)

This little lens weighs just 755g, making it a joy to handhold and carry around in your kit bag. The 300mm focal length is usable at most tracks and the optic pairs well with Nikon’s AF-S TC-14E III and TC-20E III teleconverters. The Sports Vibration Reduction mode is a useful option to have. The lens produces sumptuous images that are pin-sharp.

4 Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G New price: £209 MPB price*: £139 (Excellent condition)

This little lens isn’t the best ‘nifty fifty’ out there, but it’s incredibly affordable for a Nikon-branded full-frame lens, and boasts a fast f/1.8 aperture to boot. Its small size and light weight means it never leaves my kit bag, and that versatile 50mm focal length is perfect for capturing portraits of drivers and riders as they frequent the pits.

5 Nikon D800 New price: £N/A MPB price*: £649 (Excellent condition)

When the Nikon D800 was released in 2012, it was the world’s highestresolution full-frame DSLR, and its 36.3MP sensor is still beefy by today’s standards. When it comes to motorsport photography, I swear by single-point AF and loathe sifting through thousands of burst shots, so the outdated AF tech and slow continuous shooting don’t bother me.

6 Manfrotto XPro Monopod+ New price: £89 MPB price*: (Check for stock)

I spend most of my time shooting handheld, but weekend fatigue can set in during a long race. When that happens, I turn to my Manfrotto XPro Monopod+.

Its Quick Power Lock system is simple to deploy and rock-solid during use. Crucially, each lock can be released and secured using one hand, so you don’t have to move your eye from the viewfinder.