Car Event Photography in North Wales: A McLaren Drive

A car event is about more than the cars. The setting, the people and the moments between stops all help tell the story. This six-car McLaren drive through North Wales offered plenty to photograph, from mountain roads and changing skies to the attention the cars drew along the way.

The group met at Starbucks in Rhostyllen, near Wrexham. Dom had organised the drive and arrived in a grey McLaren GT. Over the first coffees, conversation turned to Modena, Ferraris and Paganis. As the other cars arrived, the group grew to six.

I was lucky enough to ride shotgun in a blue McLaren 750S, with Kyle at the wheel. From the passenger seat, I could enjoy the drive and look for moments that showed the cars in their surroundings.

From the Horseshoe Pass to Bala

We headed towards the Horseshoe Pass on the A542, stopping near the summit for photographs. The weather kept changing, but the breaks in the cloud brought welcome light across the road and the cars.

People pulled over to take pictures as the convoy passed. That kind of reaction is part of what makes a group drive interesting to photograph. The cars become part of the landscape, but they also change the atmosphere around them.

After finding the Ponderosa closed, we continued towards Bala. At Bala Lake, we stopped for coffee and more photos after a short shower. The clouds were gathering, but the cars still drew plenty of interest from visitors.

Mountain roads and Lake Vyrnwy

The roads over Bwlch y Groes and through the Berwyn Mountains were narrow in places, with rougher surfaces than you might expect for a supercar convoy. The route was spectacular, though, with open views as the weather began to clear.

We continued towards Lake Vyrnwy, following the shoreline before stopping at the dam. I had not visited the lake before and was impressed by the scale of the dam and its setting. The cars attracted another crowd, with tourists taking photographs as we stopped.

Lunch at Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa gave the group time to talk and take a break. The car park even had a helicopter in it, adding another unexpected detail to the day.

Photographing car events

A day like this shows why car event photography benefits from variety. The cars matter, but so do the route, the changing light, the people who stop to look and the small details that make the event memorable.

The final run towards Oswestry brought faster roads and the sound of the 750S climbing towards 8,000 rpm. We finished at The Sweeney Hotel in Morda, where the six McLarens made an impressive sight in the sunshine.

If you are organising a car meet, supercar tour or motoring event and would like to discuss photography, contact Experience Photography at shoot@experiencephotography.co.uk.