Esprit Tell Organisers Where to Go...

If I've translated this correctly, the organisers of the Bol d'Or test sessions want to charge Esprit Racing, who run respected French unofficial World Endurance site World-Endurance.com, 700 Euros for the use of the official photos from the forthcoming Bol d'Or tests.

Rather than give Pascal from Esprit a photo pass for the tests, they've suggested he reach 'an agreement' with their official photographer. The 'agreement' is for Esprit to pay 700 Euros.

Unbelievable.

These tests would normally be reported as news in the motorcycling media. You would think that the organisers would embrace the presence of the media as they'll bring welcome - and free - publicity for the race itself. Publicity that would bump up the number of paying spectators, keep the race and circuit sponsors happy, generate even more media interest for the race...

By refusing to supply photo accreditation to independent photographers like Pascal, the test organisers are restricting the reporting of the tests to just the official channels.

Which publications (magazine, newspaper, website or otherwise) would be prepared to pay over 600 quid for some photos of the Bol tests? Outside France, none.

And how soon before the Bol organisers are charging for press accreditation for the race itself?

Next time you wonder why there isn't more coverage of the World Endurance Championship in the UK, you won't have to look far for the answer.

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Esprit are running their own pirate photo sessions at the Bol tests; hopefully we'll bring you the results :o)