Motoring art: Indira Flack

By Mick Walsh

| 3 Jan 2024

Classic & Sports Car – Motoring art: Indira Flack

From an early age, Indira Flack always had a creative urge, but it took a while before she discovered the right medium.

After studying fabric design, she was encouraged by her teachers to switch to photography, which resulted in a successful career taking portraits.

While recovering from a cycling accident in 2013, Indira decided she needed a new project.

Her partner, Paul Lund, suggested motorsport heroes.

Stuart Graham’s idea to wear his racing gear while sitting on his settee achieves a crisp contrast thanks to Indira Flack’s natural photography style

“I’d previously been commissioned for Country Life’s ‘The Great British Hobby’,” she says, “which gave me the idea of celebrating drivers past and present, plus stars of the future.”

Over the following 10 years, Indira contacted and photographed more than 100 drivers for a superb book, Great British Racing Drivers, which supports the charity Race Against Dementia and has an introduction by its founder, Sir Jackie Stewart, an early subject.

Many of the images involved visits to the drivers’ homes. “John Surtees was fantastic,” Indira says. “After the photography, he made us tea and we all sat in his kitchen for an hour chatting.”

John Surtees was one of the first portraits for Indira’s book, Great British Racing Drivers

Tragically, many of the older racing legends featured have since passed away, but Indira’s portraits of Jack Sears, Paddy Hopkirk, Vic Elford and Norman Dewis really capture these much-missed characters.

From the first portraits of Sir Stirling Moss and Surtees at the beginning of the project, every driver Indira approached was delightfully co-operative during her visits.

Many really went to town to help, none more so than Stuart Graham: “Because he is a TT champion with ’bikes and cars, we wanted to highlight both.

“Stuart had the idea of putting his driving overalls over his leathers and then just lay down on the settee. He got the concept instantly and was such fun to work with.”

Alain de Cadenet captured in his beloved Alfa Romeo 8C

For the rallying Tejpar family, Nabila and father Aziz wanted to highlight three generations of motorsport, plus a passion for baking.

“Nabila turned up with some fresh marble cake and we shot them teamed together in their grandfather’s East African Safari DAF 55, with Aziz balancing the cake.”

Although it was shot in a home garage, the inspired double portrait could be on a rally stage.

A key part of Indira’s process is partner Paul, who sets up the lighting: “We’re a proper team and he seems to know exactly how I want it to be lit.”

Norman Dewis is another racing hero who has sadly passed away since the project began

She likes to keep the finished image natural, with minor post-production editing for tidying details.

Originally a loyal Nikon fan – Indira loved her old FM2 – she has now switched to Sony equipment: “As well as being lighter, it’s perfect for reviewing pictures on the camera.”

Over the years, Goodwood’s motorsport events have been the ideal places to meet drivers, while the Duke of Richmond, a former advertising photographer, has been very supportive.

At 2023’s Festival of Speed, a special exhibition of Indira’s portraits was staged around the cricket pitch to promote the launch of the book and Race Against Dementia: “I’d love to do a second volume – there are so many other drivers I still want to photograph.”

Great British Racing Drivers is priced at £39.98 (with 10% going to Race Against Dementia) at narrativebooks.net/gbrd/

See indiraflack.com for more, or various art prints are available at gbrd.photos