from Ben Roehlen, Pace Images
Hey everyone! Long read ahead, so get comfy.
As the first round of the 2025 SP Tools Australian Kart Championship approaches, I’ve been working hard behind the scenes to prepare for another exciting season. I’ve had lots of messages from people asking if I’ll be covering the rounds this year, and I’m happy to confirm that yes, Pace Images will be back on board, providing media coverage for Karting Australia!
However, there are some big changes coming to Pace Images that will impact many of you. Let me explain…
This marks Pace Images’ 9th season covering karting competitions in Australia. When I first started, there was a huge demand for photos and not many photographers travelling interstate to capture the action. Then, for several years, I was the only photographer at every round of the AKC season, which meant I took photos of every kart—on and off the track—to meet the demand from karters and teams. Post-event, I would have tens of thousands of images to sort and edit, often supplying photos to over 100 karters and teams at a single event. This meant 7-10 days of photo editing post event! The support from you all was overwhelming, and it helped Pace Images grow into what it is today. I’m incredibly grateful for that.
However, as the sport grows, so does the competition. In recent years, we’ve seen an explosion of photographers attending karting events at all levels. At last year’s final round in Oakleigh, there were over 12 photographers on the track, which is fantastic for the sport. More photographers mean more exposure, and that benefits all of us. But with so many photographers capturing the action, it’s no longer feasible (or necessary) for me to cover every single kart on track.
So, in 2025, I’m making a shift. Pace Images will be working with fewer drivers and teams to provide a more personalized and thorough media package.
With this shift comes a significant price increase, but given the tailored nature of each media package, I believe it’s a justified investment in your racing career. My goal is to help drivers develop the confidence and skills needed to promote themselves and their sponsors, while also preparing them for the media expectations they’ll face when moving up to car racing (if they choose that path).
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At this point in time, these packages are fully sold out.
But don’t worry—Pace Images is still committed to providing excellent coverage for the events! I will continue supplying Karting Australia with event highlights from each round, capturing the epic on-track battles and the emotions off-track. The highlight folders will remain unchanged, covering as broad a range of karters as possible. And of course, I’ll still capture the fastest qualifiers and final winners in full.
After each event, there will be a “Winners Pack” available for each class’ round winner. This will ensure that no one misses out on those unforgettable memories, even if they’re not working directly with Pace Images.
I’m really excited about this new direction and the challenge it brings, but I understand that it may disappoint some of you who I won’t be able to work with this season. That said, there are plenty of fantastic photographers out there who will continue to be there to capture you all. I hope this change will even the playing field and give other photographers more opportunities to shine!
Thanks again for all your support, and I can’t wait to see you all at the track this year!
Cheers,
Ben
Pace Images
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