A very wet and windy January morning greeted everyone at Dunkeswell Raceway for the first DKC Open Test Day of 2026. Storm Ingrid was sweeping across the South West of England, bringing with it torrential, almost horizontal rain driven by strong winds straight across the circuit.

Before even thinking about braving the elements, there was only one sensible first stop – the Raceway Café. A hearty breakfast was essential fuel before heading out into what can only be described as the wilds of Dunkeswell on a January morning.

Despite the challenging conditions, it was genuinely great to see so many karters turn out for the first open test day of the year. Wrapped up against the weather, drivers ventured out onto a very wet circuit, where several areas of standing water quickly formed. As the sessions got underway, plumes of spray were being kicked up from the wet racing tyres, adding to the drama of the morning.

With fierce winds blowing in from the adjacent airfield, the spray was almost racing the karts down the straight – at times it looked like a contest to see which would cross the finish line first. The weather was far from ideal: dull, grey, and relentless. But conditions like these often tell the best stories, and I was hopeful of capturing the raw atmosphere of winter testing through my images.

From a photographer’s point of view, it was a challenging but rewarding morning. I spent the session moving around trackside, working from various angles and locations to make the most of the conditions. Low light, heavy spray, and fast-moving karts pushed both equipment and technique, but these are the days that really test you – and often produce the most characterful shots.

Hats off to everyone who attended this first open test day in extremely testing weather. It was especially good to see some new novice karters taking their first steps on their motorsport journey, undeterred by the conditions.

A full gallery from the day is now available here, with images capturing the grit, determination, and atmosphere of winter testing at Dunkeswell Raceway. If you were out on track, take a look – Images are available to view and purchase – perfect for teams, drivers, and families looking to mark the start of the new season. As always, buying images helps support my work trackside and allows me to continue covering DKC events throughout the season.

Hopefully by now everyone is fully dried out… and looking forward to the next week when we’re back on track, perhaps with a little less wind and rain.