Zoom charity auction races back into view for 2017

F1 drivers and team bosses have been showing off their photography skills once again for the Zoom charity initiative, which will host its fifth annual gala in London on Friday February 3, 2017. The unique initiative is the only auction of signed photos taken by the stars of any sport.

In 2017 all the proceeds of the auction will be donated to Starlight Children’s Foundation, which grants wishes-of-a-lifetime for seriously and terminally ill children, including an annual visit to the Monaco Grand Prix.

Throughout the current season, F1 drivers and team principals have been busy taking snapshots of their world. The photos show them in a different light as they give fans a glimpse behind the scenes at the track and reveal how the Formula One superstars enjoy themselves away from it.

The 2017 line-up includes an atmospheric photo from reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton entitled ‘Powerful Beyond Measure’ which he describes as “an image of a stunning sunset on the beautiful islands of Turks and Caicos, shot during the 2016 Formula One summer break.”

Zoom has released two more photos so far, Carlos Sainz’s cute snap of two meerkats, which he reveals are his favourite animal, and Felipe Massa’s selfie with Jenson Button which was taken during the Monza drivers’ parade. Massa explains: “We’ve been racing together for almost 15 years now. I will definitely miss going wheel-to-wheel with him.”

These photos, along with the rest of the signed images, will be auctioned by Coys in the ballroom of the InterContinental London Park Lane. Zoom has raised almost £100,000 for charity since it was launched and will boost this tally next year.

“Zoom is a super project,” commented Bernie Ecclestone, chief executive of the Formula One group. “We are proud to be supporting it again, helping to raise money for charity while showing what the stars of F1 get up to away from the TV cameras. We're also very pleased to welcome Zoom's new charity partner, Starlight Children's Foundation. They do a fantastic job making sick children's dreams come true and it's great to see the kids every year at the Monaco Grand Prix. It's good to have them on board.”

To find out more about Zoom, click here.