In Barcelona next year Oliver Klar will celebrate his 10th anniversary. Since 1991 he has been covering the Formula1 races for the German TV station, RTL. In the almost 10 years of traveling from race circuit to race circuit Oliver has only missed 2 races, once because he allowed himself the luxury to see his daughter being born.
Oliver’s long and exciting career as a F1 cameraman begun when ARD closed down their office in Berlin where he was then working as a cameraman for the foreign desk. A colleague of his, Axel Meier, had a production company and asked Oliver if he wanted to join them on the F1 team. “The moment when Schumacher entered the Formula 1, the production for RTL got bigger and bigger. So first they where looking for a second team, then for a third, and so on. I actually wanted to do it only for a year.”
But 9 years later Oliver is still with the same team and still holds the same enthusiasm that he had in the early days.
“I was always fascinated with Formula1 and, as you see, I haven’t stopped since. From the point of view as a cameraman it was and still is fascinating that you have to respond very very quickly to various situations. The danger is in the pit stops, to be able to film so close to these really fast driving cars and to feel the danger. It is a kick!”
Formula 1 cars produce up to 770 break horse power, reaching speeds of over 300km/h, driven by the world's best drivers. Any fast car lover knows that Formula1 tops the class of shear power and adrenalin. But with this kind of power comes the real threat of danger.
“When cars drive in fuel tanks blow up or, as it once happened, a tire came off when the car went out. The tire flew through the area at a very high speed and hit the mechanics. And we were there with our cameras as well. There were a lot of critical situations when you thought "Jesus, that was close".
“The noise is very loud and we only film wearing earplugs. You have to be careful not to get any ear damage when you are without the plugs. We have special ones which are connected to the director and the studio and we can understand the internal communication. So basically until now I've been lucky that nothing has happened to me and I hope it stays that way.”
Due to these high risk factors, Formula1 pit cameramen have many restrictions and they have to find ways around them.
"We are very limited in the area where we are allowed to film in the pits. We are not allowed to use a tripod because of security reasons. If everybody would stand in the pit stop with a tripod and then something happens you can’t react fast enough and jump out of the away. With the camera on the shoulder you are much more flexible. We use telephoto lenses to make sure that optically we come very close to the person or the car. And of course telephoto lenses are much heavier and therefore much more difficult to handle. It's very tough on your back."
Almost 10 years later Oliver is still with the team. Being a F1 cameraman, traveling from country to country, from circuit to circuit has its physical toll. The races are only a 
week or two apart in all the various parts of the globe. As Oliver explains it is not all glamour and fun. “Well, first of all it’s an extremely physical pressure. You shouldn’t underestimate the fact that traveling around the world is very tough. The time differences, the different temperatures, the different climate. It really is a challenge. I would compare it with sports. I used to do athletics. You see, you have to get through it, you can’t give up in between. You have to get through the days, you set yourself a target and you go for it. Believe me, after a Grand Prix you are exhausted just as if you have run a marathon.”
When Oliver joined the RTL Formula1 team he only planned on being with them for a year. Almost 10 years later he is now planning on staying with them until 2003 when RTL looses the rights to the Formula1. After that he plans to spend more time at home and watch his daughter grow up.
Oliver films using a Sony BVW700.
