We had already gone to the Monza race track in 2015 for the 1000 Miglia but, for the first time I was there to see a contemporary automobile race, the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show which uses sections of the Formula 1 circuit and the old high speed ring. It was different. It was fun, although it has not been all the way straightforward or painless. Samsung’s step-counter has measured 12 km walking in a single day.

Alessandro Bosca’s Ford Fiesta WRC 1.6 in the paddock booth at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D750, 50 mm (50.0 mm ƒ/1.8) 1/100″ ƒ/8 ISO 100

Alex Caffi’s Porsche 997 GT3 in the paddock booth at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D750, 20 mm (20.0 mm ƒ/1.8) 1/4″ ƒ/8 ISO 100

Kalle Rovanperä, age 16, with Risto Pietiläinen (navigator) on Sloda Fabia WRC 1.6 at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/250″ ƒ/8 ISO 800

A. Locatelli and M. Torri on Ford Fiesta at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 24 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/250″ ƒ/8 ISO 800

M. Spinelli and A. Vimercati on Ford Fiesta at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/250″ ƒ/8 ISO 800

Dani Sordo and M. Marti on a Hyundai New Generation i20 WRC 1.6, second best at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/500″ ƒ/8 ISO 2500

Marco Bonanomi and Luigi Pirollo on a Citroen DS3 WRC 1.6, third at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/500″ ƒ/8 ISO 2500

Tony Cairoli and Matteo Romano on Citroen DS3 WRC 1.6 at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/500″ ƒ/8 ISO 2500

Alessandro Bosca and Roberto Aresca on Ford Fiesta WRC 1.6 at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/500″ ƒ/8 ISO 2500

Alessio “Uccio” Salucci and Mitia Dotta on Ford Fiesta WRC 1.6 at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/500″ ƒ/8 ISO 2500

Nikon D750, 50 mm (50.0 mm ƒ/1.8) 1,3″ ƒ/8 ISO 100

La coppia Marco Bianchini-Silvio Stefanelli su Lancia Rally 037, vincitori tra le auto storiche.

Marco Bonanomi and Luigi Pirollo on a Citroen DS3 WRC 1.6, third at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 50 mm (50.0 mm ƒ/1.8) 1/125″ ƒ/8 ISO 500

The Brivio brothers on a Ford Fiesta, fifth on arrival at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/30″ ƒ/4 ISO 3200

Claudio Conforto Galli and Sonia Scarafoni airborn at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016 on a Toyota GT86 CS-R3. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/250″ ƒ/8 ISO 800

Accident Saturday between Renato Papaleo (Ford Fiesta R5) and Luca Potente (Citroen DS3 R5) at the first chicane of the F1 circuit at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/50″ ƒ/4 ISO 3200

Aftermath of the accident at the first chicane at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/50″ ƒ/4 ISO 3200

Dani Sordo and M. Marti on a Hyundai New Generation i20 WRC 1.6, second best at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 120 mm (24-120.0 mm ƒ/4) 1/30″ ƒ/4 ISO 3200

Marco Bonanomi and Luigi Pirollo on a Citroen DS3 WRC 1.6, third at the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 50 mm (50.0 mm ƒ/1.8) 1/40″ ƒ/4 ISO 6400

Lorenzo Della Casa and Domenico Pozzi on Ford Fiesta WRC 1.6. Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. Nikon D810, 50 mm (50.0 mm ƒ/1.8) 1/40″ ƒ/4 ISO 6400

Valentino Rossi and Carlo Cassina winners of the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show 2016. on a Ford Fiesta WRC 1.6. Nikon D810, 400 mm (80-400.0 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6) 1/800″ ƒ/6.3 ISO 2500

Cristina had arranged everything with the press office. There are four level of access for photographers. A simple pass (access to the tribunes and to the paddock); a yellow  security vest (AOTA plus certain spots on the race track); an orange  vest (AOTA plus complete access to the track view points); the Monster pass (AOTA plus access to the Monster welcome areas and Monster press conferences).

Monster Energy is the sponsor of the show and demands full control of all communications. An impossible task, that poses lots of restrictions and constraints.

Main Monster Energy drink sponsored star is Valentino Rossi, about to become the fifth time winner of the Monster Energy Monza Rally Show. His press office required a fifth degree of access. Forget it.

We managed with a single yellow vest in two. It was not easy, but we managed.