Nationwide was in pole position for the filming of this year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone. A total of eight Nationwide Skylift truck-mounted booms were hired, ranging from Europe's taller booms with a 72-metre platform height, to a 50-metre boom machine, two 44 metre booms and four 34 metre booms.

According to ITV's Formula One producer, the Skylift's were essential for the drama and excitement of the race to be conveyed to the millions of viewers glued to their TV screens. They ensured that film crews achieved precisely the camera angles and heights that were essential to show the heart-stopping action as it unfolded during the race. This included the ability to reach out 26 metres over the finish line to capture the tension of the chequered flag.

Speed of mobility was another plus in Skylift's favour, helping ITV to retain its pre-eminence for filming international high-speed track events. One of the camera crew put it very succinctly when he said: "With any track event there is the potential for visual repetition if cameras stay in fixed positions throughout the race. With Nationwide's Skylifts we ensured viewers experienced all of the energy of the race by varying the camera angles and elevations for maximum effect. I guess that is why ITV has been using Nationwide for so many years."

Certainly motor racing commentator Jim Rosenthal got the most out of Nationwide elevation. The opening shots featured him towering over Silverstone, microphone in hand in true racing commentator style, on the fully extended platform of the 72 metre Nationwide Bronto Skylift. The rotational boom Bronto features an outreach of more than 27.7 metres.

The machines were supplied from three of the company's six specialist Skylift Master Depots in London, Coventry and Manchester, although every one of the 50 or so Nationwide powered access depots can arrange the hire of Skylift equipment and a driver/operator. The Skylift fleet, which currently consists of 166 truck mounted telescopic and articulating access booms, has nearly two dozen models from which to choose.

Nationwide is part of the publicly-quoted Lavendon Group plc and is headquartered in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. Its hire fleet is twice the size of its nearest UK competitor and all of the company's depots comply with Nationwide's ISO 9002 accreditation. The Group is also the leading player in the European powered access market, trading under the name Zooom in Germany, France, Spain and Austria.

END

December 2001 Nat1.013a