I joined F1: The Movie for the second half of filming, running the floor effects for my good friend Keith Dawson, who was supervising the Special Effects department.

If you know Keith, you know how meticulously prepared he is. By the time I arrived, most of the organisation and planning was already firmly in place, which, to be fair, made stepping in and running the floor considerably easier.The production itself was quite an experience. We were filming within the world of real Formula 1, at real circuits and during actual Grand Prix weekends, which gave us a level of access that money simply couldn't normally buy.

Silverstone was particularly special. I parked my camper at unit base for the British Grand Prix weekend and made absolutely sure I used every minute of the access we had. Pit lane, garages, trackside — we were right in amongst it. People pay a small fortune for a fraction of that experience, while somehow I was being paid to be there.

Working around Formula 1 cars at that level was extraordinary. The noise, speed and atmosphere are something television simply doesn't reproduce. When you're standing trackside as one of these cars goes past at full chat, you physically feel it.

It was also another opportunity to work with Brad Pitt after World War Z. Brad is a very cool cat — relaxed, professional and extremely easy to work with — so it was good to find ourselves on another film together all those years later.

From the Special Effects side there was plenty going on, but what stays with me most about this production is the experience surrounding it: Sitting in with Gary Powell on the test laps, working inside Formula 1 rather than simply making a film about it, with access to places and moments that most people will never get to experience.

And it was particularly satisfying to see Keith's work subsequently recognised with an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.

Fast cars, great access, good people and being paid to spend Grand Prix weekends trackside. How can you not have fun doing that?