If you have ever looked at photography forums, message boards, or even the comment section of your favourite photography YouTuber you will see the same question come up again and again.
What camera/lens should I buy?
The reasons behind this question typically fall into one of two camps:
1) A person has seen a shot that they love and want to emulate and think that it is their gear that is letting them down.
2) They are looking at either a first time purchase or an upgrade.
When people look at photos taken by professional photographers with the latest and great gear, it's very easy to think that this is what makes the shot. When it comes to motorsport however, this is very rarely the case. The same skills that are used to produce these shots can be done on any camera that has manual settings, even a film camera.
It's important to recognise that the difference between consumer and professional gear in motorsport is simply the options that you have, consumer gear has more limiting uses, being restricted to an aperture like f/4 or f/5.6 means that getting shots in darker environments becomes more challenging, or getting those clean portraits with the clear smooth bokeh are going to be more difficult. However, the majority of photos actually taken out on track are using aperture values like f/8, f/11, f/22 even to get a much slower shutter speed and purposefully create motion blur.
In terms of camera bodies, again all the newer models do is provide you with more options.
More advanced focus modes allow for easier time focusing.
Faster burst modes mean less chance of missing that key shot.
Zero blackout viewfinders make it easier to track a subject with slow shutter.
Even mirrorless cameras are simply lighter, and allow you to actively see what your image may look like before you take it.
However, at the end of the day whether you're using the brand new Sony A9III or a 20 year old Canon 2000D (Rebel T7) the basics are the same, a sensor that records light to produce an image.
If you are asking this question because you want to replicate another photographer's photo, then perhaps you should be asking how a photo was taken rather than the gear on which it was taken, and practice until you can accurately produce the results you desire.
If you're new to the hobby/profession and are looking for where to start, then my suggestion would be to pick a brand that has the best service and selection of cameras and lenses across and buy a camera with the minimum set of settings that you need and spend the rest of your budget on high quality lenses, as these will outlive any camera body.
If that means buying 2x Canon R3s and the full suite of professional lenses or whether it's a secondhand 2000D and a 16-55mm kit lens you will still be able to take some incredible photos. So get out there and shoot!