For the Wednesday afternoon free practice session (4 to 8 pm), the plan was to get shots of the cars going up the Dunlop Courbes (from Stand 12) and through the “S” Ford Curves (from Stands 22 and 23), since spectators have free access to the stands on Wednesday (and Thursday), which allowed for shots over the fence. Along the walk from Stands 12 to 23, would get shots through the fence in the Virage du Raccordement area. After shooting from Stand 23, would then get some shots from the Ferris wheel, then walk down to the Porsche Curves for evening shots. Hope you like the photos.

Dunlop Courbes (from Stand 12)

A wide shot of the end of the front straight leading into Dunlop Courbes taken from Stand 12 (Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 230mm, f/16,1/1000, ISO 1600)

#74 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C7 with the Dunlop Stand in the background (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/16, 1/1000, ISO 1000)

Audi Sports Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro heading into Dunlop Courbes (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 100)

“S” Ford Curves (Stand 22)

On my way to the “S” Ford Curves got a couple of quick shots from the right-hand side of Stand 22 of this part of the track (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, 120mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 400)

Here’s a closer look of the “S” Ford Curves, with the pit entrance to the left and track on the right (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II with 1.4x extender III, 235mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 500)

Virage du Raccordement

On my way from Stand 12 to the “S” Ford Curves, noticed there was an opening in the inner fence for credentialed photographers to shoot through at the outside of Virage du Raccordement near the entry to the front straight. So pushed the lens up against the outside fence and directed it towards the opening in the inner fence to get low front shots of the cars speeding through Virage du Raccordement chicane. First up is the #41Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN – Nissan leading another P2 car into the chicane (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/4.5, 1/1000, ISO 125)

#14 Porsche Team 919 Hybrid leading a Ferrari 458 Italia through the Virage du Raccordement chicane (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/4.5, 1/1000, ISO 125)

#2 Audi Sport Team Joest R18 E-tron Quattro Hybrid through the Virage du Raccordement chicane (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/4.5, 1/1000, ISO 125)

#62 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia through the Virage du Raccordement chicane (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/4.5, 1/1000, ISO 125)

Front Straight

After leaving Virage du Raccordement, noticed a vantage point near the lower left side of Stand 23, where the lens could be put up against the outer fence for shots of the cars speeding down the front straight as they passed a safety car entrance to the track. First up is an Audi Team Joest R18 E-tron Quattro Hybrid (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/4.5, 1/1000, ISO 125)

Also got a shot of an AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia speeding down the front straight (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/4.5, 1/1000, ISO 125)

Front Straight and “S” Ford Curves (from Stand 23)

At Stand 23, there is a viewing platform at the front of this stand which allows shots over the fence of the front straight, pits, and the “S” Ford Chicanes. Since this is a great vantage point, it may take some time to get a spot here, since its usually crowded with other photographers (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, 192mm, f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 100)

 Here’s a shot of an Audi Sports Team Joest R18 E-tron Quattro and other cars speeding down the front straight (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 125)

Pit lane (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/8, 1/800, ISO 200)

#67 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997) speeding into the “S” Ford Curves (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/11, 1/160, ISO 125)

 #14 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid speeding through the “S” Ford Curves (Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II, f/14, 1/160, ISO 100)