2022 IMSA at Watkins Glen International (June 24 to 25)

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The next retrospective blog, is about days three and four of IMSA at Watkins Glen International. Hope you like the photos.

Friday

Arrived at the track around 7.30 am so could get set-up, plan the day and get into position. Since it was a sunny morning, went to the outside of the Inner Loop since it is a great location to capture the cars under the morning light. After arriving at the Inner Loop, worked out the locations I would cover for each session, so could capture a variety of photos. At 8.45 am, qualifying for the Porsche Carrera Cup started, with some beautiful side lighting. The #43 MDK Motorsports Porsche 992.

Over the Inner Loop hill with the #9 JDX Racing Porsche 992.

The #58 Topp Racing Porsche 992 with the iconic Watkins Glen International blue safety railings in the foreground.

Speeding along the straight into Turn 5 with the #55 Goldcrest Motorsports (top) and #69 BGB Motorsports Porsche 992.

Into the Turn 5 Outer Loop with the #11 311RS Motorsport (top) and #55 Goldcrest Motorsports (bottom) Porsche 992.

At 9:30 am, qualifying 1, for the Lamborghini Super Trofeo started. Here’s a slow shutter speed panning shot of the #99 Ansa Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2 speeding out of the Inner Loop.

The sky started to get overcast for practice session 2 of the Michelin Pilot Challenge at 11:05 am. The #15 Belgard & Techniseal Racing Audi RS3 LMS DSG leading a line of cars though the Inner Loop.

The #93 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS.

Slow shutter speed panning really makes the colors “pop” under overcast skies. The #48 TWOth Autosport Audi RS3 LMS TCR. After the session finished at 12.05 pm, headed back to the media center to download photos and grab some lunch.

For the afternoon sessions headed over to the inside of the Chute at Turn 6, which is at the top of The Boot. The spectators had a great view for race 1 of the Porsche Carrera Cup. The #17 ACI Motorsports (top) and #21 Goldcrest Motorsports (bottom) Porsche 992. Only spent some of my time at this location, since needed to head to the outside of Turn 1 for the start of the next session.

Arrived at the end of Turn 1 to get set-up for the first Lamborhgini Super Trofeo race which started at 2.25 pm. Here’s a couple of shots of the race start, and its amazing to think that this frame is capturing about $4M worth of race cars

After capturing the race start and a couple of laps, walked up the front straight to a photo hole which overlooks the “I Love NY” sign painted on the side of the track. After a few attempts, managed to capture the #88 Taurino Racing by D Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2 in front of this sign.
Walked a little to my left towards Turn 1, and pushed the lens right up against the catch fencing to photograph the cars speeding down the Turn 1 to 2 straight. The #64 Flying Lizard Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2.
To get a variety of shots, walked down the hill along the outside of Turn 1 to 2, to a vantage point where you can get shots of the cars coming down this straight, and if you turn around, shots of the cars going up Turns 3 to 4  (aka. The Esses).
Qualifying for the Michelin Pilot Challenge started at 3.35 pm under a cloudy sunny sky. The #64 Team TG Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS.
At 4:30 pm the WeatherTech Championship cars left there pit boxes for Practice session 1.
As the session progressed beautiful soft light and shadows covered the front straight.
The #25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M4 GT3 existing The 90 (Turn 1).
Another angle for what’s it’s like to dive into Turn 1. The #58 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320.
Down the Turn 1 to 2 straight with the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3.
Walked down the Turn 1 to 2 hill and found a photo hole where you can get panning shots of the cars. One of my favorite shots from the event, especially in black and white to help reduce distractions in the background. The #2 Cadillac Racing Cadillac DPi.
Continued my walk back down to Turn 2 and found a location where you can put your lens right up against the fence to get backlit shots of the cars as they come towards you with the track edge framing the right side of the photo. Really like backlit car shots, since it gives you a different perspective of these race cars.
Continued down to Turn 2, for another backlit shot. After the session finished at 6.00 pm, headed back to the media center to edit and upload photos. After a few hours left the media center, and headed back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.
Saturday
Was another early start, and arrived at the track around 7.00 am, so had time to get into position for the WeatherTech Championship Practice session 2. For this session went back to the outside of the Inner Loop. With the early morning light coming in low, you can get nice side lighting shots of the cars and drivers. The #3 Corvette racing Corvette C8.R GTD (top), #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 (middle) and #25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M4 GT3 (bottom).
Continued along the straight to Turn 5, for some panning shots.
Turned around for another perspective of the cars exiting the Inner Loop.
Todays the end of the session, tried some slow shutter panning of the cars.

At 11.05 am, race 2 of the Porsche Carrera Cup started. The #84 Mark Motors Racing (top) and the #47 NOLASPORT going through a cloud of dirt (bottom) Porsche 992.

For race 2 of the Lamborhgini Super Trofeo series, needed to cover the start of the race again from the end of Turn 1, so headed over to make it for the 12.10 pm start.
Down the Turn 1 to 2 straight.

After the session ended grabbed some lunch from a food vendor and headed over to the inside of Chute in The Boot part of the track for some different perspectives for the WeatherTech Championship qualifying session at 1.20 pm. This is a great place to watch the cars, since there are plenty of shady spots to stay out of the sun. The #18 Era Motorsport ORECA LMP2 07.

The big session for today, was the Tioga Downs Casino Resort 120, which is the two hour race for the Michelin Pilot Challenge series which started at 3:45 PM. For this session walked over to the driver’s side right near the top of Turn 9 of The Boot. The #83 BGB Motorsports Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS (top) and #77 Bryan Herta Autosport w/ Curb Agajanian Hyundai Elantra N TCR.
Turned around, for shots of the cars going into Turn 9. The #93 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS.
Then walked a little bit up the hill for some panning shots of the cars. The #71 Rebel Rock Racing Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R.
Headed over to Turn 6 at the Chute for other types of shots. The #64 Team TGM Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS.
Also gave myself enough time to go to the podium for the end of race celebrations. With the on track work finished, went to the media center to download, edit and upload photos. Left the media center around 10.30 pm. It was certainly a long day, but really enjoyed it. Thanks again for spending your time reading this photo blog.

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