The last retrospective blog from Watkins Glen International is about race day for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. Hope you like the photos.
Arrived at the track around 6.30 am, so could get my gear together at the media center, and get into position at the outside of The Esses for the warm-up session at 8.00 am. This is another great location to photograph from with the low morning light and shadows cast over the track. The #9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R and #10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Acura DPi.
Speeding up The Esses with the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG GT3.
Towards the end of the 20 minute session, tried some really slow shutter speed pans of the cars.
For the start of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at 10.40 am, went to the outside of Turn 2 to capture the cars in a line as they sped towards me. Start of the Daytona Prototype International (DPI), LeMans Prototype 2 (LMP2) and LeMans Prototype 3 (LMP3) (top) and GT Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) and GT Daytona (GTD) (below).
Changed to a longer lens for some tight shots of the cars. The #3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R GTD (top) and #01 Cadillac Racing Cadillac DPi (bottom).
Walked up along the outside of the Turn 2 to Turn 1 straight and found a location where you can push your long lens against the catch fencing for photos of the cars coming “straight” towards you framed by the track kerbing.
Continued my uphill walk for more angles to take photographs of the cars from. The #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3.
Turned around, and headed back down the hill past Turn 2 for a shot of the #74 Riley Motorsports Ligier JS P320 speeding into this turn.
Headed up the Turn 3 to 4 hill of the Esses for some shots of the cars entering Turn 3, with the iconic blue catch fencing of Watkins Glen International. The #10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Acura DPi (top) and #44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 (bottom).
Also tried some slow shutter speed panning shots. The #25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M4 GT3 (top) and the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 (bottom).
Turned around and continued panning the cars as they sped by me.
Was close to a marshals stand and their white and yellow flags framed the cars in this shot. The #66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3. By now it was a little after mid-day, so headed back to the media center to have some lunch and upload photos.
For the afternoon part of the race went to insider of The Boot. Up the hill into Turn 9 with the #48 Ally Cadillac Cadillac DPi (middle) and #57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 (bottom).
Turned around for shots of the cars entering the Turn 9 to 10 straight. The #5 JDC Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi.
The #74 Riley Motorsports Ligier JS P320.
The #25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M4 GT3. Shortly after this photo was taken, the race was red flagged due to severe weather in the Watkins Glen area, so headed back to the media center for cover.
When the race re-started, there was only about 20 minutes to go, so went to the pits for some shots. The #44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
After the race finished at 4.40 pm, headed over to the winners podium. For a different angle, decided to go to a vantage point above the podium. Winner of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, the #10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 Acura DPi. Congratulations to Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and the team. After the podium celebrations went back to the media center to edit, then upload the photos.
Thanks again for taking the time to read this photo blog.
DLY Motorsport Images 