2022 IMSA at Lime Rock Park (July 14 and 15)

The next retrospective blog series is about last years FCP Euro Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park. First up is unloading day, then practice and qualifying. Hope you like the photos.

Thursday

Left Boston in the morning for the 3 to 4 hour drive west to Lime Rock Park in upper Connecticut. After parking the car at the track, walked down the hill. On the way down the hill, stopped for a moment, to take in the great view of the track set in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains.

First stopped by the garage areas in Paddock A, to get some photos of the cars looking pristine under their workshop lights. The #9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R (top) and #39 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3.

The #51 Rick Ware Racing Acura NSX GT3 looked brilliant under the afternoon light.

Then walked over to Paddock B for more shots of the cars. The #71 Rebel Rock Racing Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R (top) and #55 FCP Euro by Ricca Autosport Mercedes AMG GT GT4 (bottom).

Then went back to Paddock A for photos of the cars undergoing their technical inspections. The #25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M4 GT3 (top) and #3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R GTD (bottom). The other reason for going to this location is so I could get photos of the cars in front of the iconic Lime Rock Chalet.

After getting some shots of the safety car, left the track to get some food supplies and dinner, then to the hotel to set-up my camera gear and plan the next days photo shoot.

Friday

Since it was a beautiful sunny day, went over to the outside of Big Bend, for the first practice session of the Michelin Pilot Challenge at 10.05 am. This is a great place to start from, since you can get a variety of shots from the one location. First, took photos of the cars coming down the front straight, into Turn 1, then under the bridge. The #46 TeamTGM Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS (top) and #71 Rebel Rock Racing Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R (middle).

Despite being a practice sessions, the #2 Bryan Herta Autosport w/ Curb Agajanian and #15 Belgard & Techniseal Racing Audi RS3 LMS DSG got close to each other.
For the last shot of this session, captured the cars going around Turn 2, with the Infield Spectator area in the background, which is a great place to watch the track action.
Stayed at the same location for the Practice 1 session of the WeatherTech Championship at 11.25 am. Started the session with photos of the cars coming down the front straight.
Turning into Big Bend with the #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
Really liked the livery of the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3.
An artsy shot of the #51 Rick Ware Racing Acura NSX GT3.
Used a wider focal length to capture the cars going under the pedestrian bridge. The #3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R GTD.
A couple of shots of the #16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R speeding around Big Bend. After the session ended, headed back to the media center for a quick lunch and to download photos from the morning sessions.
For the 1.45 pm Practice 2 session for the Michelin Pilot Challenge, went over to the outside of the Right-hander for some shots of the cars with the paddock in the background. The #95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4.
At 3.05 pm the second practice session for the WeatherTech Championship started, so got back into position for shots of the cars exiting the Right-hander. The #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3.
Tried some slow shutter speeds for panning so could make the white painted trucks in the background look like streaks of white. The #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3.
Moved down, and around the Right-hander for some side panning shots of the cars. The #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
Then some 3/4 front panning shots. The #9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R.
The #32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3.
Turned to my right for some side panning shots of the cars leaving the Right-hander. The #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3.
After the session finished went over to the inside of the Left-hander for the 4.45 pm Michelin Pilot Challenge qualifying session. At this time of the day, the afternoon sun was getting low, and front lighting the cars as they raced into the Left-hander.
It wasn’t long until qualifying for the WeatherTech Championship started at 5.40 pm. At this time of day, the sun was getting lower, and illuminating the cars with beautiful light. Another shot of the The #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 speeding out of the Left-hander and into the Right-hander.
Exiting the Right-hander with the #32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3. After the session finished at 5.55 pm, headed back to the the media center to get a bite to eat, download photos, edit, then upload. Left the track a few hours later, and was ready for a good nights sleep to recharge for race day.
Thanks for spending your time reading this photo blog.

Leave a comment