This blog is about set-up day, practice and qualifying for the NorthEast GP at Lime Rock Park, one of the most picturesque tracks on the IMSA calendar. Hope you like the photos.

Thursday

Left Boston mid-morning for the approximately 3 hour drive to Lime Rock Park in upstate Connecticut. After arriving at the track walked down the hill next to the Infield Spectator area to the A Paddock.

Walked around the A Paddock to get some photos of the teams setting up. For these photo walks like to take one camera body and lens, which is usually a 35mm lens, since it’s a great lens to tell a “story” with. The Michelin tire tent.

Some nice cars lined up next to the IMSA business center. Really liked the gold paint job on the Acura.

The #77 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) being pushed into the IMSA Inspection Tent.

The #3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R GTD was also in the line for inspection.

The #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3.

A look inside the IMSA Inspection tent.

As I continued my paddock walk, saw this really cool livery on the side of the Acura Motorsports trailer.

Parked at the end of the paddock next to Big Bend was the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 (top), whilst its #97 sister car was being worked on inside its garage (bottom).

Walked back up the paddock and saw the #77 Forte Racing Powered by USRT Ligier JS P320, and took a look inside its cockpit.

Pushing the #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 into its garage.

The #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3.

Continued passed the pits and over to the B Paddock for more shots of the cars. The #24 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82).

The #10 and #15 Rockwell Autosport Development Audi RS3 LMS SEQ’s, and a look inside.

Headed up the hill to the Midway and saw a really cool Mercedes Benz sportscar from yesteryear on my way back to the car. Left the race track and drove to Great Barrington and checked into the hotel I was staying at. For dinner, grabbed some take-away Chinese food, then got my camera gear together for the next day.

 

Friday

Today would be a very busy day, with back-to-back practice and qualifying sessions for three racing series; with clients in each of these series to cover. For the 10.05 am practice session 1 for the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge headed to the outside of Big Bend for shots of the cars coming down the front straight and around this corner.

The #25 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82).

Around Big Bend with the #99 Forty7 Motorsports Duqueine D08 and the A Paddock in the background. The “Red Dragon” was one of my favorite cars.

The LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic FL5 TCR.

It wasn’t long until the 10.40 am practice session 1 for the Michelin Pilot Challenge started. The #99 Victor Gonzalez Racing Team Honda Civic FK7 TCR.

At speed, with the #15 Rockwell Autosport Development Audi RS3 LMS SEQ.

Really liked the livery on the #74 Deily Motorsports LLC Hyundai Elantra N TCR.

At 11:45 am, the WeatherTech Championship cars rolled out for their first practice session. The #3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R GTD.

The #94 Andretti Autosport Aston Martin Vantage GT3.

An alternative view of cars entering Big Bend, with the #97 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3.

Though Big Bend with the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG GT3.

Was lucky to capture the USA flags flying in the background with the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 speeding by.

Walked to my left along Big Bend for shots of the cars leaving this corner into the Esses, with the spectator hill in the background. The #32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3 (top) and the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 (bottom). After the session, went back to the paddock to grab some lunch and download photos in the media center.

After lunch, walked along the inside of the Esses for the 1.05 pm practice session 2 for the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, then to the outside of Righthander for the Michelin Pilot Challenge practice session 2 at 1.45 pm. From here, you get a great vantage point of the cars in the foreground and the A Paddock in the background. The #73 LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic FL5 TCR.

Before the 2:45 pm, practice session 2 for the WeatherTech Championship started, was looked up at the spectator hill, and saw some cool flags and signage on these tents.

First a couple of wide shots to give you an idea of the great view you get from this vantage point. The #80 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) (top) and the #97 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 (bottom).

The #79 WeatherTech Racing Mercedes AMG GT3.

The #78 Forte Racing Powered by USRT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

Really liked how the “teeth” of the #80 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) appeared to be mowing the grass.

Speeding out of the Righthander with the #70 Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3 EVO.

Into Paul Newman Straight with the #3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R GTD (top) and the #9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) (bottom).

A look down Paul Newman Straight with the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3.

Since all the sessions were back to back, didn’t have time to go to another location, so stayed inside the Esses for the 4:20 pm VP Racing SportsCar Challenge qualifying session. The #24 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) entering the Lefthander.

Really liked the Invisible Glass yellow and blue livery on the #09 Automatic Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4.

The #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3.

A wider shot of the cars speeding through the Esses.

At 5:10 pm, qualifying for the Michelin Pilot Challenge started. The #15 Rockwell Autosport Development Audi RS3 LMS SEQ.

At this time of day, the light was getting really soft, especially where the cars exited the Esses. The #73 LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic FL5 TCR.

Hitting the dirt with the #97 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3.

The final session for the day, was qualifying for the WeatherTech Championship at 5.40 pm. A drive though the “forest” with the #78 Forte Racing Powered by USRT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2. After the session finished at 5.55 pm, headed back to the media center to download and edit photos, as well as eat some snacks to keep my energy levels up. Left the track a few hours later, and on the way back to the hotel grabbed take-away food for dinner. Was a long day, but really enjoyed it. Thanks for spending your time reading this blog.