2023 NorthEast GP at Lime Rock Park (July 22)

This blog is about race day at Lime Rock Park, with four races covering three IMSA series. Hope you like the photos.

Arrived at the track around 7.45 am, so I could get my camera gear set-up, then headed out to the Esses for the first race of the day, and noticed the flags were flying high under the sunny skies.

At 9:05 am, race 1 for the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge series started.

The grassed hill overlooking the Esses is a great place to watch the race, with options to bring chairs or blankets to sit on. The #25 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82).

The #99 Forty7 Motorsports Duqueine D08 “Red Dragon”.

A good sized crowd was ready for the 12.10 pm start of the NorthEast GP for the WeatherTech Championship series. Was also great to see a couple of my friends in this photo.

Race start, with the #23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 leading the field into the Esses.

Dust cloud, as cars hit the dirt.

After the field finishes entering the Esses, I turned to my right to capture some of the cars exiting the Esses. The #77 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992).

As I walked along the inside of the Esses towards Big Bend, stopped at a vantage point for shots of the cars entering the Left Hander. The #80 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992).

This was also a good location to capture the cars moving between the Left and Right Hander corners, and to see some close racing, as they exited into Paul Newman Straight. The #32 Team Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3 (top), #97 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 (middle) and the #66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 leading the #77 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) (bottom).

Continued walking along the inside of straight that leads into the Right Hander for side panning shots, then rear shots of the cars with the spectator hill in the background. The #78 Forte Racing Powered by USRT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 (top) and the #77 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) (bottom).

Also a wide angle shot of the spectator hill overlooking the Esses under a beautiful white cloudy blue sky.

Reached Big Bend for shots of the cars speeding into and around this hairpin corner. The #57 WINWARD RACING Mercedes AMG GT3.

Walked under the Pedestrian Bridge for shots of the cars speeding down the front straight.

Then walked across the Pedestrian Bridge for more front straight shots, this time, with a wider field of view, and with the iconic Lime Rock Park building in the background.

Towards the end of the race, used some very low shutter speeds for artsy shots. Its amazing what light can do when the shutter speeds are very low for panning.

With one race finishing, another one was about to begin, so went back to the Esses to capture the start of race 2 for the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge at 3.05 pm.

The #26 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) leading two LMP3’s into the Left Hander.

Speeding along the straight between the Left and Right Handers, the #3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320.

Another shot of the #26 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82), this time, on its way out of the Right Hander.

At 4.15 pm, the last race of the day started, the Lime Rock Park 100, for the Michelin Pilot Challenge. The #37 LA Honda World Racing Hyundai Elantra N TCR leading the field into the Esses.

The #15 Rockwell Autosport Development Audi RS3 LMS SEQ navigating the Esses.

After the start, stayed in the same location for additional shots of the cars. The #98 Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian Hyundai Elantra N TCR.

As mentioned in the previous blog, really liked the livery on the #74 Deily Motorsports LLC Hyundai Elantra N TCR.

After a few laps started on my walk around the track, along the straight towards Big Bend. The #90 van der Steur Racing Hyundai Veloster N TCR.

After arriving at Big Bend, switched to a 35 mm lens for wide angle shots of the cars as they sped around this corner. The #15 Rockwell Autosport Development Audi RS3 LMS SEQ leading the #90 van der Steur Racing Hyundai Veloster N TCR.

Walked slightly to my left, for shots of the cars entering Big Bend. The #98 Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian Hyundai Elantra N TCR (top) and the #99 Victor Gonzalez Racing Team Honda Civic FK7 TCR (bottom).

Then walked over to the pedestrian bridge and watched the cars coming down the front straight, backlit by the afternoon sun.

For my last shots of the day, walked across the pedestrian bridge and used the 500mm lens to pan the cars going around Big Bend. The #90 van der Steur Racing Hyundai Veloster N TCR. With the race finishing at 5.55 pm, headed back to the media center to download, edit and upload the days photos. After uploading all the photos, packed up and went for dinner with the other members of the photography team. Thanks again for spending your time reading this blog.

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