Day 1 At Lime Rock Park

I left Boston at 530AM. The streets were empty at holiday daybreak but even my single car on the road showed how the city’s infrastructure simply can’t support the amount of cars that clog the roadways.  On the three hour drive to Lime Rock, city streets become a turnpike, the turnpike became state highways. Small town after small town until, finally, Lime Rock Park.

Lime Rock Park is a miniscule 1.5 miles. Lap times are under a minute. There are 7 turns and the names are as a simple as it gets. Big Bend, Left Hander, Right Hander, Uphill, West Bend, and Downhill(And the straight is called “No Name Straight”). Passing is just as simple as the turn names. Just be brave.

Lime Rock is immersive in a way similar to a city street circuit.  The speeds aren’t huge but they’re so close that a car seems faster. Drivers experience the same feeling with tight Armco on either side of them and their claustrophobia manifests in higher perceived speeds.  When cars go door to door racing, it’s a scary good thrill. Not much road, and just as little runoff area.

There are good sight lines to see the elevation change. The turn simply named “Bridge,” is perfect for that. Drivers sweep in from the right, apex, go under the shadow on the bridge and stream down the hill, edging dangerously close to the grass before heading on the start finish straight.

The track’s requisite difficult and dangerous corner comes on the uphill. This weekend, GT cars don’t use the chicane before the uphill. The sweep up and carry a lot of speed all the way to the crest of the hill. Fast drivers

don’t lift as they crest the hill. Fast cars lift their front two wheels in the air before slamming their undertray’s on the tarmac. It would be very easy to see a car(and a photog) get smoked when cars are pushing to the maximum.

Initial thoughts of the track leave me thinking that this is a place inspired by the side of the country which it sits. It’s congested. It’s fast. And aggressive driving is the minimum expectation for someone behind the wheel. It’s going to be interesting to see how these guys make this race work.

Check back tomorrow for qualifying results and more multimedia content.