2025 HSR Sebring Pistons & Props, Day 1

2025 HSR Sebring shooting the event with credentials.

(But with an eye toward the spectator areas.)

This was the third event at Sebring for me this year. The first two were the SVRA SpeedTour and the HSR Sebring Classic 12. This time we added airplanes to the mix, just for fun.

This track is well known for its flat, open views. I had access to the rim roads, but this time I was using my car to get around. Some of the gates that had been open during the SpeedTour were now closed and wired shut. Once it was easy to get from one side of the track to the other, but that is no more.

2025 HSR Sebring Pistons & Props, Day 1 Testing Day
04 December 2025

Thursday was test day, and the HSR Groups were combined as follows:

• Test Green – HSR Groups 2/3
• Test Blue – HSR Groups 5/7
• Test Red – HSR Groups 6/8
• Test White – HSR Group 9 and HSRNC Stocks
• Test Orange – HSR Groups 10/11
• Test Pink – HSRPC Prototypes

White Test Session HSR Group 9 and HSRNC Stocks

My first shots were of the White test group; stock cars and HSR Group 9 cars. I lined up in a spot I have used before; outside turn 5. I have been here before on both the credentialled and spectator side of that fence. The shots are not much different.

Images from the White Test Session

Blue Test Session HSR Groups 5/7

The Blue test session was up next, and I was still shooting outside turn 5. Dominick Incantalupo’s 1973 Chevron B23 was the only entry that I saw from Group 7. The Group 5 entries varied between Porsches, Corvettes and others. Farrell Preston was there in his 1963 Jaguar XKE Roadster, a beautiful example of that car.

Images from the BlueTest Session

Pink Test Session HSRPC Prototypes

The prototypes were out for Test Group Pink. This group was a relatively small one, but it did have some fast runners in it. Pierce Marshall and Eric Foss were hard on it with the #02 Cadillac Dallara.  Travis Engen, a familiar name at Sebring, was putting the Audi R8 through its paces. This car is a former Sebring 12-Hour and Le Mans winner.

Tim Day Jr and Wyatt Foster were sussing out Tim’s 2020 Ligier JS P320. The Ligiers made up half of the field, including two JS 315’s. The #31 Courage C65 driven by Mark Drain was out as well, a car with a successful history in the LMP2 class.

I wasn’t far from where I had started, between turn 5 and the bridge. From here it is easy to get a range of shots. With the zoom extended I was able to get some front-end shots as they came around the corner. To get a nice pan, I had to use the minimum focal length (100mm.)  Both can be taken from outside the fence easily.

Images from the Pink Test Session

Red Test Session HSR Groups 6/8

The Red Test Group was split between HSR groups 6 and 8. Patrick Womack had his 1970 Porsche 911 RSR on track, and it looked great. Christopher Evans was sporting a new (to him) 2005 Pontiac Firebird IROC. I saw it in the paddock and it was a real eye-catcher.  I noticed the 2010 Ford Mustang GT1 driven by Craig Root. That’s another very nice ride that I got up close to later. Michael Merritt was out with a 2021 Dallara Stradale EXP. I’m used to seeing him in the #898 Porsche but unfortunately, that car was out of commission.

I was standing inside turn 13 by the corner marshall’s shed. On the up-track side, I could get good pan shots as they slowed from that fast little section. On the down-track side, they were in the corner and leaning outward. Sometimes I could catch a little tire lift here and there.

Images from the Red Test Session

Orange Test Session HSR Groups 10/11

I got back in my car and drove to the gate by turn 1 for Group Orange. This was a fast, sweeping turn with a catch fence for most of it. I had three different cutouts to use. One of these is usually occupied by a corner Marshall, but not this time. Past the fence was a good stretch to get them coming out of turn 9. This is where I started from.

Group 11 supplied some Audi RS3/LMS TCR’s, a couple of BMW M2’s and a pair of Alfa Romeo Guilietta Veloce TCR’s. Mark Boden had a 2006 Porsche 997.1 on track, one that I don’t see many of. The BMW’s in Group 10 were of the M4 variety and a little older. Eric Mies was touring a 2016 Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup with co-driver Gabby Chaves, a former Indycar driver who now competes in the IMSA Weathertech Championship.

Images from the Orange Test Session

Green Test Session HSR Groups 2/3

Green test was next. This was set up as HSR groups 2 and 3 for testing. These cars were competing in the Vintage Cup race. Sprint Race #1 would be run on Saturday and the other two on Sunday. This was a very diverse group of cars. The oldest was a 1960 GSM Dart. I didn’t see that one during the session, but I did catch the 1961 Porsche 356. Ken Greenburg had the Morgan out; that one is always a pleasure to watch. 

Most of the cars were from the 1960-70 era, but there was something from every decade up to the 2009 Mini. I was still making the most of the area before moving elsewhere. It was versatile, and the angled panshot from this vantage point had a good quality background.

Images from the Green Test Session

White Test Session HSR Group 9 and HSRNC Stocks

Getting to the outside of turn 7 required driving back over the bridge. This is where I started the final White testing session. I like both sides of the track here, but only at certain times of the day. I prefer the outside for late afternoon. Inside the apex at the tower is the place to be at sunset, with a great rear-car view from that location. Morning works here as well but only past the tower to avoid glare.

From the outside, I framed the Sebring walk-over bridge as the backdrop. This, along with the late-afternoon sun, provided just the right mix of saturation and color. The angled pans from here are nice as well because of the speed as they come off a fast stretch.

Images from the White Test Session

Blue Test Session HSR Groups 5/7

The sun was noticeably lower for the next group, the Blue Test group. I stayed in the same spot, working the pan shots more than anything else. There is something about Woody Smith’s 1970 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Roadster. It definitely has track presence, and you know when it is getting close. It’s the same with Bob Lima’s ’69 example; both roar past with intention.

Images from the Blue Test Session

2025 HSR Sebring Pistons & Props final thoughts

I left before the prototypes to catch the sunset off-site and prepare for the next full day of shooting.

My next report will cover Day 2 of the HSR Sebring Pistons & Props, Qualifying and Global GT Race.  Please have a look at this and my other reports. You can check out my website as well in the link below.

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