2025 HSR Sebring Pistons & Props, Day 2

First Things First…

As I drove over the bridge to the HSR Sebring Pistons & Props, I noticed the prototypes getting lined up for their practice session. My initial plan was to head to turn 1, but seeing that opportunity I quickly shifted focus. I walked among them, snapping photos and even getting a wave from a couple of them. After they hit the track I drove to the outside of turn 1 as originally intended.

Images of Prototypes Staging Up for Practice

HSR Sebring Pistons & Props Turn 1.

No event coverage at Sebring is complete without a shot from turn 1. It’s an easy shot to get, inside or outside the fence. There is even a very small bleacher set up just behind the fence. It’s a bit off angle, but it’s doable. You might even get lucky and be invited to the top deck of a parked caravan. It happens!

Prototype Session.

Liang Qiu was first down the main straight on the warm-up lap. Behind him was Pierce Marshall (or Eric Foss) in the #02 Cadillac, posting the quickest time of 1:54.200. The next fastest in the session was Travis Engen in his celebrated Audi R8. Robert Blain was just a tenth off Engen’s pace in a very good looking 2012 Honda ARX-03b LMP. This car has a story, winning the LMP2 category at Le Mans in two out of three attempts. It also won the first FIA World Endurance Championship and the 2013 American Le Mans Series.  It sure looks nice on track.

Images of Prototypes On Track For Practice

HSR Sebring Pistons & Props the Paddock.

After the round was over, I stopped in at Tim Day Jr.’s paddock, which was behind me. They were still working out the kinks of the car, as Tim had recently purchased it. It looked beautiful just sitting under the tarp.

Tim Day Jr.’s Ligier P320 sitting pretty in its Paddock

Vintage Cup (Groups 2/3) Qualifying.

It was a 30-second drive from there to the turn 15 apex for Vintage Cup (Groups 2/3) qualifying.  I can’t get enough of Don Ondrejcak’s 1996 Honda Prelude.  It wasn’t the fastest of the bunch at P19 but it looked good, sounded fast, and I’m sure he had fun driving it.  Dean DeSantis and Josh Tuggle were there in a 1972 BMW 2002 (one of my favorite Beemers.)  It leaned into every corner like a big block Mustang or Camaro.

Images from the Vintage Cup Qualifying Session

Down The Fenceline.

Before the end of their qualifying round I walked down the fenceline to a familiar cutout. The shot from here has a cluttered background, but it’s an airport so it (sort of) works. Morne Hobson screamed by in his Ivor Raasch Ford Escort. I’m unclear if this is the actual car Ivor drove in South Africa or a replica/tribute.

Images of Vintage Cup from Down The Fenceline

Legacy Racers (Groups 5/7/11) Qualifying.

I stayed on the fence through the next round, the Legacy Racers (Groups 5/7/11) qualifying session #2. With all of these vintage machines flying around it’s easy to ignore some of the newer ones. Chris Boutilier has a good example of one that deserves attention, the 2014 Ford Mustang Boss 302. I have seen it race many times, and I always catch it in my viewfinder.

Images from the Legacy Racers Qualifying Session

Mission GT Challenge (Groups 9/10) Qualifying.

The last session before the lunch break was qualifying for the Mission GT Challenge (Groups 9/10.) The John Reisman 2018 Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup/4.0 looked fantastic, and fast. He took P5, but it looked faster than that. In fact he missed P3 by half a second, behind the Lamborghini Huracan of Bruce Ledoux and Roman De Angelis’ 2019 Porsche. Roman’s was the same model as his only one year newer (2019).

Vincent Barlett qualified first with a 2:05.102, followed by Thomas Gruber. Vincent drove a 2016 BMW M6 to Thomas’ 2016 Porsche 991.2 GT3 R.

Images from Mission GT Challenge Qualifying.

Historic Trophy (Groups 6/8) Qualifying.

I walked around the paddock for a bit and then headed to the infield bridge on the turn 6 side.  Group 6/8 qualifying for the Historic Trophy race was on track. Paul LaHaye had a very pink 2016 Elan DP02 and put it in the show at P3. Ahead of him in P2 was Lawrence Huang driving a Radical SR10.  P1 qualifier was Michael Merritt with Evan Slater in that 2021 Dallara Stradale EXP. 

I like this area because of its versatility. There is the bridge, the view back up to turn 5 (it’s a long one), and the stretch of Mission banners that can be used as a backdrop.

Images from the Historic Trophy Qualifying Session

Global GT Race.

The Global GT Race was the next session. Roman De Angelis led the field down to take the green flag.  When the field of 33 came through the bridge area a minute or so later, Robert Mau had passed him in the 2007 Porsche 997.2 GT3 Cup/3.8. That didn’t last long, as Mau finished last, logging just 2 laps. De Angelis would end up in sixth behind Mark Boden.

Charles Wicht took the checkered flag first in his 2020 Callaway Corvette GT3.R ahead of Colin Dougherty.

Images from the Global GT Race.

HSR Prototype Challenge Qualifying.

I did not see the HSR NASCAR session. My next round was qualifying for the prototypes.  I was back at turn 7, same spot as the day before.  The view was a bit different because I moved closer to the turn, across from the photo tower at the apex.

The bridge shot also looked slightly different because I was further away from it. I caught the Mission sponsor banner in some shots.  Sometimes a well placed “obstacle” can add context to a photo.

Images from the HSR Prototype Challenge Qualifying Session

A Bud Moore Mercury Cyclone

I also did not cover the Sasco International Challenge. Instead, I was in the infield talking with Stefan, who was unloading a Mercury Cyclone race car which had been built for Bud Moore. It crashed in the 70’s and was barn stored for fifteen years. Stefan bought it from Bud’s widow, restored it and now displays it (he doesn’t race it.)

Mercury Cyclone in the Infield

GTM/HS/PM B.R.M Chronographes Endurance Challenge Race.

The last track action was the GTM/HS/PM B.R.M Chronographes Endurance Challenge. I photographed it from outside turn 5. It isn’t the best place to shoot from late in the day due to the sun. I thought about driving to the other side, but I needed to get to the staging area to catch the vintage plane arrival.

Thomas Gruber won the challenge in a 2016 Porsche 991.2 GT3.R. John Reisman and Max Erlich in the 2018 Porsche took second, and third place went to Colin Dougherty in another 2016 Cup/4.0 version of the Porsche 991.2 GT3.

Images from the GTM/HS/PM B.R.M Chronographes Endurance Challenge Race

The B.R.M. Race Podium

I caught the B.R.M. victory podium celebration on my way to the staging area.

Gruber, Ehrlich and Dougherty Celebrating Their Podium Finish

…And Now For Something Completely Different.

When I got to the staging area, the planes for the “Props” part of the event were coming around the back. Featured were several WWII and later era classic planes:

• 1949 Cessna 195 Businessliner.  Tail Number N195GW.  Owned by Jon and Lisa Rising.  Jacobs R755B Series (275 HP) engine.  Fixed-wing, single-engine. Consistent presence in vintage flying community.

• 1973 Scottish Aviation (originally Beagle B.125) Bulldog 120 training aircraft. Tail number NX514XX. Royal Air Force basic trainer.

• 1943 Howard Aircraft DGA-15P “Nightingale.”  Tail number NC-29457. Single-wing, piston-engine. One of my favorites of the group.

• 1956 CESSNA 172 “Skyhawk.” Tail number N6011A. Single-engine piston aircraft.  Frequently featured in aviation photography.

• 1941 Stearman (Boeing-Sikorsky) PT-17 Kaydet trainer aircraft. Tail number N49760. Fixed-wing, single-engine, two-seat biplane. Continental Motors R670-Series Reciprocating Engine. Used as a trainer for the US Army and later for the British Royal Air Force in WWII.

• 1931 Stearman 4CM-1 Junior Speedmail. Tail number NC488W.  Fixed wing single reciprocating engine biplane. Built in 1931, crashed in 1933, stored in a barn for 50 years. Restored and first flight since 1933 was in 2005.

I had expected to see WWI warbirds, but I’m, sure that organizing a group of planes for a fly-in is challenging. The B-29 Super Fortress did not show up. Nor am I sure how they would have stuffed it in there if it did. I was happy to see some planes show up, especially the Stearmans. So, that about did it for the planes, and the day.

My next report will cover Day 3 of the HSR Sebring Pistons & Props. The Qualifying and Races.  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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