2025 HSR Sebring Pistons & Props, Days 3-4

2025 HSR Sebring Pistons & Props, Day 3 Qualifying and Racing

GTC/H/V B.R.M Chronographes Endurance Challenge.

The only session that I missed on Saturday was Mission GT Challenge (Groups 9/10) qualifying.  I was inside turn 17(b) about midway through the GTC/H/V B.R.M Chronographes Endurance Challenge. 

John Spiers and Nigel Greensall were co-driving a 1967 Ford Mustang, the first car through my viewfinder. It was followed by the 1969 Porsche 911 RSR of Dean DeSantis and Josh Tuggle. 

It’s easy to get several different shots from here. There are tire barriers, Armco, and concrete walls. The Seven Hotel is in the background for angled shooting, along with the banners that face down the main straight. It all provides good context.

David Agretelis won the race in his #92 1973 Porsche 911 RSR. Second went to Gil West in the #44 1997 Porsche 993 RSR/3.8.  Spiers and Greensall put that Mustang on the podium at P3.

Images from the GTC/H/V B.R.M Chronographes Endurance Challenge

Outside Turn 17b.

Before the end of the session, I drove over the main bridge to get to the outside of the corner.  From here, I could grab a shot under the bridge or coming out of the turn.  Pan shots are good here too, but at this time of the morning there is glare.  The best shots were the bridge shots.  It’s also a very good shot to get some tire hops.  Even Ken was getting that Morgan up on three.

Images of the Race from Outside Turn 17b

2025 HSR Sebring Pistons & Props HSR NASCAR Classic Qualifying.

It seemed like a good idea to continue here for the next round. The third and final HSR NASCAR Classic qualifying round was on tap.  Ryan Gemmell, Joe Nemechek and Camden Murphy, familiar names on the podium, took the top three spots in that order.  Gemmell posted a best time of 2:04.822 in his 2009 Toyota Camry NASCAR.  

Images from the NASCAR Classic Qualifying Session

Vintage Cup (Groups 2/3) Qualifying.

The next session I caught on track was Qualifying 3 for the Vintage Cup (Groups 2/3).  From my perch on the outside of turn 17b I drove to the apex inside turn 7.  Morne Hobson flew by in his ’73 Escort along with Tom Coryn in a 1965 MG B Roadster.  Ken Greenburg’s Morgan was next, and then came the #128 of Bill Blair, one of two 1966 Lotus Elans.  Bill’s was a coupe, the other was a 26R driven by Dale LaGasse.

Henri Sicotte and Paul Gravel’s 2009 Mini Cooper-S/JCW was getting up on three, but not the way you would think. There’s always one that does it a little different.

I got one clean shot of the top qualifier, a 1972 Datsun 240Z driven by Greg Ira.

Images from the Vintage Cup (Groups 2/3) Qualifying Session

A Few From The Tower.

I took some shots from above, standing on top of the tower. It is a good view, but it’s all about the same shot once I’ve taken a few. There can be some variance depending on how close they come to the rumble strip.

Some Images from the Photo/Video Tower

HSR Prototype Challenge Race 1.

I stuck with the tower position while the HSR Prototype Challenge Race1 got going. Same shot, different cars.  Honestly, I don’t pan very well up in there, so I prefer the ground-level shot right at the apex. With a wide-angle lens the shot is very nice. I was using my 24-105mm, shooting around the 50-60mm focal length. You can’t get this exact shot from the spectator side, however there is a viewing mound and you can get reasonably close.

Images from HSR Prototype Challenge Race 1

HSR Sebring Pistons & Props the Paddock.

The lunch break drew me back into the paddock, where I got up close to that Jaguar XKE.  There was also a 1960’s era McLaren Elva Mark III sitting next to Robert Bechtol’s 1972 Porsche 914/6.  I would really like to see that car run.

Some Images from the HSR Sebring Pistons & Props 2025 Paddock

Larry Ligas’ 1961 Daimler SP250 was also sitting proud in the paddock.  This car was running in the Vintage Cup.

1961 Daimler SP250, owned by Larry Ligas

Patrick Womack had the bonnet up on his #55 1970 Porsche 911 RSR

Afternoon Racing Begins With The Mission GT Challenge (Groups 9/10).

The paddock was fun, but it was time to get trackside again. It was also time for an afternoon of sprint races starting with the Mission GT Challenge (Groups 9/10). The backstretch down from turn 13 is an easy place to get good photographs. It’s a fast section, so pans with a lot of blur are possible. I like to use the Sebring Airport Authority / Runway Café building as backdrop whenever I can. The yellow/rust color of it juxtaposes well against the blue and white barrier of the track.

This was a big field, 39 in all.  The #62 Joe Jacalone/Mike Skeen 2019 Porsche 991.2 GT2 RS/CS took top honors with an almost untouchable 2:05.499. Roman De Angelis got close with a 2:06.386. His Porsche was the same year/model but a Cup/4.0 version.

HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear Sprint Race 1. 

The next race was the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear Sprint Race 1. After seeing the qualifying it was no surprise to see Ryan Gemmell and Camden Murphy running up front in a pair of Toyota Camry NASCARs.  Gemmell’s is a 2009 and Camden’s is a 2006.

The Historic Trophy (Groups 6/8) Race 1.

The Historic Trophy Race 1 featured cars from HSR Groups 6 & 8. The fastest was the Joe Cauley 2021 Dallara EXP, which took first. Besides Merritt’s 2021 Dallara, everything was a different make.  Lawrence Huang’s Radical took second. Third went to the 2023 Funyo SP05 EVO of Remy Brouard and Axel Dolhem. There was a pair of 2005 C&R Lightning Crowns and a 2002 Carbir CS2/M. Craig Root’s 2010 Ford Mustang GT1 was also in the mix.

Legacy Racers (Group 5/7/11) Sprint Race 1.

Legacy Racers followed, with a field populated with HSR Group 5/7/11 cars. Group 5A dominated the podium.  All Porsches, P1 went to Dean DeSantis/Josh Tuggle in the 1969 911 RSR. Second was another 911 RSR, a 1973 model driven by David Agretelis. Filling out the podium was Damon DeSantis driving a ’74 IROC 911.

I was now standing inside turn 3. I found a spot that created an optical illusion, making it seem like I was outside the Armco barrier. This was due to the sweeping radius of turn 4 heading away from me.

Vintage Cup presented by Sasco (Group 2/3) Sprint Race 1.

The next race on the schedule was the Vintage Cup (Group 2/3) Sprint Race 1. Jamie Busby rounded the corner first, and never looked back until the checkered. His 1970 Porsche 914/6 GT was as fast and gorgeous as it usually is. Mark Hupfer and Dawn Myers showed up to race as well. They were lined up behind Busby at the start and kept that running order to the end.  I got another look at Greg Ira’s 240Z Datsun and the 1962 Ginetta G4 driven by Michael Oritt. 

Images from the Afternoon Sprint Races

The HSR Prototype Challenge presented by Michelin Enduro

The HSR Prototype Challenge Enduro was the final action of the day.  I was still in the same location trackside for the first few laps.  This was the longest race of the day so I had the chance to cover it from multiple locations.  I walked back to my car in turn 2 and drove to the outside of turn 17b to catch the end of it.

Images from the The HSR Prototype Challenge Enduro, Turns 3-4

HSR Sebring Pistons & Props, Day 4 07 December 2025

HSR Sebring Piston & Props race day was the last day using my trusted Canon 5D Mark III for racing photography. I will keep it as a backup, but it is now finished as a primary sports camera. I have put this camera through a lot over the last ten years. Now the shutter mechanism has finally given out. Going forward I will be using a new (to me) Canon R6 body with an EF-R lens adapter. I will continue to use the 100-400mm zoom for the heavy lifting. Also I will be using the 24-105mm f/4 for pit/paddock/wide angle shots. I have a 200mm f/2.8 prime that I use occasionally, especially at night or low light.

Vintage Cup presented by Sasco (Group 2/3) Sprint Race 2

I covered the Vintage Cup presented by Sasco (Group 2/3) Sprint Race 2 from outside turn 17b. More shots from the same location, but different cars this time. Eventually I will create a more comprehensive library of images to display. For now, the ones in the reports will have to do.

There is a vehicle gate that I walked through to get into this area. There are some pan shots that can be taken from the spectator area here. I don’t think there is a way to get the long shots because of the elevated birm outside the turn. It might be possible to catch them just as they start to go under the bridge, but when they come out there is too much wall in the way.

Greg Ira, Mark Hupfer and Dawn Myers once again dominated the field and took the podium. 

HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear Race 2

The HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear Race 2 was next.  The outcome of race 2 was little changed at the top. Gemmell in first, Murphy second, Patrick Womack taking third.  The Toyotas had been strong all weekend and they weren’t letting up.

HSR Prototype Challenge presented by Michelin Sprint Race 2

One more race before lunch break, the HSR Prototype Challenge presented by Michelin Sprint Race 2. The prototypes did not have a race 3 so this was their final competition of the event.

I switched to the inside of turn 17b after the NASCAR race.  I already had photos of prototypes from the outside.  After a few minutes there I finished the race outside turn 7. I had plenty of photos of Pierce Marshall’s Cadillac, so I tried some different angles and concentrated on different cars. He of course won the race, with Robert Blain coming in second in that Honda ARX-03b LMP.  Stephan Rupp / Vincent Capillaire took third in a 2021 Ligier JS P320.

Images From the Morning Sprint Races

Mission GT Challenge Race 3

Once lunch hour was finished the Mission GT Challenge Race 3 hit the track. I was outside turn 1 waiting for the Historic Trophy race. I was becoming concerned about the camera.  At this point it was failing after every ten or so shots.  I needed to get some photos of Craig Root’s GT1 Mustang, so I didn’t shoot much of the Mission race. I did catch the start.

Historic Trophy presented by WeatherTech (Group 6/8) Sprint Race 3

When the Historic Trophy sprint race started I was outside turn 1, ready to catch the first lap.  My plan was to take a couple of laps here and then sprint over to turn 15, catch a couple of laps there, and then go as fast as I could down to turn 7. I would have one, maybe two laps there.  Unfortunately, I missed Craig on one lap and another one wasn’t sharp, so I had to spend too much time at turn 15. The race ended before I could get past the backstretch.

Vincent Barletta took the win in his blue and yellow Turner Motorsports liveried BMW M6.  Joe Jacalone and Mike Skeen took second and Dan Ammann and Owen Trinkler finished third.

Legacy Racers (Group 5/7/11) Sprint Race 3

For the Legacy Racers sprint race I went to the outside of turn 5.  At this point I felt that I was done.  I took a few shots, but that was it for me.  I turned in my vest and took off.

Images From the Afternoon Sprint Races

That a wrap for the HSR Sebring Pistons & Props 2025. See you again in 2026! In the mean time, 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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