Lime Rock Park

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox motorsport venue

Lime Rock Park is a natural-terrain motorsport road racing venue located in Lakeville, Connecticut, United States, a hamlet in the town of Salisbury, in the state's northwest corner. Built in 1956, it is the nation's third oldest continuously operating road racing venue, behind Road America (1955) and Willow Springs International Motorsports Park (1953).<ref name="nyt">Template:Cite news</ref> The track was owned by Skip Barber from 1984 to April 2021, a former race car driver who started the Skip Barber Racing School in 1975. Now, it is owned by Lime Rock Group, LLC.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.<ref name="nris"/>

History

The Template:Cvt Lime Rock track was originally conceived of in 1956 by Jim Vaill, who, along with John Fitch and Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory, built the track utilizing state-of-the-art road and highway safety principles of the time. The first race, a mix of G-Production class and an MG class, was held on April 28, 1957. The winner of the G-Production was Ted Sprigg in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The winner of the MG class was Charles Callanan in an MG TC.

Rodger Ward (24) battles George Constantine in 1959

In 1959, Lime Rock was the site of a notable upset, when Rodger Ward won a Formula Libre race driving an Offenhauser-engined midget car, usually used on oval tracks. Ward used an advantageous power-to-weight ratio and his dirt-track cornering abilities to defeat several highly regarded sports cars and drivers for the victory. The year, the track also hosted the Little Le Mans race, won by Charles Callanan and Roger Penske in a Fiat Abarth. In 2008, the track was re-paved and two new corner complexes were added.<ref name="About Us">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The track has a loyal following,<ref name="About Us"/> though it did face some resistance from the local community shortly after it opened. In 1959, the Lime Rock Protective Association, with support from the nearby Trinity Episcopal Church,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> took the park to Litchfield Superior Court in an effort to ban Sunday racing. The court issued a permanent injunction against Sunday racing, and its decision was upheld by the Connecticut Supreme Court. While restrictive, the carefully crafted injunction was also enabling. It preserved the track's right to conduct unmuffled sports car racing on Fridays and Saturdays, plus testing on Tuesdays and other operating benefits. The injunction stands to this day.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The track has featured many well-known racers including Paul Newman, who supported his own Newman-Haas team with Bob Sharp,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Mario Andretti, Stirling Moss, Dan Gurney, Sam Posey, and Mark Donohue.<ref name="About Us"/> Other racers have included Parnelli Jones, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Simon Pagenaud, Alexander Rossi, and Tom Cruise.<ref name="Racer">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Posey and Newman have sections of the circuit named for them.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Rolex Sports Car Series, American Le Mans Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship have used a configuration which included the chicane at turn five and West Bend.

Track

The track is a natural terrain road course, constructed over hilly terrain in the Berkshire Mountains, part of the greater Appalachian mountain range. The famous Appalachian Trail hiking route passes by the circuit on the ridge lines visible from the track a half mile to the east. The venue is somewhat unique in that it features no grandstands or bleacher seating, instead inviting fans to bring chairs and blankets and enjoy the racing from its grassy hillside areas under the shade of trees. While the venue is relatively compact, the relatively short track is renowned for its spectator experience, offering fans an up close view and close quarters racing.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

BMW M6 GT3 race car rounds "Big Bend", turns 1–2, at Lime Rock Park during an IMSA GT event

For years the track was listed as being Template:Cvt in length—the story goes that right after it was built, somebody used the odometer in a Chevrolet to measure the track length—and 1.53 was taken as gospel. Following the 2008 reconstruction (see below), Lime Rock's operations people measured all four possible configurations, and as it turns out, each was Template:Cvt long, plus or minus a few hundred feet. The IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship gives the distance of the track as Template:Cvt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The "classic" configuration is seven turns, while the three optional layouts are eight, nine and ten turns, respectively.

Events

Current
Future
Former

Lap records

The fastest unofficial all-time track record set during a race weekend is 0:43.112 seconds, set by P. J. Jones in a Toyota Eagle MkIII, during qualifying for the 1993 Toyota Trucks Lime Rock Grand Prix. As of October 2025, the fastest official race lap records at Lime Rock Park are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 2.462 km (1957–present)
IMSA GTP citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Juan Manuel Fangio II || Eagle MkIII || 1993 Lime Rock Grand Prix

LMP1 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>|| Klaus Graf || HPD ARX-03a || 2012 Northeast Grand Prix

LMP2 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Ryan Briscoe || Porsche RS Spyder EVO || 2007 Northeast Grand Prix

Can-Am citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Jacques Villeneuve Sr. || Frissbee GR3 || 1983 Can-Am Challenge at Lime Rock Park

LMPC citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Colin Braun || Oreca FLM09 || 2013 Northeast Grand Prix

Star Mazda citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || C. R. Crews || Star Formula Mazda 'Pro' || 2004 Lime Rock Park Star Mazda Championship round

Formula Atlantic citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Jeff Wood || Ralt RT4 || 1980 Lime Rock Formula Atlantic round

Daytona Prototype citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Max Angelelli || Dallara DP01 || 2010 Memorial Day Classic

Group 5 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || John Fitzpatrick || Porsche 935 K4 || 1982 Coca-Cola 400

LMP3 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Bijoy Garg || Ligier JS P320 || 2023 Lime Rock IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge round

WSC citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Wayne Taylor || Ferrari 333 SP || 1995 Lime Rock Grand Prix

F5000 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Graham McRae || McRae GM1 || 1972 Lime Rock F5000 round

LMP900 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Jon Field || Lola B2K/10 || 2001 Dodge Dealers Grand Prix

F2000 Championship citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Chris Livengood || Van Diemen RF99 || 2011 Lime Rock F2000 Championship round

TA1 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Paul Menard || Ford Mustang Trans-Am || 2025 Lime Rock Trans-Am round

IMSA GTO citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Steve Millen || Nissan 300ZX || 1991 Lime Rock IMSA GT round

LM GTE citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Mathieu Jaminet || Porsche 911 RSR-19 || 2021 Northeast Grand Prix

IMSA GTP Lights citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Parker Johnstone || Spice SE91P || 1992 2 h Lime Rock

GT1 (GTS) 0:50.971<ref name='2007_limerock_alms' /> Johnny O'Connell Chevrolet Corvette C6.R 2007 Northeast Grand Prix
GT citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Bill Auberlen || BMW M3 GT2 || 2012 Northeast Grand Prix

Formula BMW citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Jonathan Summerton || Mygale FB02 || 2004 Lime Rock Formula BMW USA round

Radical Cup citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Raiden Nicol || Radical SR3 XXR || 2025 Lime Rock Radical Cup North America round

GT3 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Julien Andlauer || Porsche 911 (992) GT3 R || 2023 Northeast Grand Prix

GT1 (Prototype) citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || David Brabham || Panoz GTR-1 || 1998 Lime Rock Grand Prix

IMSA GTX citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || David Hobbs || March-BMW M1/C || 1981 Coca-Cola 400

TA2 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Mike Skeen || Ford Mustang Trans-Am || 2023 Lime Rock Trans-Am round

F1600 Championship citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Colin Thompson || Swift DB6 || 2011 Lime Rock F1600 Championship round

LMP675 0:53.151<ref name='limerock_grand_am_2001' /> Andy Lally Lola B2K/40 2001 Dodge Dealers Grand Prix
IMSA GTU citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Dorsey Schroeder || Dodge Daytona || 1988 Lime Rock IMSA GTU round

IMSA GTS citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Darin Brassfield || Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme || 1994 New England Dodge Dealers Grand Prix

Group 4 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Hurley Haywood || Porsche 934/5 || 1977 Lime Rock 100 Miles

GT4 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || John Capestro-Dubets || Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport || 2022 Lime Rock Park 120

TCR Touring Car citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Michael James Lewis || Hyundai i30 N TCR || 2018 Lime Rock Park Pirelli World Challenge round

IMSA GTS-1 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Irv Hoerr || Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme || 1995 Dodge Dealers Grand Prix of Lime Rock

Barber Pro citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Thed Björk || Reynard 98E || 2000 Lime Rock Barber Pro round

NASCAR Truck citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Corey Heim || Toyota Tundra TRD Pro || 2025 LiUNA! 150

ARCA Menards citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Brent Crews || Toyota Camry TRD || 2025 Lime Rock Park 100

IMSA GT citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Al Holbert || Chevrolet Monza || 1976 Lime Rock 100 Miles

Porsche Carrera Cup citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Jaap van Lagen || Porsche 911 (997) GT3 Cup 3.8 || 2011 Northeast Grand Prix

Super Touring citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Dominic Dobson || Dodge Stratus || 1996 Lime Rock Park NATCC round

GT2 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || João Barbosa || Mosler Intruder || 1999 Lime Rock Grand Prix

American GT citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Eric Curran || Ford Mustang || 2000 Dodge Dealers Grand Prix

GT3 (1998–1999) 0:56.997<ref name='1998_limerock_imsa' /> Rino Mastronardi Mazda RX-7 1998 Lime Rock Grand Prix
All American Challenge citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Dan Osterholt || Chevrolet Beretta || 1990 Jamesway 300

Mustang Challenge citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Will Lucas || Ford Mustang Dark Horse R || 2025 Lime Rock Mustang Cup round

IMSA GTS-2 0:57.253<ref name='imsa_limerock_1995' /> Bill Auberlen BMW M3 (E36) 1995 Dodge Dealers Grand Prix of Lime Rock
GTO 0:57.344<ref name='limerock_grand_am_2000' /> Terry Borcheller Saleen Mustang 2000 Dodge Dealers Grand Prix
GTU 0:57.424<ref name='limerock_grand_am_2000' /> Bill Auberlen BMW M3 2000 Dodge Dealers Grand Prix
TC citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Chip Herr || Audi A4 || 2007 Lime Rock Grand Prix

Ferrari Challenge citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Kevin Crowder || Ferrari F355 Challenge || 1999 Lime Rock Ferrari Challenge North America round

IMSA Supercar citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref> || Shawn Hendricks || BMW M5 (E34) || 1995 Lime Rock IMSA Supercar round

  • Lime Rock Park, Connecticut
    Lime Rock Park, Connecticut
  • Lime Rock Park, Connecticut
    Lime Rock Park, Connecticut
  • Lime Rock Park, Connecticut
    Lime Rock Park, Connecticut
  • View from the Sam Posey Straight spectator area during an American Le mans Series event
    View from the Sam Posey Straight spectator area during an American Le mans Series event
  • GT3 cars battle through "The Left Hander", turn 3, headed up towards Paul Newman Straight during an IMSA event at Lime Rock Park
    GT3 cars battle through "The Left Hander", turn 3, headed up towards Paul Newman Straight during an IMSA event at Lime Rock Park

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Sister project

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