Lime Rock Park

Lime Rock Park is a historic and renowned road racing track located in Lime Rock, Connecticut. It is celebrated as one of the oldest continuously operating road racing venues in the United States and holds a significant place in American motorsport history.

History

Lime Rock Park was built in 1956 and officially opened for racing on April 28, 1957. The track was conceived by Jim Vaill, who worked alongside racing driver and road safety pioneer John Fitch and the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory to design the circuit using advanced road and highway safety principles of the time. The original location was a former sand and gravel quarry, and the initial layout of the track remains largely unchanged since its inception, although it was repaved in 2008 with two new corner complexes added.

The first races included a mix of classes, with Ted Sprigg winning the G-Production race in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Charles Callanan winning the MG class in an MG TC. Notably, in 1959, Rodger Ward won a Formula Libre race at Lime Rock driving an Offenhauser-powered midget car, a remarkable upset over traditional sports cars.

From early on, Lime Rock Park faced opposition from the local community, particularly regarding noise on Sundays due to the proximity of Trinity Episcopal Church. In 1959, a court issued a permanent injunction banning Sunday racing, a restriction upheld by the Connecticut Supreme Court. This injunction allows racing only on Fridays and Saturdays, with the track remaining silent on Sundays, a rule still in effect today.

Lime Rock has hosted a wide array of prominent racing series, including the Rolex Sports Car Series, American Le Mans Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, and NASCAR Busch North Series events. It has also been the home track for the Skip Barber Racing School and has accommodated various club racing events.

Most Famous Races Held

Lime Rock Park is known for hosting major sports car and road racing events, particularly during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. It was the key East Coast venue for iconic series such as the Trans-Am and Can-Am Championship, as well as IMSA GTP races featuring some of the fastest and most technologically advanced sports cars of their eras.

Many legendary racers and personalities have competed or been associated with Lime Rock Park, including Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, Paul Newman, Stirling Moss, Mark Donohue, Parnelli Jones, Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Simon Pagenaud, Alexander Rossi, and even actor Tom Cruise. Paul Newman in particular had a significant connection, running the Newman-Haas racing team and having a section of the circuit named after him.

Track Information

Lime Rock Park is a 1.530-mile (2.462 km) paved road course featuring seven corners. The track is relatively short but fast with a classic layout that rewards precision and smooth driving. Its design was one of the first in North America to incorporate scientific road safety concepts, thanks to John Fitch’s involvement.

The circuit rises and falls with the terrain, incorporating natural elevation changes and tight corners that challenge drivers’ skills. The track’s physical footprint includes a main straightaway, technical turns, and a chicane at turn five used in some series configurations.

The track remains closed for racing on Sundays due to the longstanding injunction, with events typically scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays, making race weekends compact and highly anticipated.