Lime Rock Track Guide

Published: December 14, 2013; updated: April 14, 2014

Lime Rock is a 1.53 mile (1.54 mile if using the uphill turn chicane) road course with 7 official turns.

Blend Line

Stay right out of the pits into and through turn 1. Turn 2 requires entry from the right side as well, so you can track out maybe half of track width between turns 1 and 2.

Turns 1 and 2 - Big Bend

This is a very long, and pretty fast, decreasing radius right sweeper that officially counts for two turns. Each driver with some experience at Lime Rock tends to have their own line through this turn. Popular options are:

  1. Single arc, late apex: entry from left of center with an arc touching the left side of the pavement at turn in for turn 3.
  2. Double apex: touching the right side of the pavement twice.
  3. Brake into the turn: instead of braking in a straight line prior to the turn, turn the car at around the 1 brake marker to be driving into the turn and get on the brakes. Ideally braking should be done in a very gentle arc to avoid unwanted rotation.

Track out all the way left. If you do not need full track width at the exit, enter turn 1 faster.

Turn 3 - Lefthander

The only left turn on the track. It is an extremely late apex turn. When there are cones set up, you should just about drive straight for the cone and turn from the cone. Without cones, run as late of an apex as you think you can manage and then wait another half a second before turning the car.

You should come out of turn 3 on the left side of the track, to set up for turn 4. If you are not turning in for turn 4 from the left edge of the track, you probably early apexed turn 3.

Turn 4 - Righthander

This turn leads onto the No Name Straight and therefore exit speed is paramount. Consequently this means you want to be getting on power as early as possible after turn 3. You might need to move the apex in turn 3 later to eliminate coasting between turns 3 and 4. Ideal line through turn 4 for moderately powerful cars will have the car set up on the left side of the track before the turn, parallel to the track, and the car should be settled before turn in.

You should need the entire track width at the exit.

No Name Straight

The no name straight is not actually straight but an S curve. It is, however, taken flat out in any car. If being passed there, take care not to go off track in the middle of the straight where the track curves. If passing, be sure to leave space for the car on the left.

Turn 5 - Uphill Turn

A close to 90 degree right hander leading to a huge uphill. Higher horsepower cars will need to brake for it. Lower horsepower cars get away with lifting, and given enough grip and bravery could even enter the turn flat out.

Because the turn is uphill, it is possible to do maybe half of required rotation at the foot of the hill such that the car is facing the corner worker at the crest when it enters the corner. Then, once the car is moving up and on the left side of the track, finish the turn. Experiencing this as a passenger is a huge help in understanding how turn 5 should be driven.

Turn 5 Chicane

There is an optional chicane around turn 5. It reduces the speed of the cars cresting the hill. Without chicane, even Miatas unload the rear tires enough to need to account for it, and higher power cars typically need to carefully decide how much throttle they can apply prior to the crest.

Turn 6 - West Bend

Fast right. Even lower horsepower cars typically brush the brakes there.

The apex curb is very steep. Stay off of it.

Turn 7 - Downhill

A faster still right leading onto the main straight. Lower horsepower cars take this turn flat out. This is the most important corner on the track, and all about exit speed. Higher horsepower cars will want to get on power as early as possible, which requires a sufficiently late apex.

Car Specific Notes

Passing Zones

Main straight and no name straight are the typical passing zones for less experienced run groups. Run groups composed of very new drivers often end up only using the main straight for passing. Intermediate and advanced drivers can be allowed to pass between uphill turn and west bend.

Other Resources

Videos

Lap Records

Amenities

Lime Rock has 93 unleaded, 100 unleaded, 110 leaded and 112 leaded fuel available in the paddock.

There are no garages at Lime Rock. Tech inspection is typically done either at the end of the paddock or in the pit lane.

The paddock is paved, although at more attended events some cars end up parking in the grass.

There is Wi-Fi in the paddock.

Besides the main road course, Lime Rock has an autocross track and a skid pad.