COTA's ALMS/WEC events?

I just got this WEC/ALMS weekend tentative schedule from budaman on another forum. Why COTA doesn't post this info, I'll never know. He got it in the mail with his tickets.

Friday
8-9 ALMS practice (all Classes)
9:15-10:45 WEC practice
11:10-11:40 Race 1 ALMS Prototype Lites
12:40-1:40 ALMS practice
1:50-2:05 ALMS Qual GTC
2:10-2:25 ALMS Qual GT
2:35-2:50 ALMS Qual PC
2:55-3:10 ALMS Qual P1/P2
3:25-4:55 WEC practice 2
5:15-6:00 Race 1 GT3 Cup

Saturday
8:00-8:25 ALMS warmup
8:40-9:40 WEC practice
10:05-10:50 Race 2 ALMS Prototype Lite
11:15-12:00 Race 2 GT3 Cup
12:00-1:00 ALMS Autographs in Paddock
1:00-1:30 PLite & GT3 Autographs(support Paddock)
1:00-1:25 WEC Qual LMGTE
1:35-2:00 WEC Qual LMP1&2
3:45-6:30 ALMS Race

Sunday
8:30-9:40 WEC Pit Walk
9:00-9:30 WEC Autograph(Pit Lane)
11:00-5:00 WEC Race
5:05-5:35 Fan Invasion on Front straight

 

well, bought my tickets this morning. If the poo hits the fan with this event for some reason, I'll just go get drunk in Austin. Longhorns are playing that weekend too

 

Woot!

 

are you going? or was the "woot" for getting drunk

 

Maybe. Maybe. Or maybe you getting out of Florida?

If you need anything, drop me a line. Otherwise, I expect you'll be staying in Smithville.

 

big woot for getting out of the swamp!

 

Official ALMS/WEC schedule from the ALMS website:

http://www.alms.com/sites/default/files/schedules/COTA%20Event%20Schedule.pdf

 

Discounted ALMS/WEC tickets at Amazon Local:

Amazon Local Austin: Circuit of the Americas Sports Car Weekend

 

Here's COTA's schedule of events for the weekend:

 

Not a lot of activity in this thread.....how many of you are going?

 

I'll be there Sat and Sun

 

I'll be there throughout.

 

So the track is not open to the public during ALMS/WEC tech?? The schedule shows Wednesday and Thursday for technical inspections but the track website says gates open on Friday.

 

Wed/Thurs is technically a promoter test day, not part of the official ALMS/WEC weekend.

 

At all the other ALMS races I have gone to including Sebring, Road America, Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta you could see tech on Wednesday or Thursday, and it's always open to the fans. Even the old FIA GT races at Homestead, Sebring and Laguna Seca had tech open to the fans.

If they have closed tech out at Austin I will never go to a ALMS or sportscar race there. I was thinking about going next weekend but that B.S. will stop me if true.

 

I stand corrected...the promoter's test is actually on Tuesday.

so yeah...it looks like it's a closed deal with no ticket sales (I can't see anything on COTA's website that mentions anything before Friday).

 

Cars started to arrive today

 

Sadly, COTA rarely allows people in for anything unless it's an event you have to pay to attend.

 

I went out to the track yesterday and caught a bit of the first ALMS/WEC practice. Caught the new DeltaWing Coupe in action. I posted some photos on the FB page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.708663115814903.1073741888.157330087614878&type=1

Here are a few of them:









I little too quick onto the throttle out of 11:





Mowing the astroturf approaching 10:







Hot brakes into 11:

 

Great shots, thanks for sharing. Kicking myself now for not going.

How's the weather down there?

 

Not bad. Highs in the low 90s. Big chance of rain Friday though.

 

My Dad (BEisler) and I will arrive in Austin late Friday night, and are very much looking forward to seeing ALMS and WEC on track. We were very disappointed that ALMS was not with IndyCar at Mid Ohio this year, so this weekend in Austin will more than make up for that!

As this will be our first time at COTA, can anyone recommend good locations to take pictures? Are there many areas where you don't have to shoot through a fence?

 

Yep. I've taken literally thousands of photos at COTA, both of the construction construction phase and of cars on the track.

Many of these galleries are mine: https://www.facebook.com/FoF1ATX/photos_albums

Here's my V8SC gallery. Probably my best so far:

Flickr: terri177's Photostream

The best places to shoot without a fence in the way are mostly along the east side of the track because the viewing areas are higher in relation to the track. The hill at T6 is a favorite spot. You can look left and get 2-6 like this:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8546/8809303160_f5da9a04fc_k.jpg

& this:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8417/8809288258_876980dba5_h.jpg

Look right and get 6-8/9.

I shot this from the hill above 7/8. https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/543128_552861221395094_1573701556_n.jpg

...and this from the T9 GS. If you pan left you can see to the apex of T6. Go right & shoot T10 & 11. Dead ahead the entire back straight.

https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/270120_552861308061752_869375599_n.jpg

Around the "Istanbul" complex (16-18) there are a couple of breaks in the inner fence. You still have to shoot through the outer chain-link fence, but it can be done, like this:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/8798707001_2bbb10c469_h.jpg

You can get some occasional good shots by pausing on the steps of the crossover bridges if they aren't crowded, like this:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5330/8798689627_e46cd067e3_h.jpg

Other than that, all I can tell you is to be prepared to just walk around (a LOT) and find what's best for you. There are some good angles on the west side, but in general, the best places to shoot from are along the east side. The ALMS/WEC practice photos I posted yesterday were actually shot from off-property above T11.

 

Wow! Thanks for all the great information! This will help a lot when we're wondering around the track this weekend. We are prepared to walk a lot!