This weekend Circuit of The Americans played host to the WEC Lone Star Le Mans. I had the privilege of seeing it with my friends at the Spirit Club. This created a unique experience for photos and access to the paddock and grid walk. I've had other hospitality experiences at COTA in the past, but this was both my first WEC event and my first Spirit Club experience.

One neat thing we found is that the shuttle drivers can take you on the inside loop of the track and if you ask nicely they'll stop at cutouts and let you take photos from the car. This is a great opportunity to get some amazing shots normally limited to press.

I felt like the atmosphere at WEC was very different than F1 or the GT3/GT4 event I enjoyed earlier in the year. Though I missed practice on Friday, I was surprised how well attended race was over Saturday and Sunday. There were significant crowds of people, though I think everyone was still able to find a good seat even on race day. I felt like there were many hardcore enthusiasts like at the GT3/GT4 event including fellow photographers, but also many people who were excited to experience racing up close for the first time.

While F1 brings absolutely insane crowds there's always a bit of a vibe that a lot of people are just there to that are just wanting to be seen at the event or after-parties. Overall I'd highly recommend the WEC experience at COTA. It's a fun environment and a great track to view both the GT3 and hypercars. It's a great option in terms of budget too, because F1 events have become absurdly expensive.