IMSA - Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach brings the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to the Long Beach Street Circuit for a premier weekend of street racing. This 2026 edition features a 100-minute sprint race as the third round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. The event runs from April 17 to April 19, with the IMSA race taking place on Saturday. NBC broadcasts the race live, with qualifying sessions streamed on Peacock and IMSA's official YouTube channel globally.

Race Format and Classes

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Long Beach is a 100-minute sprint event. Two classes compete: Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD). The 2026 field includes 28 cars, with 11 entries in GTP and 17 in GTD. Qualifying sessions split by class determine the starting grid. The sprint format typically requires one pit stop for fuel and a driver change, making strategy crucial on this demanding street circuit.

The Long Beach Street Circuit

The Long Beach Street Circuit is a 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary road course laid out on the city streets of downtown Long Beach, California. The circuit runs clockwise around the Long Beach Convention Center, which serves as the pit paddock. This FIA Grade Two circuit features a signature hairpin turn and a long, slightly curved front straightaway along Shoreline Drive. The track surface challenges drivers with concrete walls bordering the racing line. IMSA coordinates all pit lane equipment staging and movement in this tight street circuit environment.

Circuit Characteristics

The track layout measures 3.167 kilometers with 11 turns. Shoreline Drive has remained a constant feature throughout the circuit's history, despite numerous layout changes due to area redevelopment. The street course demands precision from drivers, as errors meet unforgiving barriers. The circuit sits in downtown Long Beach, surrounded by the city's urban landscape.

2026 IMSA Participants

The GTP class features several notable entries for the 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian fields the No. 93 Acura ARX-06, driven by Nick Yelloly and Renger van der Zande. The team's sister car, the No. 60 Acura ARX-06, includes Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun. Frederik Vesti joins Jack Aitken in the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R. Laurin Heinrich makes his Long Beach debut with Tijmen van der Helm in the No. 5 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963.

The GTD class brings strong competition to the Long Beach Street Circuit. Robert Wickens and Mason Filippi drive the No. 36 DXDT Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R. The No. 66 Gradient Racing Ford Mustang GT3 features Corey Lewis and Jake Walker. Spencer Pumpelly joins Eduardo Barrichello in the Heart of Racing Team's No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo. AO Racing fields Harry King and Mikkel Pedersen in their No. 177 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Vasser Sullivan Racing returns with the No. 89 Lexus RC F GT3 for Jack Hawksworth and Frankie Montecalvo. Pfaff Motorsports enters its No. 46 Lamborghini Temerario GT3, driven by Andrea Caldarelli and Zachary Vanier.

Technical Specifications

The GTP class utilizes advanced LMDh and LMH prototype machinery. Five GTP manufacturers participate in the 2026 event. The GTD class features GT3-specification cars from nine manufacturers. Brands like Aston Martin, BMW, and Porsche have entries in both classes. Cadillac fields GTP cars while Chevrolet enters GTD machines. Acura competes with its ARX-06 in the GTP category.

IMSA History at Long Beach

Sports car racing at Long Beach began in 1990 with the GTO and GTU classes. The American Le Mans Series raced at this venue before the current IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship format was established in 2014. This format emerged from the merger of ALMS and the Rolex Sports Car Series. Acura became the title sponsor in 2019. The 2026 race marks a significant milestone for Acura's participation in IMSA prototype racing at Long Beach.

Event Heritage and Features

The Grand Prix of Long Beach holds the distinction of being the longest-running major street race in North America. The event began in 1975 with a Formula 5000 race. Formula One competed here from 1976 to 1983. CART and IndyCar have raced at Long Beach since 1984. The circuit played a role in the revitalization of Long Beach, transforming the port city into a modern destination.

The weekend includes multiple support series alongside the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Support series for 2026 include Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Historic Motorsports Association, Formula D Super Drift Challenge, Super Stadium Truck Challenge, and the Historic Sports Car Challenge. The 2026 event marks the first time both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and NTT INDYCAR SERIES races receive live network television broadcasts on the same weekend.

Fan Experience

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach offers fans access to world-class street racing on the Long Beach Street Circuit. The event includes interactive activities, live entertainment, food options, car showcases, and family attractions throughout the Grand Prix footprint. Evening concerts, food trucks, exotic car displays, and driver autograph sessions complement the racing action. A distinctive pedestrian bridge, known as the "rollercoaster bridge," provides a unique viewing perspective and serves as a remembrance of "The Pike" historic amusement park that once occupied parts of the circuit's area.

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach delivers high-level sports car racing on a challenging street circuit. The combination of GTP prototypes and GTD GT3 machinery competing on the demanding Long Beach Street Circuit provides compelling racing action for fans of sports car competition.