Only 100 minutes to win it | Preview: 2023 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

Colin
By Colin Wood
Apr 15, 2023 | Acura, Endurance Racing, IMSA, Long Beach, WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Grand Prix of Long Beach, Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

Photograph Courtesy IMSA

How will the GTP machines fair under the warm California sun? There’s only one way to find out as the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship heads to SoCal for the 2023 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

One of shortest races on the calendar at only 100 minutes long, the Grand Prix of Long Beach will see 28 cars–8 GTP, 5 GTD Pro and 15 GTD–take on the narrow twists and turns of the Long Beach street circuit this weekend when the green flag drops April 15 at 2:05 p.m. Pacific (5:05 p.m. Eastern).

The race at Long Beach also marks the first of seven events that count toward the IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup for the GTD class. Points earned also apply to the overall season championship.

Paul Miller Racing’s Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow hope to take their third consecutive GTD win at Long Beach, with Cadillac aiming to turn its 5 Long Beach prototype wins into an even 6.

The No. 79 Mercedes-AMG GT3 and No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 are the hot cars to watch in GTD Pro, after class wins at Daytona and Sebring, respectively. Embarking on its first full-season GTD effort, the No. 70 McLaren 720S GT3 has yet to win a race, though it does carry the lead in class points thanks to drivers Brendan Iribe and Frederik Schandorff.

For more information, including an event schedule, entry list and broadcast schedule, click here.

So, who are you rooting for? Who do you think will win? What are you most excited about seeing during this weekend's race?

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Comments
DirtyBird222
DirtyBird222 PowerDork
4/13/23 3:46 p.m.

With a high of 73 and mostly cloudy, I would hardly call it warm this weekend lol. 

Always love watching this race and look forward to having something to actually watch this weekend. 

jb229
jb229 Reader
4/15/23 3:31 p.m.

In reply to DirtyBird222 :

There's also WEC, Super GT, and possibly the best option, the Goodwood Member's Meeting.

 

GTwannaB
GTwannaB GRM+ Memberand Dork
4/15/23 8:51 p.m.

Do they still do that pro am celebrity race prior to the big event? Or was that a different race?

racerfink
racerfink UberDork
4/16/23 12:24 a.m.

That was when it was sponsored by Toyota.  It's sponsored by Honda/Acura now.

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