- GT Sprint Racing Returns to Long Beach for the 200mph Beach Party
- Multiclass racing with GT3, GT2, and GT4 cars in action
- Entry List | Timetable | Event Tickets
Following the opening round of the GT America powered by AWS championship, which saw seasoned competitors and newcomers on the scene tackle the rolling hills of Sonoma Raceway, the second event, proudly presented by 5.11, will have a much different setting to contend with. The field will be returning to California, this time racing in the streets for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the longest-running major street race in North America.
The series has a longstanding, rich history of competition at Long Beach, going back to the days of Pirelli World Challenge. The series has been a part of the Grand Prix since as early as 2006, with GT racing legends still taking their rightful place on the grid to this day, including the likes of series Champions’ Johnny O’Connell and James Sofronas.
The 1.968 mile, 11-turn circuit is notorious for its unforgiving concrete walls and highly technical layout, making it one of the most thrilling and highly anticipated spectacles of the season. The event, which runs in support of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, will feature two 40-minute, single driver format sprint races, with Race 1 taking place on Saturday, April 20th, and Race 2 concluding the action on Sunday, April 21st.
SRO3 Class
Last time out at Sonoma, it was Jason Daskalos in the No. 27 CRP/Daskalos Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Johnny O'Connell in the No. 3 SKI Autosports Audi R8 LMS GT3 who picked up the opening wins of the championship. As the field will be California-bound once more, these two will be in podium pursuit yet again.
George Kurtz secured a pair of third place finishes as well in his No. 04 Crowdstrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3, but the prior champion will be eager to return to the top step of the podium. James Sofronas also stood on the podium in the previous round, with a second-place finish in the No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3, a strong performance he will be looking to replicate and expand on as he prepares to race in front of a home crowd, with the Socal native’s GMG shop located just down the road in Santa Ana.
Ross Chouest will be joining the Mercedes-AMG medley in his No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing GT3 machinery. Meanwhile, the remaining drivers in the field will be the lone representatives of their respective manufacturers, with Kyle Washington in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3-R, Mirco Schultis equipped with the No. 70 MISHUMOTORS Callaway Corvette Z06R GT3, Jason Bell driving the No. 2 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, and Justin Rothberg returning in the No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3.
GT2 Class
GMG Racing will have a stacked lineup extending into the GT2 Class, with Brent Holden returning with his No. 44 Mercedes-AMG GT2, accompanied by CJ Moses in the No. 58 Audi R8 LMS GT2.
TPC Racing will also be fielding two entries in Long Beach. Aaron Farhadi had a very strong start to the season, securing back-to-back wins at Sonoma Raceway in his No. 102 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2, with Alan Grossberg also picking up two podium finishes of his own in the No. 127 machine.
Dan Knox will also be joining the grid for the event, equipped with the No. 10 Lonestar Racing Mercedes-AMG GT2.
GT4 Class
Isaac Sherman remains the one to watch in the GT4 Class, as the rookie made a strong first impression in his No. 098 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, clinching the first two wins of the season in dominant fashion. This time, he’ll be joined by teammate and 2023 GT4 Vice-Champion Robb Holland in the No. 099 Rotek Racing entry.
The third Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport entry will be driven by Curt Swearingin in the No. 7 ACI Motorsports machine.
Gray Newell and Todd Coleman will also be strong contenders, each earning a second and third place finish apiece in the prior round. They will be back on track in the No. 25 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 and the No. 69 Archangel Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4.
Elias Sabo, a Newport Beach resident, and Todd Parriott will be representing Flying Lizard Motorsports in their respective No. 8 and No. 13 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4.
Finally, Nicholas Shanny will be fielding his No. 21 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M4 GT4, with Samantha Tan making her first appearance in the series in the No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT4. The Canadian has strong ties to California, and the event serves as an honorary home race for her as she now resides in Irvine, with the ST Racing team based in Santa Ana.
Let’s Get Racing
The GT America Powered by AWS will be starting off the Long Beach Grand Prix festivities with a GT Parade on Thursday, April 18th at 6:00 pm PDT. The on-track action will kick off the following day, April 19th, with Practice 1 at 7:45 am PDT. Click here for the full schedule of the GT America weekend.
If you can’t make it to Long Beach, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free livestreams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTLBGP.