Staged every mid-April on the Southern California coast, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is one of the most intense, high-speed street battles in global sports car racing.
Unlike standard multi-hour endurance marathons, Long Beach serves as IMSA’s shortest, most aggressive event: a 100-minute sprint race where precision, traffic management, and rapid pit strategy dictate the podium.
The Race Format & Competing Classes
Because of the compact 1.968-mile, 11-turn street circuit, IMSA features a streamlined two-class lineup:
- GTP (Grand Touring Prototype): Top-tier factory hybrid prototypes (Porsche 963, Cadillac V-Series.R, Acura ARX-06, BMW M Hybrid V8) delivering over 670 horsepower with instant electric torque.
- GTD (GT Daytona): Customer racing teams driving production-based GT3 machinery (Ferrari 296 GT3, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Aston Martin Vantage, Lexus RC F GT3, Corvette Z06 GT3.R).
- 100-Minute Sprint & 1 Pit Stop: With only 100 minutes on the clock, teams typically execute just one scheduled pit stop for fuel, fresh Michelin tires, and driver changeover. A slow stop or a single track penalty ends any hope of victory.
Ticket Guide & Paddock Access
Tickets are sold directly through the official race portal (gplb.com). Options range from single-day entry to full three-day weekend packages shared with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES:
- General Admission (GA): Affordable access to unreserved seating areas, the Lifestyle Expo inside the Long Beach Convention Center, and general trackside walkways.
- Reserved Grandstand Tickets: Guaranteed assigned seating for Saturday (IMSA Race Day) and Sunday (IndyCar Race Day).
- Open IMSA Paddock Access: Unlike Formula 1, IMSA tickets include open paddock access inside the Convention Center and outer garages. Fans can stand feet away from mechanics prepping multimillion-dollar GTP machines and meet drivers during scheduled autograph sessions.
Best Seating Options & Sightlines
| Grandstand / Section | Location on Track | Sightlines & Experience |
| Grandstand 40 / 36 (Turn 1) | End of the Shoreline Drive front straight | Best Overtaking Zone: Front-row view of cars decelerating from 160+ mph into the tight left-hand Turn 1. |
| Grandstand 5, 6 & 7 (The Fountain) | Surrounding Turn 2 & 3 dolphin fountain | Iconic Backdrop: Watch GTP and GTD cars navigate the roundabout curbing at close range with classic Long Beach harbor scenery. |
| Grandstand 16 & 18 (Turn 9/10 to Hairpin) | Leading into Turn 11 flat-out hairpin | Direct view of aggressive tail-to-nose battling before the slowest and tightest hairpin turn in North American racing. |
| Grandstand 25, 27 & 29 (Pit Straight) | Across from the pit lane boxes | Perfect for tracking the critical mid-race pit stops and seeing the standing start/checkered flag moments. |
Essential Spectator & Travel Tips
- Arrive by Metro A Line: Downtown Long Beach parking fills up early. Take the LA Metro A Line (Blue) directly to the Downtown Long Beach Station, just a 5-minute walk to the main entry gates.
- Explore the Indoor Paddock Early: Head inside the Long Beach Convention Center arena early in the morning to see cars stripped down during technical inspection.
- Bring Ear Protection & Clear Bags: High-revving naturally aspirated engines reverberate strongly off downtown buildings and concrete barriers. Check event clear-bag regulations before entering security checkpoints.
