The 2024 Grand Prix of Long Beach (formally known as the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach) was a sports car race held at Long Beach Street Circuit in Long Beach, California on April 20, 2024. It was the third round of the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Background Preview
International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) president John Doonan confirmed the race was part of the schedule of the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA SCC) in August 2023. It will be the tenth year the event will be held as part of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and the fifteenth annual running of the race, counting the period between 2006 and 2013 when it was a round of the Rolex Sports Car Series and the American Le Mans Series respectively. The 2024 Grand Prix of Long Beach will be the third of eleven scheduled sports car races of 2024 by IMSA. The race will be held at the Long Beach street circuit on April 20, 2024.
Balance of Performance On April 8, 2024, IMSA released the latest technical bulletin outlining Balance of Performance for the GTP and GTD classes. In GTP, Acura will receive a 5-kilogram (kg) weight increase and a power increase of 3 kilowatts (kW). Cadillac keeps their 520 kW of power, but receives a 2 kg weight break compared to Sebring. BMW will also receive a 3 kW boost whilst keeping the same weight. Finally, Porsche receives a 3 kg weight increase, and 5 kW of additional power. There are no changes in BoP for the GTD class.
Standings before the race Dane Cameron, Matt Campbell, and Felipe Nasr were leading the GTP Drivers' Championship with 706 points, with Louis Delétraz, Colton Herta, and Jordan Taylor level on points. In GTD, Indy Dontje, Philip Ellis, and Russell Ward led the championship with 725 points, 136 points ahead of Antonio Fuoco, Roberto Lacorte, and Giorgio Sernagiotto. Cadillac, Porsche, and Acura were all level on 710 points in the GTP Manufacturers' Championship, whilst Mercedes-AMG lead from Porsche and Lamborghini in GTD. Porsche Penske Motorsport and Winward Racing each led their respective Teams' Championships.
Entry list Entrant Car Driver 1 Driver 2 GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) (10 entries) 01 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R Sébastien Bourdais Renger van der Zande 5 Proton Competition Mustang Sampling Porsche 963 Gianmaria Bruni Mike Rockenfeller 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 Mathieu Jaminet Nick Tandy 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 Dane Cameron Felipe Nasr 10 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06 Filipe Albuquerque Ricky Taylor 24 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 Philipp Eng Jesse Krohn 25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 Connor De Phillippi Nick Yelloly 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R Jack Aitken Pipo Derani 40 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06 Louis Delétraz Jordan Taylor 85 JDC–Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 Tijmen van der Helm Richard Westbrook GTD (GT Daytona) (17 entries) 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 Jack Hawksworth Frankie Montecalvo 13 AWA Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R Matt Bell Orey Fidani 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Roman De Angelis Spencer Pumpelly 28 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Andy Lee Elias Sabo 32 Korthoff/Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mikaël Grenier Mike Skeen 34 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Albert Costa Manny Franco 43 Andretti Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Jarett Andretti Gabby Chaves 45 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 Danny Formal Kyle Marcelli 55 Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 Giammarco Levorato Corey Lewis 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Philip Ellis Russell Ward 66 Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 Stevan McAleer Sheena Monk 70 Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3 Evo Brendan Iribe Frederik Schandorff 78 Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 Misha Goikhberg Loris Spinelli 86 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Anders Fjordbach Kerong Li 89 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 Ben Barnicoat Parker Thompson 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 Robby Foley Patrick Gallagher 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Adam Adelson Elliott SkeerSource:
Practice There were two practice sessions preceding the start of the race on Saturday, one on Friday morning and one on Friday afternoon. The first session lasted 1 hour on Friday morning while the second session on Friday afternoon lasted 90 minutes.
Qualifying
Friday's afternoon qualifying session was broken into two sessions, with one session for the GTP and GTD classes, which lasted 15 minutes each. The rules dictated that all teams nominated a driver to qualify their cars. The competitors' fastest lap times determined the starting order. IMSA then arranged the grid to put GTPs ahead of the GTD cars.
Qualifying results Pole positions in each class are indicated in bold and with . +ClassEntryDriverTime1GTP31 Whelen Cadillac Racing Pipo Derani1:11.388—12GTP25 BMW M Team RLL Nick Yelloly1:11.397 +0.00923GTP01 Cadillac Racing Sébastien Bourdais1:11.411 +0.02334GTP6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Nick Tandy1:11.629 +0.24145GTP7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Dane Cameron1:11.741 +0.35356GTP40 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Jordan Taylor1:11.745 +0.35767GTP85 JDC–Miller MotorSports Tijmen van der Helm1:11.930 +0.54278GTP10 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Filipe Albuquerque1:11.940 +0.55289GTP24 BMW M Team RLL Philipp Eng1:11.999 +0.611910GTP5 Proton Competition Mustang Sampling Mike Rockenfeller1:13.143 +1.7551011GTD89 Vasser Sullivan Parker Thompson1:17.357 +5.9691112GTD12 Vasser Sullivan Frankie Montecalvo1:17.619 +6.2311213GTD34 Conquest Racing Albert Costa1:17.679 +6.2911314GTD27 Heart of Racing Team Roman De Angelis1:17.725 +6.3371415GTD45 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Danny Formal1:17.814 +6.4261516GTD32 Korthoff/Preston Motorsports Mikaël Grenier1:17.827 +6.4391617GTD96 Turner Motorsport Patrick Gallagher1:18.011 +6.6231718GTD55 Proton Competition Giammarco Levorato1:18.177 +6.7891819GTD57 Winward Racing Russell Ward1:18.300 +6.9121920GTD70 Inception Racing Brendan Iribe1:18.448 +7.0602021GTD120 Wright Motorsports Adam Adelson1:18.457 +7.0692122GTD78 Forte Racing Misha Goikhberg1:18.655 +7.2672223GTD43 Andretti Motorsports Jarett Andretti1:19.335 +7.9472324GTD86 MDK Motorsports Kerong Li1:19.901 +8.5132425GTD13 AWA Orey Fidani1:20.072 +8.6842526GTD28 Flying Lizard Motorsports Elias Sabo1:20.397 +9.0092627GTD66 Gradient RacingNo Time Established27Sources:
Race
Post-race The final results kept Cameron and Nasr atop the GTP Drivers' Championship with 1032 points, 58 ahead of race winners Bourdais and van der Zande. The final results of GTD kept Ellis and Ward atop the Drivers' Championship with 987 points. Foley and Gallagher jumped from tenth to second with 802 points, 10 ahead of Thompson. Cadillac and Mercedes-AMG continued to top their respective Manufactures' Championships while Porsche Penske Motorsport and Winward Racing kept their respective advantages in their of Teams' Championships with eight rounds remaining.
Race results Class winners are denoted in bold and with . ClassTeamDriversChassisTime/RetiredEngine1GTP01 Cadillac Racing Sébastien Bourdais Renger van der ZandeCadillac V-Series.R681:40:07.318Cadillac LMC55R 5.5 L V82GTP31 Whelen Cadillac Racing Jack Aitken Pipo DeraniCadillac V-Series.R68 +0.564Cadillac LMC55R 5.5 L V83GTP7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Dane Cameron Felipe NasrPorsche 96368 +1.675Porsche 9RD 4.6 L twin-turbo V84GTP6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Mathieu Jaminet Nick TandyPorsche 96368 +2.913Porsche 9RD 4.6 L twin-turbo V85GTP5 Proton Competition Mustang Sampling Gianmaria Bruni Mike RockenfellerPorsche 96368 +4.297Porsche 9RD 4.6 L twin-turbo V86GTP24 BMW M Team RLL Philipp Eng Jesse KrohnBMW M Hybrid V868 +5.047BMW P66/3 4.0 L twin-turbo V87GTP85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Tijmen van der Helm Richard WestbrookPorsche 96368 +6.892Porsche 9RD 4.6 L twin-turbo V88GTP10 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Filipe Albuquerque Ricky TaylorAcura ARX-0668 +7.343Acura AR24e 2.4 L twin-turbo V69GTD89 Vasser Sullivan Ben Barnicoat Parker ThompsonLexus RC F GT365 +3 LapsToyota 2UR-GSE 5.0 L V810GTD96 Turner Motorsport Robby Foley Patrick GallagherBMW M4 GT365 +3 LapsBMW S58B30T0 3.0 L Turbo I611GTD32 Korthoff/Preston Motorsports Mikaël Grenier Mike SkeenMercedes-AMG GT3 Evo65 +3 LapsMercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V812GTD66 Gradient Racing Stevan McAleer Sheena MonkAcura NSX GT3 Evo2265 +3 LapsAcura JNC1 3.5 L Turbo V613GTD55 Proton Competition Giammarco Levorato Corey LewisFord Mustang GT365 +3 LapsFord Coyote 5.4 L V814GTD13 AWA Matt Bell Orey FidaniChevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R65 +3 LapsChevrolet LT6 5.5 L V815GTD57 Winward Racing Philip Ellis Russell WardMercedes-AMG GT3 Evo65 +3 LapsMercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V816GTD45 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Danny Formal Kyle MarcelliLamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 265 +3 LapsLamborghini DGF 5.2 L V1017GTD43 Andretti Motorsports Jarett Andretti Gabby ChavesPorsche 911 GT3 R (992)65 +3 LapsPorsche 4.2 L Flat-618GTD28 Flying Lizard Motorsports Elias Sabo Andy LeeAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo65 +3 LapsAston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V819GTD78 Forte Racing Misha Goikhberg Loris SpinelliLamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 265 +3 LapsLamborghini DGF 5.2 L V1020GTD34 Conquest Racing Albert Costa Manny FrancoFerrari 296 GT365 +3 LapsFerrari F163 3.0 L Turbo V621GTD86 MDK Motorsports Anders Fjordbach Kerong LiPorsche 911 GT3 R (992)64 +4 LapsPorsche 4.2 L Flat-622DNFGTP25 BMW M Team RLL Connor De Phillippi Nick YellolyBMW M Hybrid V861Accident damageBMW P66/3 4.0 L twin-turbo V823DNFGTD27 Heart of Racing Team Roman De Angelis Spencer PumpellyAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo51Accident damageAston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V824DNFGTD12 Vasser Sullivan Frankie Montecalvo Jack HawksworthLexus RC F GT341Accident damageToyota 2UR-GSE 5.0 L V825DNFGTP40 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Louis Delétraz Jordan TaylorAcura ARX-0630AccidentAcura AR24e 2.4 L twin-turbo V626DNFGTD120 Wright Motorsports Adam Adelson Elliott SkeerPorsche 911 GT3 R (992)8Accident damagePorsche 4.2 L Flat-627DNFGTD70 Inception Racing Brendan Iribe Frederik SchandorffMcLaren 720S GT3 Evo7AccidentMcLaren M840T 4.0 L Turbo V8Source:
Standings after the race
+GTP Drivers' Championship standings +/– Driver Points 1 Dane Cameron Felipe Nasr 1032 2 2 Sébastien Bourdais Renger van der Zande 974 3 Jack Aitken Pipo Derani 955 4 2 Louis Delétraz Jordan Taylor 941 5 1 Mathieu Jaminet Nick Tandy 853 Source:
+LMP2 Drivers' Championship standings +/– Driver Points 1 Ryan Dalziel Dwight Merriman Connor Zilisch 741 2 Josh Burdon Felipe Fraga Gar Robinson 614 3 Malthe Jakobsen 612 4 Colin Braun George Kurtz Toby Sowery 595 5 Nick Boulle Tom Dillmann Jakub Śmiechowski 590 Source:
+GTD Pro Drivers' Championship standings +/– Driver Points 1 James Calado Davide Rigon Daniel Serra 722 2 Bryan Sellers Madison Snow Neil Verhagen 624 3 Ben Barnicoat Jack Hawksworth Kyle Kirkwood 617 4 Michael Christensen Laurin Heinrich Sebastian Priaulx 605 5 Mirko Bortolotti Jordan Pepper Franck Perera 596 Source:
+GTD Drivers' Championship standings +/– Driver Points 1 Philip Ellis Russell Ward 987 2 8 Robby Foley Patrick Gallagher 802 3 9 Parker Thompson 792 4 Albert Costa Manny Franco 765 5 2 Adam Adelson Elliott Skeer 740 Source:
Note: Only the top five positions are included for all sets of standings.
+GTP Teams' Championship standings +/– Team Points 1 #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 1032 2 2 #01 Cadillac Racing 974 3 #31 Whelen Cadillac Racing 955 4 2 #40 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti 941 5 1 #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 853 Source:
+LMP2 Teams' Championship standings +/– Team Points 1 #18 Era Motorsport 741 2 #74 Riley 614 3 #04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR 595 4 #52 Inter Europol by PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports 590 5 #22 United Autosports USA558 Source: