27 Entries for Long Beach

Photo: Gavin Baker/IMSA

A total of 27 cars, split between GTP and GTD class entries, are set to compete in next weekend’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Released on Wednesday, the entry list for the third round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season marks the first sprint race following Michelin Endurance Cup rounds at Daytona International Speedway and Sebring International Raceway.

The ten-car GTP category sees no surprises other than the yet-to-be-confirmed driver alongside full season pilot Gianmaria Bruni in the No. 5 Proton Competition Porsche 963.

With GTD Pro skipping Long Beach, GTD will take center stage in the production-based ranks, highlighted by several one-off entries.

It includes a second Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3, for Ben Barnicoat and Parker Thompson, with Jack Hawksworth replacing Thompson’s seat in the No. 12 car with Frankie Montecalvo.

Additionally, Flying Lizard Motorsports will make its first WeatherTech Championship start since 2016, fielding an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo for its Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS pairing of Andy Lee and Elias Sabo.

Spencer Pumpelly has been confirmed in the No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin alongside 2022 GTD champion Roman De Angelis, while Stevan McAleer has replaced Katherine Legge in Gradient Racing’s Acura NSX GT3 Evo22 for the remainder of the season, beginning at Long Beach.

As previously announced, Wright Motorsports will field its Michelin Endurance Cup-entered No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R for Elliott Skeer and Adam Adelson in an expected one-off WeatherTech Sprint Cup outing.

The No. 13 AWA Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Orey Fidani and Matt Bell will be the sole Corvette represented in the 100-minute race following Anthony Mantella’s withdrawal from the series after just two races.

On-track action begins on Friday, April 19 with a pair of practice sessions and qualifying with the race set for a 1:35 p.m. PDT (4:35 p.m. EDT) start time.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John