Aghakhani, Eidson Set for Mercedes Entry in Long Beach

Photo: US RaceTronics

Steven Aghakhani and Jacob Eidson are set to make their IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debuts in a one-off Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo entry from US RaceTronics for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

The Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America front-runners will run the No. 26 Mercedes GT Daytona class entry in the 100-minute street race on Sept. 25, as the only expected entry from the German manufacturer.

It will also mark the Shane Seneviratne-led team’s first start in WeatherTech Championship competition.

The car will carry sponsorship from the Global Wealth Solutions Group of Raymond James, a new partnership that will extend to its Lamborghini Super Trofeo effort for the remainder of the season.

“It is an honor to be representing Raymond James” Aghakhani said. “Growing up in Los Angeles, it was always the Lakers and the Long Beach Grand Prix for me.

“I always dreamed of being able to race at Long Beach, which is the oldest and greatest street race in North America. I have to thank a long list of people and great partners who came together to make it happen this year.”

The Long Beach round is open to DPi, GT Le Mans and GTD teams only.

“All of us at Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing look forward to working with Steven Aghakhani and the US RaceTronics team in their Long Beach and IMSA WeatherTech Championship GTD debuts,” said Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing.

“While these are new and exciting developments for Steven and his teammates, they bring with them a great deal of experience with the Mercedes-AMG GT3.

“We have known Steven very will since he started racing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 at just 15 and 16 years in both SRO GT World Challenge and the SRO Winter Invitational series.

“Moving to IMSA GTD at Long Beach is his biggest step yet, and I wish Steven, his co-driver Eidson and the USRT team the best of luck with this iconic challenge.”

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