Long Beach: America's Greatest Street Circuit
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is unlike any other stop on the IMSA calendar. Tight walls, relentless street circuit action, and a crowd that knows racing — this is what motorsport is all about.
There are race weekends, and then there is Long Beach.
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is one of those events that every driver on the IMSA grid marks on their calendar the moment the schedule drops. It's not just a race — it's an experience. The city comes alive around motorsport in a way that very few places in the world can replicate.
The circuit itself is unforgiving. Concrete barriers replaced by Armco, the walls are close in a way that demands absolute commitment and absolute precision at the same time. There's no room for error in the hairpin, no margin for a loose entry into Turn 1. Every lap is a negotiation between aggression and respect for the barriers.
For GT3 machinery, Long Beach is a unique challenge. The bumpy surface loads and unloads the tires in ways that a smooth permanent circuit never would. Setup is critical — too stiff and you're fighting the car all race, too soft and you can't put the power down cleanly. Our DXDT Racing engineers spent the better part of Thursday dialing in a balance that worked for both qualifying pace and race pace.
The crowds at Long Beach are different too. This is a city that loves motorsport, loves the spectacle, and shows up to cheer loudly regardless of who's running at the front. Walking the grid on race morning with that energy in the air is something no driver ever gets tired of.
My debut at Long Beach in the Z06 was everything I hoped it would be. A street circuit where every tenth matters, in a car that rewards commitment — this is exactly the kind of challenge I live for.
Long Beach isn't just one of the best events of the year. It's one of the best events in all of motorsport.