Photo credit: Porsche
Porsche Penske Motorsport is preparing for the third round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, taking place in Long Beach. This event is notable for being one of the shortest races of the season, lasting only 100 minutes on the streets of Long Beach, California. The factory team will compete in the top GTP class with three Porsche 963 vehicles, while the GTD category will feature a 911 GT3 R from AO Racing and another from Wright Motorsports.
Porsche has performed well in the championship thus far, securing victories at both the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. As a result, they currently hold the top position in all categories of the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. The No. 7 Porsche 963 will be driven by reigning IMSA champion Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, while the No. 6 car will be piloted by Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell.
Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, emphasized the team’s goal of continuing their success in Long Beach, recalling their first victory with the Porsche 963 at the same circuit last season. Urs Kuratle, Director of Factory Motorsport LMDh, noted the challenges of the narrow street circuit, highlighting the importance of qualifying well to enhance overtaking opportunities.
Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, remarked on the shift from endurance racing to a sprint format, indicating that the approach to car setup and driving style will differ significantly for the shorter race duration. The JDC-Miller MotorSports team will also enter a hybrid prototype in the GTP class, driven by Gianmaria Bruni and Tijmen van der Helm.
In the GTD class, AO Racing will feature Laurens Vanthoor alongside Jonny Edgar in a 911 GT3 R, while Wright Motorsports will field two cars with drivers Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer. The Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit, which has a history of hosting various racing events since 1975, is recognized for its challenging layout and scenic views.
Overall, this race presents a different set of challenges compared to the previous endurance events, and the teams are focused on leveraging their experiences to achieve optimal results. The Long Beach race is anticipated to be a competitive event as teams adapt to the unique demands of street racing.
