IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Grand Prix Of Long Beach

 Mathieu Jaminet and Nick Tandy Porsche Penske Motorsport drivers after winning the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Long Beach in the No. 6 Porsche 963. Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Grand Prix Of Long Beach
Words and Images by: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

If you missed the first minute or the final two minutes of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Grand Prix you essentially missed the whole race.

This was the third race in the IMSA WeatherTech series showcasing the new Hybrid  electric GTP cars.  They may look similar to the GTP (GT Prototype) cars from the past few seasons but they are completely different and as the drivers will tell you, have characteristics that require different driving techniques.  Also new this season in this class, are four new cars from Germany.  Two BMW M Hybrid V8s and two Porsche 963s.

Racing along with the exotic GTP cars are the GT3 specification GTD (GT Daytona) cars that look very similar to the cars we see or drive on the streets today. There are two classes for this series, GTDPro which is comprised of "professional" drivers and the GTD class which are driven by professional and amateur  drivers.

Pole sitting Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 driven by Ricky Taylor and Felipe Alburquerque entering the fountain curve at Long Beach.  Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

At the start of the race, the pole sitter was Felipe Albuquerque driving the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and sitting next to him was Tom Blomqvist in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06.  Sebastien Bourdais, starting in third with the No. 01 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series R, was unable to move from the inside of the track and tried to late brake for Turn-1 while still driving in the marbles.  His car rotated around, kissed the wall, and slid backwards into the middle of Turn-1.  This cause all the following cars to scramble to avoid colliding with the now stalled Acura.  Blomqvist spun his Acura avoiding contact with any cars but stalled his Acura.

The new GTP cars, due to their hybrid electric (800 volt) powertrain have the computer set up to kill all power in the event of an accident.  For safety, the only way to restore power is in the pits. Therefore both Acura's required towing back to the pits. You will notice that these cars now have a set of red and green lights on both sides of the windshield.  Green means it is safe to approach and touch the chassis.  Red means all hands off.  When the red light is on, even the driver must remain in the car.

This left Albuquerque in the No. 10 Acura in the lead followed by Nick Tandy in No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963 with the two BMWs and the second Porsche in hot pursuit. 

The GTD class of cars stayed relatively consistent throughout the race with GTDPro being mostly led by the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 (Jack Hawksworth / Ben Barnicoat) and GTD with the No. 1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 (Bryan Sellers / Madison Snow).  

Unlike typical city street races the race went yellow flag free (after the first few laps) until the last lap. Ricky Taylor in the No. 10 Acura and Matthieu Jaminet in the No. 6 Porsche kept up a good battle with both cars taking turns in the lead by using pit strategy.  With about ten laps remaining the Porsche was in the lead on two-stint tires while the Acura had fresher rubber.  Taylor made a couple of attempts to pass the Porsche but was unable to capitalize on any attempt.  Finally with two laps to go Taylor made an attempt to pass at the end of Shoreline Drive.  Jaminet did not try to block Taylor.  Unfortunately Taylor locked up his brakes and went into the Turn-1 tire barrier ending his bid for the day. 

Winning No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963 in the Fountain Curve at Long Beach.  Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

 Jaminet cruised to the finish for his first IMSA victory of the season winning by 0.903 seconds. This was the first victory for the new Porsche. Nick Tandy, Jaminets' teammate said, "to get a result and get some trophies is amazing and a testament to the hard work across the globe.  We wanted to do something different and we made some great decisions because they paid off".  

The No. 25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 driven by Conner de Phillippe barely missed the crashed Acura and secured 2nd Place. Nick Yelloly, Conner's teammate said, "to come here and get a podium place feels quite nice.  I have to say, Conner in the last bit gave everything." 

2nd Place BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 in the Fountain Curve was co-driven by Conner de Phillippi and Nick Yelloly. Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Felipe Nasr and Matt Campbell were third giving Porsche two Top-3 finishers.

3rd Place finishing Porsche 963 was co-driven by Matt Campbell and Felipe Nasr at Long Beach.  Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 headed the GTDPro class and the No. 1 BMW M4 GT3 headed the GTD class.

The No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 driven to the GTDPro victory by Jack Hawksworth and Ben Barnicoat.  Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The No. 1 GTD winning Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 driven by Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow.  Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The next IMSA race will be held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on the weekend of May 12-14. Please contact WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for ticket and camping information.

ENDS

Tags: Acura, Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, BMW, Brandon O'Brien, IMSA, IMSA Weathertech Sprotscar Championship, International Motorsports Association, Lexus, Long Beach, Motor Driven Images, Porsche