As the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach approaches for the first sprint race of the season in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, drivers and teams will have to recalibrate their preparation for the third race on the schedule.
The season kicked off with two of the most grueling races on the IMSA schedule — the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Now with teams focusing on the short, 100-minute race through the streets of Long Beach, the focus alters.
“I think a lot of emphasis (is) on that one pit stop that we’re going to have,” Corvette Racing’s Jordan Taylor said. “I’m sure the guys will be practicing pit stops a lot more, just in trying to nail that down, to limit mistakes, executing the pit stops, (and) all the driver changes during the weekend.”
Taylor, a three-time winner at Long Beach, also believes that the shorter distance opens the door for teams to go off-strategy in hopes of gaining positions if they don’t have the outright pace.
“Historically, it’s definitely worked, so the risk versus reward is decent at a track like Long Beach, especially if you don’t have the fastest car,” Taylor said. “I’m kind of new to the GT3 world, but at Sebring, I destroyed my tires on my first stint and I felt like I was two seconds off the pace, but (I) was able to hold off the Lamborghini. I think ABS kind of helps make that possible, so I think even if you are a little bit off the pace or struggling with tires, that tool kind of helps you in that kind of situation as well.”
For some drivers within the GTD Pro class, Long Beach will be their first time competing at the tight, technical street course. In the case of Pfaff Motorsports Porsche driver Matt Campbell, he understands some of the challenges that lie ahead.
“Obviously we’re so used to the long races, and for me personally I don’t think I’ve done such a short race in quite a number of years,” the reigning 24 Hours of Daytona GTD class winner said. “It’ll be a nice challenge, and for sure everyone will have to be really on it, because I think one mistake can make a huge difference in such a race at Long Beach.”
Saturday’s race at Long Beach will be the first time Vasser-Sullivan driver Ben Barnicoat will be racing at the historic street circuit. (IMSA Photo)
Vasser Sullivan Racing’s Ben Barnicoat, who joined the team during the offseason after four years as a factory driver for McLaren, believes emphasizing one-lap pace will be the biggest recalibration of strategy this weekend.
“(There’s) a bit more emphasis on ultimate lap time pace out (of) the car, which can spice the races up a little bit” Barnicoat said. “You’ll find teams setting their car up for a bit more one-lap pace, so you prioritize track position rather than it having to be good over (a) 12 or 24-hour period.”
Even on Saturday afternoon when the field barrels down Shoreline Drive for the green flag, Barnicoat feels that drivers won’t have a true grasp on what the best plan of attack will be until the race begins to unfold.
“There’s a lot of options to look at, and you can prepare a million ways,” Barnicoat said. “In all honesty, none of us are really going to know what the best thing (is) to be, or how we’re going to feel until we’re into the race and we’ll see what’s happening on track.”
Keyword: IMSA Teams Altering Focus For Long Beach