This weekend sees the IMSA Sportscar Championship visit the streets of Long Beach. Here is everything you need to watch the 100-minute race live.
Following a thrilling opening 36 hours of racing at two of Florida's best motorsport venues, the IMSA Sportscar Championship makes its trip across continental America to California for the Long Beach Grand Prix.
A radically different circuit and format compared to the first two rounds of the season, here is everything you need to know going into the weekend, including all the best live streams to watch the race for free.
GTD Pro will not be racing at Long Beach in 2025. Image: Acura News
Not only do just two of the four classes head to the third round of the series, but that third event takes place on a tight and bumpy street circuit - Long Beach. In fact, the 2025 Long Beach Sportscar Grand Prix sees just GTP and GTD (non-Pro) classes take to the track with GTD Pro and LMP2 making up for the lost track time later in the year.
Additionally, where the previous events have been long-form enduros, this weekend's Long Beach battle will last just 100 minutes making it the shortest race on the calendar.
Can Porsche Penske continue its run of IMSA success at Long Beach? Image: Porsche Newsroom
Whilst each team will be made up of two drivers, do not be surprised to see drivers get very little seat time, especially in the restriction-less GTP class as teams choose to take their pitstops at in time to avoid falling into GT traffic.
Strategy will be the deciding factor at Long Beach. Image: Acura News
Therefore, surviving this thrilling street fight is just as much of a challenge as winning. Bumps into the wall and pileups are to be expected here making for an exciting highlight reel.
Aside from the official race broadcast, IMSA.tv also provides fans with a number of live onboards. Meanwhile, live timing as well as live telemetry for the top GTP class is available from the series website and will provide great insight into what will be a strategy-led race.
But above all else, the most important information you need to know to watch this weekend's IMSA race at Long Beach is the start time. Sharing the event with the IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach, IMSA's 100-minute blast takes place on Saturday, not Sunday. The race gets going at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, or 23:00 CEST (21:00 UTC).
Will you be watching this weekend's Long Beach racing? Let us know who you're rooting for in the comments below and join the discussion in our motorsport forum!
Following a thrilling opening 36 hours of racing at two of Florida's best motorsport venues, the IMSA Sportscar Championship makes its trip across continental America to California for the Long Beach Grand Prix.
A radically different circuit and format compared to the first two rounds of the season, here is everything you need to know going into the weekend, including all the best live streams to watch the race for free.
2025 Long Beach: IMSA Preview
So far this year in the IMSA Sportscar Championship, GTP, LMP2 and GTD classes have done battle on permanent racing circuits across long, drawn-out endurance races. But this weekend, all that gets thrown out the window.GTD Pro will not be racing at Long Beach in 2025. Image: Acura News
Not only do just two of the four classes head to the third round of the series, but that third event takes place on a tight and bumpy street circuit - Long Beach. In fact, the 2025 Long Beach Sportscar Grand Prix sees just GTP and GTD (non-Pro) classes take to the track with GTD Pro and LMP2 making up for the lost track time later in the year.
Additionally, where the previous events have been long-form enduros, this weekend's Long Beach battle will last just 100 minutes making it the shortest race on the calendar.
A Different Beast
With such a different formula going into the weekend, the current form cards mean little and so whilst the #7 Penske Porsche has dominated the season's proceedings so far, that strength will not necessarily carry over. Indeed, the shorter format of racing means long-run pace will not be the deciding factor at Long Beach. Instead, staying out of traffic and best planning your two pitstops will be the most important aspects of this weekend's race.Can Porsche Penske continue its run of IMSA success at Long Beach? Image: Porsche Newsroom
Whilst each team will be made up of two drivers, do not be surprised to see drivers get very little seat time, especially in the restriction-less GTP class as teams choose to take their pitstops at in time to avoid falling into GT traffic.
Safety Cars: Certain. Green Flag: Less So
Bumpy track surface lined with concrete barriers with little room for error and a tight multiclass field gunning for the same piece of real estate - it is fair to say that the certainty of full course yellows is pretty high. So much so in fact that you might even ponder the likelihood of getting any green flag running at all.Strategy will be the deciding factor at Long Beach. Image: Acura News
Therefore, surviving this thrilling street fight is just as much of a challenge as winning. Bumps into the wall and pileups are to be expected here making for an exciting highlight reel.
How to Watch the 2025 IMSA Long Beach GP Live
As with every IMSA race in this current 'golden' era, the entire Long Beach Grand Prix will be available to watch live and free on the IMSA YouTube channel. Most countries outside of the US and Canada get access to this free IMSA live stream, though those with an official broadcaster may suffer geo-blocking.Aside from the official race broadcast, IMSA.tv also provides fans with a number of live onboards. Meanwhile, live timing as well as live telemetry for the top GTP class is available from the series website and will provide great insight into what will be a strategy-led race.
But above all else, the most important information you need to know to watch this weekend's IMSA race at Long Beach is the start time. Sharing the event with the IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach, IMSA's 100-minute blast takes place on Saturday, not Sunday. The race gets going at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, or 23:00 CEST (21:00 UTC).
Will you be watching this weekend's Long Beach racing? Let us know who you're rooting for in the comments below and join the discussion in our motorsport forum!
