Motorsports・Sports May 24, 2024

Acura Grand Prix - The Appeal of Formula Cars Racing on the Streets of California

POINTWhat you can learn from this article

The attraction of the Acura Grand Prix, an event that everyone can enjoy.
In addition to the race on public roads, other attractions include exciting races with trucks flying through the air, and an exhibition of animation-style wrapped cars.

Honda Stories introduces initiatives in overseas sites. In this issue we feature North America. （Click here for the first report.）

The IndyCar Series is North America’s premier automobile racing series. Although the Indianapolis 500 is the most famous, did you know that the next most popular race event in North America is the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, held in California every April?

The event, named after Acura, Honda’s performance brand in North America, transforms Long Beach’s oceanfront roads into a racing track, where formula cars and IMSA endurance race cars compete, as well as drift and truck racing events are held. We take a closer look at the appeal of this event, which has long been loved not only by motorsports fans, but also by local residents.

The Appeal of Street Circuit Racing

The first time formula cars raced on the city streets of Long Beach, California, was 1977.

Formula 1 had been held in Long Beach, from 1975 to 1983. In 1984, the IndyCar Series (then called the CART Series), America’s premier formula car racing series, raced for the first time at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

In 2018, Honda discussed and agreed with the organizers to host the event as a grand prix under the Acura brand, a Honda brand in North America. The reasoning was that Honda aimed to increase the awareness of Acura on the West Coast. Since then, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has been the site of numerous exciting grands prix.

While F1, another formula car series, is raced on circuits and city courses around the world, the IndyCar Series is characterized by races on oval-shaped tracks and road/street courses, mainly in the United States.

Visitors can watch the race from any location within the venue, allowing people of all ages to enjoy the race at their own pace. The sound of the race cars is so loud that earplugs or headphones are needed.

The Acura logo appears on ear plugs handed out to officials.

Without exaggeration, the true appeal of city street races such as the Long Beach Grand Prix may be the encounter of the ordinary with the extraordinary, where familiar public streets are transformed into a race circuit.

Unlike permanent racetracks located in the suburbs, the street circuit is set up in the middle of the city of Long Beach, which usually bustles with people visiting the shopping centers, convention halls, and aquariums. It is said that setting up for the race takes two full months every year, which clearly means that the entire city and its citizens support this race. The sight of racing cars blasting along at full speed along the same roads that people normally use for shopping is a powerful sight.

2024 welcomed a record 194,000 visitors, an increase of 2000 attendees compared to 2023, making it as popular as the 2024 F1 Japanese Grand Prix (approximately 229,000 visitors for the three-day event). The race is also characterized by a variety of programs other than racing, such as car exhibits and a children’s space, attracting many visitors with their families.

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Apart from the race, exhibitions are also held. The new ZDX EV is displayed in bold exhibit.

Paddock tours allow visitors to watch pit crew working on the racing cars behind the pits.

In addition to IndyCar racing, the Long Beach Grand Prix hosts a total of five racing categories, including the IMSA Series, Super Drift Challenge, and Speed/UTV Stadium Super Trucks.

In the IMSA Series, the Acura ARX-05 won the championship in 2019 and 2020. Since last year, the Acura ARX-06 has been competing in the IMSA series.

Acura ARX-06 competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

The opening ceremonies for the IndyCar and IMSA races were filled with spectators saw airplanes flew overhead during the American national anthem.

Super Trucks of tremendous power jump off platforms with such force that they literally soar through the air.

Acura also drew attention in 2022 when it released an original animation, “Chiaki's Journey,” on YouTube.

Wrapped NSX Type S looks like it came straight out of the Chiaki’s Journey animation.

Integra Type S wrapped in Chiaki’s Journey styling was used as a safety car to lead race cars on the track for parade runs and to ensure safety in case of trouble.

Sustainability Initiatives

Finally, we introduce the sustainable initiatives at the venue. In recent years, the motorsports industry has stepped up its efforts to promote sustainability at various events, including F1.

The West Coast of the United States, where Long Beach is located, is known for its awareness of the country’s environmental issues.

The IndyCar Series became one of the first racing categories to introduce plant-derived bioethanol and sustainable synthetic fuels 100% renewable and sustainable fuels into racing from 2023. Compared to petroleum-derived fuels, CO2 emissions can be reduced by at least 60%, and is less flammable and safer.

The Long Beach Grand Prix is a sustainable event that offers exciting racing and a variety of creative car exhibits. 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of the event which is sure to be one to watch in the future.