Acura Seeks Elusive Long Beach Victory at 'Event of the Year'

Renger van der Zande and Acura aim to end the brand's drought at the iconic Southern California street race.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:38pm

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An abstract, energetic painting featuring an Acura GTP race car in motion, with bold brushstrokes and neon colors capturing the intensity and excitement of the Long Beach street circuit.Acura's pursuit of a long-awaited victory at the iconic Long Beach street race is fueled by the brand's passion and the dynamic driving skills of its IMSA team.Los Angeles Today

Renger van der Zande and Acura are focused on delivering the brand's first victory at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, an event that has eluded the manufacturer since it took over title sponsorship in 2019. Van der Zande, a street course specialist, is confident in Acura's chances, noting the importance of the race for the brand and its U.S. operations.

Why it matters

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a marquee event for the Acura brand, which is headquartered nearby in Torrance, California. Winning this iconic street race would be a significant milestone for Acura, which has not tasted victory at the event since the American Le Mans Series days in 2009. The race also holds special meaning for Honda's U.S. racing efforts, which are centered in Southern California.

The details

Acura has come close to victory at Long Beach in recent years, with a 2-3 finish for Acura Team Penske in the DPi class in 2019 and a second-place result in the GTD class in 2022. However, the manufacturer has yet to stand atop the podium. Van der Zande, who joined the Acura program in 2025, believes the key to success at Long Beach is having a 'compliant car' that allows drivers to push the limits and drift close to the walls, a hallmark of the challenging street circuit.

  • The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET.
  • Acura last won at Long Beach in 2009 in the American Le Mans Series.

The players

Renger van der Zande

A Dutch driver who joined the Acura IMSA program in 2025 after previously competing for GM-affiliated teams. He is known as a street course specialist, having won at Long Beach and Detroit in recent years.

Acura

The luxury and performance division of Honda, which has been the title sponsor of the Long Beach Grand Prix since 2019. Acura is headquartered in Torrance, California, near the race circuit.

Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US)

The division of Honda that oversees the Acura ARX-06 GTP program and all of Honda's other North American racing activities. HRC US is based in Santa Clarita, California.

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What they’re saying

“It's the event of the year for Acura. This is an event that Acura has never won. I think it's very important to point it out, so we're trying to make it happen this year.”

— Renger van der Zande, Acura IMSA Driver

“If you don't have a fast car or if you don't have a compliant car, you're not able to push. What makes a driver good at the racetrack, like street tracks of Long Beach, or Detroit, or Monaco, or Macau, is how close do you like to drift towards the wall. If you're not comfortable with the walls, then you're gonna be slow.”

— Renger van der Zande, Acura IMSA Driver

What’s next

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026, with the race broadcast live on NBC at 4 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

Acura's pursuit of victory at the iconic Long Beach street race holds significant meaning for the brand, which is headquartered nearby and has yet to conquer the event since taking over title sponsorship in 2019. With a talented driver in Renger van der Zande and a focus on developing a 'compliant' race car, Acura is poised to finally break through and deliver a long-awaited triumph at its 'event of the year'.