Unique Historic Formula Exhibition event to run at 50th anniversary Long Beach GP
The 50th Anniversary Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, set to take place April 11-13, 2025, has announced an exciting addition to the event’s lineup: the Historic Formula Exhibition, a tribute to the heritage of open-wheel racing in Long Beach. For the first time, legendary cars from three iconic series that raced here – Formula 5000, Formula 1, and IndyCar – will compete together Saturday and Sunday of race weekend on Long Beach’s city streets.
Organized by the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA), the Historic Formula Exhibition promises a showcase of the technological evolution and rich motorsport legacy of each series while giving fans the opportunity to witness the power and beauty of these historic machines during twin 20-minute races on Saturday and Sunday of race weekend.
Among the cars scheduled to participate in the event:
From Formula 5000: the No.48 All-American Racers Gurney Eagle, which was the event’s first pole winner and first-ever to turn a wheel on the racetrack in 1975, piloted at the time by Vern Schuppan and currently owned by Tom Malloy, whose impressive car collection is located in nearby Corona.
From Formula 1, the 1977 race-winning No.5 John Player Lotus 77 which was famously driven by Mario Andretti (main image). Andretti’s popular win made him the first American to win a United States Grand Prix and propelled the Grand Prix of Long Beach to iconic status on the world motorsport calendar.
The IndyCar entries will be headed by the 2005 Long Beach-winning car of Sebastien Bourdais, the No.1 Ford Lola 05/00. Bourdais’ 2005 win was the first of three consecutive Long Beach wins the Frenchman would author for Newman/Haas Racing.
“This year’s event is such a great celebration: the 50th anniversary Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach,” said HMSA President Cris Vandagriff. “It will be great showcasing the cars that have made motorsports an event to celebrate in Long Beach. We will have a great field representing cars that have been a big part of the Grand Prix’s history.”
“The 50th Anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a historic milestone for our event, and we’re thrilled to offer fans a trip through the annals of our racing history with the Historic Formula Exhibition,” said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian. “The sights – and equally important, the sounds – of these cars, will create an unforgettable experience for all our fans, young and old.”
In addition to the Historic Formula Exhibition, fans can enjoy a full weekend of racing, live entertainment, autograph sessions, family activities, and much more. Further announcements about support races are forthcoming.
The 50th Anniversary Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will be headlined by the third round of the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series, as well as the third round of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Fans who had tickets, parking and paddock passes in 2024 will have the opportunity to renew their orders beginning Oct. 1 through Oct. 18. On Nov. 4, tickets, parking and paddock passes will go on sale to the public at gplb.com or by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 827-7333.