IMSA News: Bobby Rahal Named Grand Marshal for Monterey

Legendary racer, team owner, and motorsports ambassador Bobby Rahal will take center stage as Grand Marshal for the Monterey SportsCar Championship IMSA race, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, May 9-11.

Rahal, successful both behind the wheel and on pit lane, will deliver the ceremonial “Drivers, start your engines!” command ahead of Sunday’s feature race and take part in pre-race celebrations and fan engagements throughout the weekend.

A three-time INDYCAR SERIES champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner, Rahal is also a co-owner and team principal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, which fields entries across both INDYCAR and IMSA competition.

“When I first came here in 1979, this place was hallowed ground to me,” Rahal recalled. “I fell in love with the place, it suited me and I suited it, and I had a number of great days here. I won five races here, my first professional race (1979 Can-Am) and four consecutive Champ Car races, which no one has repeated.”

When the green flag flies, Rahal will shift duties to watch the nos. 24 and 25 BMW M Team RLL M Hybrid V8s compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“We are honored to welcome Bobby Rahal back to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as Grand Marshal,” said Lauri Eberhart, CEO of Friends of Laguna Seca.

“Bobby has played an extraordinary role in shaping American motorsports, and his presence will be an inspiration to fans and competitors alike.”

The Monterey SportsCar Championship weekend following the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, marks IMSA’s only visit to Northern California as the series’ top classes, from prototypes to GT machinery, tackle the twists and elevation changes of Laguna Seca’s legendary 2.238-mile circuit — capped by the world-famous Corkscrew turn.

Tickets and camping for the Monterey SportsCar Championship are available now at WeatherTechRaceway.com.