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Patrick Long

Patrick Brian Long (born July 28, 1981) is an professional racing driver, entrepreneur, and motorsport ambassador renowned for his long association with . As 's sole factory driver from during much of his 20-year professional career, Long amassed over 50 race victories and five championships across major endurance series, including two GT class wins at the in 2004 and 2007. Long's racing achievements extend to multiple triumphs in prominent events, such as the in 2005, 2014, and 2020; the in 2009; and three GT class titles in the . He also secured championships in the World Challenge in 2011 and 2017, competing in nearly 150 starts overall. Born in , Long began his Porsche career in 2002 after winning a junior driver selection program and retired from full-time professional racing at the end of 2021 to focus on family and other ventures. Beyond the track, Long co-founded Luftgekuhlt in 2014 with Howie Idelson, establishing it as a premier event series dedicated to air-cooled automobiles that draws thousands of enthusiasts annually across . In November 2024, he signed a multiyear agreement with Cars to serve as a , emphasizing customer relations, marketing, and public engagement, while also acting as a competition advisor for Motorsport to support program development and team testing. Long continues to participate in select historic and vintage racing events globally.

Early life and career beginnings

Childhood and family background

Patrick Long was born on July 28, 1981, in , and grew up in nearby communities including Westlake Village and Agoura Hills, north of and inland from Malibu. Long's family background featured no professional involvement, though his relatives were enthusiasts who supported his early pursuits. His father emphasized intuitive decision-making, advising him to "go with your gut" in life choices, which later influenced Long's career path. This supportive environment fostered a competitive family dynamic, particularly shared with his younger brother, Kevin "Spanky" Long, a professional skateboarder known for his work with brands like and Emerica. The brothers, both elite athletes in wheeled sports, drew from a mutual passion for speed and competition that shaped their respective careers. Long's early interest in motorsports emerged in childhood through play with toy cars and attendance at local races, where the sounds of engines and the thrill of competition captivated him. By age five or six, he began driving and , relishing the independence and hours of practice they offered, which naturally led to formal as a progression from these family-influenced experiences.

Karting and junior formula racing

Patrick Long began his racing career in karting at the age of eight in , competing in regional events and quickly achieving success with multiple wins in local competitions. By his early teens, he expanded to international karting in , securing notable achievements such as the 1998 Winter Cup in Lonato, , a second-place finish in the North American Kart Championship (with two wins), along with a runner-up finish in a Belgian Championship round at age 14. These accomplishments, supported by his family's encouragement from a young age, earned him the 1999 Karting Scholarship, marking his transition to single-seater racing. In 1999, Long competed in the Formula Dodge 2.0 Series in the United States, finishing second in the championship while adapting to open-wheel cars. He also placed third in the Campus Championship in . He returned to the series in 2000, dominating the Pro Series by winning nine out of eleven races and claiming the "Big Scholarship," which provided further opportunities in junior formulas. Following his 2000 season, Long moved to to race in the starting in 2001. In 2001, driving for Van Diemen Racing, he achieved three victories—including his first at Oulton Park and strong performances at and —en route to second place in the championship standings, along with a win at the Euro Festival in . Following this success, he progressed to the 2.0 UK Championship in 2002 with , finishing eighth overall while competing against emerging talents. Long's performances in junior formulas drew attention from major programs; in 2002, he was a finalist in the inaugural Driver Search, reaching the final six candidates, and won the selection process, becoming the first American on the Porsche Junior Team and paving the way for his professional career starting in 2003.

Professional racing career

Porsche factory driver era (2003–2021)

In 2003, Patrick Long signed on as a factory driver, marking him as the sole on the company's global roster—a distinction he held until 2021. This opportunity arose from his standout performances in junior racing series, where Porsche scouts identified his talent for endurance and GT competition. As a works driver, Long integrated into 's international motorsport ecosystem, representing the brand across multiple continents and contributing to its competitive presence in series like the (ALMS) and (WEC). Long's factory tenure began with key partnerships that shaped his career progression. From 2004 to 2013, he aligned closely with Flying Lizard Motorsports, a California-based team that became a cornerstone of 's North American GT efforts, fielding variants in endurance races. In 2006–2008, he joined Penske Racing for the program in the LMP2 class, driving full seasons and helping secure class victories, including an LMP2 class victory and second place overall at the 2007 . Later, from 2014 to 2015, Long continued with Porsche-supported teams in GTLM, including stints with Porsche North America entries in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (TUSC), emphasizing his versatility across prototypes and GT cars. By 2016–2021, he partnered with Wright Motorsports, driving R models in WeatherTech SportsCar Championship events and contributing to team championships in GT Daytona (GTD). Throughout his factory era, Long played a pivotal role in Porsche's global program, particularly in and testing for GT vehicles. He conducted extensive testing for models like the 911 GT3, providing feedback on , handling, and performance at tracks worldwide, which informed production and evolutions. A notable milestone came in 2004 with his first class victory in GT2, co-driving a GT3-RS alongside and Sascha Maassen, establishing his endurance pedigree early. By 2010, Long transitioned into technology testing, piloting the innovative 911 GT3 R —a kinetic energy recovery system-equipped racer—at events like the 1000 km of , where it set lap records and demonstrated Porsche's push toward electrified performance. These efforts underscored his from promising to integral developer in Porsche's engineering-driven philosophy.

Sports car racing achievements

Patrick Long achieved significant success in , particularly in GT-class competitions, securing multiple championships and notable endurance victories while supported by as a factory driver. His career highlights include three (ALMS) GT2 class driver's championships, wins in the (WEC), and titles in the Pirelli World Challenge GT class. In the , Long partnered with to win the GT2 driver's championship in 2005 driving for Flying Lizard Motorsports, marking his first major series title in the category. The duo repeated the feat in , clinching the title with consistent podium finishes and a victory at that sealed the drivers' and team championships for Flying Lizard. They defended the crown in 2010, achieving five wins and no finish worse than third, securing the third consecutive GT2 team title for the squad. Long's international endurance prowess shone in the FIA WEC, where he scored class victories in the GTE-Am category during the 2015 season. Teaming with and Marco Seefried for Dempsey Proton Racing, he won the 6 Hours of Fuji in October amid challenging weather, delivering the team's first international triumph in the . Later that year, Long, alongside Christian Ried and Seefried, achieved a third-place finish at the 6 Hours of , contributing to Porsche's successful season finale with a GTE-Am sweep by its customer teams. In 2007, Long secured his second GT2 class victory at the , driving the #76 RSR for IMSA Performance Matmut alongside and Raymond Narac. In sprint GT racing, Long captured the Pirelli World Challenge GT class driver's championship in 2011, driving the PrivacyStar Porsche 911 GT3 to four victories and sealing the title at Laguna Seca. He repeated the achievement in 2017 with Wright Motorsports in the Porsche 911 GT3 R, earning four wins across GT Sprint and SprintX events to claim both the overall and sprint championships, along with team and manufacturer honors for Porsche. Among his endurance highlights, Long piloted the innovative R Hybrid to its debut race victory at the 2010 1000 km of in the International , outperforming GT2 prototypes alongside Bergmeister and demonstrating the car's efficiency and speed. The following year, he contributed to a class win in the SP9 (GTH) category at the 24 Hours of , driving for despite a high-speed incident, helping secure Porsche's overall success in the event.

NASCAR and international series involvement

Long's tenure as a Porsche factory driver provided opportunities for select appearances in series, where he made limited but notable starts on road courses suited to his expertise. His Nationwide Series debut came in 2010 at , driving the No. 90 for D'Hondt Humphrey Motorsports. He followed this with a single Sprint Cup Series start in 2012 at for Inception Motorsports in the No. 30 , where brake issues led to a 42nd-place finish after just two laps. Earlier, Long had competed in the developmental K&N Pro Series East and West divisions during 2009 and 2010, logging multiple starts and securing victories, including a dominant win from the pole at in 2010 for his second career triumph in the West series. Beyond domestic NASCAR, Long ventured into international touring and GT racing, expanding his global profile. In 2010 and 2011, he raced in the V8 Supercars Championship at Surfers Paradise for Garry Rogers Motorsport, partnering with Michael Caruso in the No. 34 Ford Falcon and finishing fourth overall in the 2010 event. He also made repeated guest entries in the Bathurst 12 Hour from 2014 to 2018, primarily with Competition Motorsports in a Porsche 991 GT3 R, culminating in a Pro-Am class victory in 2017 alongside teammates David Calvert-Jones, Marc Lieb, and Matt Campbell. In 2018 and 2019, Long competed in the Blancpain GT World Challenge America (now SRO GT World Challenge America) for Wright Motorsports in the No. 58 Porsche 911 GT3 R, achieving multiple podiums and a standout win at Sonoma Raceway in 2019 with co-driver Scott Hargrove. These outings highlighted his versatility across disciplines while maintaining his focus on Porsche-backed GT efforts.

Retirement and later activities

Retirement announcement and select races

In November 2021, Patrick Long announced his retirement from full-time professional racing after an 18-year tenure as a factory driver, marking the end of a career that included 15 starts at the and 18 at the 24 at . The decision came shortly after the 2021 , where he competed in his final full-season event, transitioning instead to advisory and ambassadorial roles within while leaving open the possibility for select appearances. Following his retirement, Long maintained a selective racing schedule, focusing on high-profile endurance events that aligned with his expertise and Porsche affiliations. In June 2023, he made a one-off at the with GMG Racing in a R, emphasizing that the outing did not signal a return to full-time competition but rather an opportunity to enjoy the sport on his terms. Later that year, he also participated in the Endurance Cup's class with Car Collection Motorsport, competing in a single round aboard a R. In November 2024, Long joined and for the season finale of the Porsche Endurance Challenge, a six-hour endurance race at , piloting a Cup car in a non-points capacity. By 2025, Long's involvement in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship shifted further toward ambassadorial duties for , with limited on-track entries at key events such as the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, where he served in promotional and advisory capacities rather than as a primary driver. These appearances underscored his ongoing ties to the series without committing to a full schedule. Reflecting on his career, Long highlighted a two-decade journey that spanned over 20 years in professional motorsports, during which he secured six championships—including three GT2 titles (2005, 2009, 2010), two Pirelli World Challenge GT crowns (2011, 2017), and one GTD class title (2018)—along with multiple endurance victories such as two class wins at (2004, 2007), three at Sebring (2005, 2014, 2020), one at (2009), and one at the 24 Hours of (2011). These achievements cemented his legacy as 's premier American representative in global .

Business ventures and instruction roles

Following his retirement from full-time competitive driving, Patrick Long shifted his focus to entrepreneurial pursuits and educational roles within the motorsports industry. Long serves as a lead online for SAFE is Fast, the Road Racing Drivers Club's digital platform dedicated to advancing driver safety and performance through video tutorials and expert guidance. Since joining the initiative, he has delivered specialized content on techniques like smooth inputs, management, and Porsche-specific handling, such as optimizing the 911's rear-engine dynamics for track use. Post-retirement, Long expanded his contributions with new programs, including 2025 video series on mental preparation, racecraft, and young driver development, making advanced instruction accessible via online courses. In a continued partnership with , Long has held the role of for Porsche Cars and competition advisor for since November 2021. During the 2024 and 2025 IMSA seasons, he provided on-site advisory support to Porsche customer teams, including Wright Motorsports, AO Racing, and , while promoting the marque's hybrid technology advancements in endurance racing. Long's media presence includes a December 2024 appearance on TAG Heuer's podcast, where he reflected on his racing career, Le Mans victories, and the skills required for elite-level competition. Beyond instruction, his business ventures encompass co-founding Luftgekuhlt in 2014, an influential annual showcase of air-cooled Porsches that attracts thousands of enthusiasts and has expanded to multiple U.S. venues. He also collaborates with K1 Speed on karting promotion, emphasizing its role as an entry point to professional racing based on his own junior career path, and serves as a Hagerty , contributing to content on collector car preservation and events.

Personal life

Long is married to Lauren Long. They have two children and reside near , . He has ancestry.

Motorsports career results

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Patrick Long competed in the a total of 17 times between and 2021, securing class victories in the GT category in aboard a GT3-RSR and in GT2 in 2007 with a 997 GT3-RSR. His best overall finish was 10th place in . The event stood as the pinnacle of his factory driver career. The following table summarizes his participations, including teams, cars, classes, teammates, laps completed, and finishing positions.
YearTeamCarClassTeammatesLapsOverall FinishClass FinishNotes
2004White Lightning RacingPorsche 996 GT3-RSRGTJörg Bergmeister, Sascha Maassen32410th1stClass win
2005White Lightning RacingPorsche 996 GT3-RSRGT2Jörg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard32611th2nd-
2006Flying Lizard MotorsportsPorsche 996 GT3-RSRGT2Seth Neiman, Darren Law, Justin James31918th4th-
2007IMSA Performance MatmutPorsche 997 GT3-RSRGT2Richard Lietz, Raymond Narac32817th1stClass win
2008IMSA Performance MatmutPorsche 997 GT3-RSRGT2Patrick Pilet, Raymond Narac0DNF (crash)DNF-
2009Flying Lizard MotorsportsPorsche 997 GT3-RSRGT2Jörg Bergmeister, Bryan Sellers31913th2nd-
2010Flying Lizard MotorsportsPorsche 997 GT3-RSR HybridGT2Jörg Bergmeister, Patrick Holzer32812th2ndHybrid entry
2011Flying Lizard MotorsportsPorsche 997 GT3-RSRGTE ProJörg Bergmeister, Richard Lietz30515th2nd-
2012Flying Lizard MotorsportsPorsche 997 GT3-RSRGTE ProJörg Bergmeister, Patrick Holzer33918th3rd-
2013Flying Lizard MotorsportsPorsche 911 GT3-RSRGTE ProJörg Bergmeister, Nate Miller32019th4th-
2014Flying Lizard MotorsportsPorsche 911 GT3-RSRGTE ProJörg Bergmeister, Nate Miller32419th4th-
2015Dempsey-Proton RacingPorsche 911 RSRGTE AmPatrick Dempsey, Marco Seefried33520th2nd-
2016Abu Dhabi-Proton RacingPorsche 911 RSRGTE AmKhaled Al Qubaisi, David Heinemeier Hansson34323rd3rd-
2017Proton CompetitionPorsche 911 RSRGTE AmFreddie Hunt, Mathias Lauda33722nd4th-
2018Porsche GT TeamPorsche 911 RSRGTE ProMichael Christensen, Kévin Estre34023rd4th-
2019Porsche GT TeamPorsche 911 RSRGTE ProMichael Christensen, Kévin Estre34327th5th-
2021Porsche GT TeamPorsche 911 RSRGTE ProMichael Christensen, Kévin Estre33929th5th-
Following his announcement of from full-time professional in November 2021, Long has not returned to compete at .

Complete sports car series results

Patrick Long's career featured extensive participation in GT classes across prominent series, where he earned multiple championships and numerous victories. His results in the (ALMS) and subsequent highlight his consistency in machinery, with three GT class titles and over 20 class wins between 2004 and 2021.

ALMS and IMSA SportsCar Championship Results

Long competed in the GT and GT2 classes from 2004 to 2013, transitioning to the GTLM and GTD classes from 2014 onward. The following table summarizes his seasonal standings, wins, and podiums where data is available; he participated in all seasons listed, often with teams like Flying Lizard Motorsports and factory efforts.
YearSeriesClassPositionRacesWinsPodiums
2004ALMSGT9th902
2005ALMSGT21st1059
2006ALMSGT23rd1237
2007ALMSGT2Participant~50~2
2009ALMSGT21st1066
2010ALMSGT21st945
2011ALMSGTParticipant1213
2012ALMSGT6th1012
2014IMSAGTLMParticipant1114
2016IMSAGTD2nd2037
2017IMSAGTD29th501
2019IMSAGTD5th1415
2020IMSAGTD2nd1114
2021IMSAGTD4th1104
In 2008, Long raced in the ALMS LMP2 class for Penske Racing, finishing 5th with a class win at . He continued GT participation in 2013 and 2015–2018 with multiple podiums, including a win at in 2013.

FIA World Endurance Championship Results

Long entered the in 2014, 2015, and 2016 with Dempsey Proton Racing and in the Am class, driving a alongside , Marco Seefried, and others. The team achieved three class wins in 2015—at Fuji, , and —contributing to a runner-up finish in the drivers' standings with 131 points. In 2016, he secured two class wins at and , finishing 4th in the standings.
YearClassPositionRacesWinsPodiumsPoints
2014GTE AmParticipant200-
2015GTE Am2nd835131
2016GTE Am4th72394

Results

Long raced in the (Grand-Am) from 2004 to 2013, primarily in GT and classes with teams like Alex Job Racing and The Racer's Group. He secured multiple podiums and poles, with a standout 2nd place in the 2013 GT drivers' standings (303 points). Key highlights include two class wins in 2006 and consistent top finishes at .
YearClassPositionRacesWinsPodiums
2004GTParticipant201
2006Participant1427
2007Participant1013
2009GTParticipant502
2013GT2nd1226

Pirelli World Challenge Results

Long excelled in the Pirelli World Challenge GT class, winning championships in 2011 and 2017 with Wright Motorsports and others. His 2017 season included the overall and sprint titles, with eight podiums in nine races.
YearClassPositionRacesWinsPodiums
2011GT1st1146
2016GT2nd2037
2017GT Sprint1st928

Other Series Results

In the Blancpain GT World Challenge America (now SRO GT World Challenge America), Long raced in the class in 2018 and 2019, finishing 7th in 2018 with one win, and competing in 2019 with multiple top finishes. He returned in 2021 for a 4th place in . At the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, Long won the E1-XP HY class in 2011 and achieved several top-10 overall finishes in GT3 classes across multiple years. For the Bathurst 12 Hour, Long's results from 2012 to 2018 included a class win in 2017 (GT3 Pro/Am) and runner-up finishes in 2014 (GT3 Cup) and 2018 (GT3 Pro/Am), often driving Porsches for local teams.

NASCAR results

Patrick Long made limited appearances in NASCAR series as a diversification from his primary Porsche factory driving career in sports car racing. His stock car efforts were concentrated in the mid-2000s to early , primarily on road courses where his road racing expertise was an asset. He did not compete in the Cup Series or Series after 2012, focusing instead on endurance and .

Sprint Cup Series

Long's sole Cup Series start came in 2012 at , where he qualified 43rd and finished 42nd after retiring early due to brake failure, completing only 2 of 90 laps with no laps led.
YearRaceStartFinishLapsLaps LedStatusCarTeam
2012Cheez-It 355 at The Glen (Watkins Glen)43422/900Brakes#30 Inception Motorsports

Xfinity Series (formerly Nationwide Series)

Long had one Xfinity Series start in 2010 at , qualifying 7th and finishing 14th in a full-points race, leading 2 laps during his debut in the series.
YearRaceStartFinishLapsLaps LedStatusCarTeam
2010Bucyrus 200 ()71450/502Running#90 D'Hondt Humphrey Motorsports

K&N Pro Series East and West

Long competed in select events in the K&N Pro Series during the early 2000s and 2010, with appearances in both East and West divisions, mostly on road courses. He secured two wins in the West Series: his first at Irwindale Speedway in 2009 and a second at in 2010, where he started on pole and led 51 of 65 laps. In the East Series, he made at least one start in 2010 at Watkins Glen, finishing 5th. Overall, he had approximately 5-6 starts across both divisions in 2009-2010, with a best finish of 1st in the West Series.
YearSeriesTrackStartFinishLaps LedNotes
2009WestIrwindale Speedway-1-Victory
2010West1 (pole)151Victory
2010East-5-Top-5 finish